An industrial maintenance technician is responsible for maintaining equipment in industrial settings such as factories and processing plants. Apprenticeship programs on the job or technical schools, where students receive a mix of classroom and hands-on training, are both options. Employment opportunities in this field can vary depending on skill level, industry, and region. In some cases, relocating for the best job opportunities may be necessary.
Facilities may hire industrial maintenance technicians on a permanent basis to keep their equipment in good working order, or they may hire them as consultants as needed. Installation and testing of new equipment is a part of the job. Personnel may need to receive some training before they can begin using the equipment, and this can be part of the job. To reduce the risk of injuries or equipment malfunctions, the industrial maintenance technician confirms that personnel understand how to use the equipment safely and appropriately.
Routine maintenance is also a requirement of the position. To stay in good working order, industrial equipment requires regular cleaning, lubrication, and other maintenance. Equipment malfunctions can pose a safety risk or cause a production line to stall. Safety checks or equipment breakdowns to check for clogs and other issues are examples of routine maintenance. To avoid downtime on the production line, this may need to be done quickly or after hours.
The industrial maintenance technician troubleshoots and repairs equipment when it malfunctions or breaks. This can include sophisticated machinery that necessitates knowledge of industrial computer programming as well as welding, plumbing, and electrical wiring skills. If a component is broken, the industrial maintenance technician may need to repair or replace it, such as if a machine’s central processing unit is malfunctioning. Working on equipment in a shop environment may be part of the job description to ensure that companies have replacements on hand if manufacturing machines fail on the line.
An industrial maintenance technician’s hours can be long. Some facilities operate around the clock or on extended schedules, and they may call in technicians to deal with urgent issues on the line. To keep a line running smoothly, the job may require completing complex tasks under pressure, communicating information to workers and supervisors, and developing creative solutions to problems. Continuing education may also be required to keep up with changes in the field, such as the introduction of new equipment into the workplace.