In layman’s terms, industrial maintenance is about making sure that every industrial equipment is operating in its peak condition. Plant maintenance is also used to describe Industrial maintenance.
Industrial maintenance comprises servicing, carrying out repairs, checking of equipment functions, replacement of required devices, infrastructure building, and carrying out industrial installations.
You should know that Industrial maintenance finds its use in every organization that produces outputs with heavy machinery. Industries such as food processing industries, refineries, printing presses, among others, utilize Industrial maintenance.
Importance of Industrial Maintenance Technician
As the term industrial maintenance suggests, your job would be to take care of the equipment and predict maintenance required in the future.
This makes it a crucial job as high-priority machines’ functioning is based on the quality of work done by you.
By performing regular Industrial maintenance, you check for repairs and replacements. Thus, you help in maximizing the productive potentials of machines. High productive potential implies high levels of efficiency.
By carrying out regular maintenance of machinery, you make sure that the machines do not go through wear and tear. Thus, you ensure that the machines do not require complete replacements, which would be expensive.
Industrial maintenance also guarantees that you properly clean the machinery. This helps not only you but also your co-workers.
By regular cleaning, you ensure that the machinery is performing well. Hence, you would create a safer environment for you and others working with you.
Skill Set Required
As an Industrial Maintenance Technician, you need to focus on the maintenance of equipment. After installing a machine, it requires periodic and regular servicing for which you would be responsible.
Additionally, you would also need to conduct repairs and carry out necessary replacements of devices. Owing to the following skillset, you would have a good industrial maintenance salary.
Ideally, you as an Industrial Maintenance Technician should have the following skillset :
Knowledge of Preventive Maintenance
Preventive maintenance means constant monitoring and routine maintenance to ensure the machinery is operating at its peak condition. This prevents unexpected costs due to any sudden and unanticipated equipment failures.
Preventive maintenance ensures maximum efficiency of machinery and helps in cutting costs and making the working environment safer.
Preventive maintenance includes careful, systematic inspection of machinery. This helps in detecting probable areas of problems and repairs.
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills
You should possess critical thinking. You must be able to use logic and reasoning to identify problem areas.
After detecting problem areas, you must come up with solutions on the spot to save time. In some cases, you might have to think outside the box to solve an issue.
You must have the intellect to consider all the solutions and choose the one that serves the purpose and doesn’t cost you a fortune.
Knowledge of Scheduling and Time Management
You should have the proper knowledge of scheduling. Regular maintenance of machinery needs to be carried out at regular intervals.
Careful and regular planning is needed so that the equipment is serviced properly. That allows you to counter possible problems with the equipment and also helps you to keep the equipment running at maximum efficiency.
You must plan the maintenance in such a way that it manages to help save you as well as your co-workers’ times.
Job Role Specifics
Given below is all you need to know about the job role of an Industrial Maintenance Technician :
Perform Preventive Maintenance
You must ensure the optimal functioning of the equipment by performing preventive maintenance on them. Proper functioning of machinery is your top priority.
Preventive maintenance will also help you identify potential problem areas. You would take the help of sketches, diagrams, and operation manuals to identify issues.
Carry out Repairs and Replacements
As an industrial maintenance technician, you would be required to carry out repairs as well as replacements of equipment whenever and wherever necessary.
You would remove the defective parts by dismantling devices. You would make use of cranes and power tools to achieve that purpose. You must be able to fabricate repair parts by using the machine shop and tools.
Ensure Necessary Changes in Equipment
You would be responsible for inspecting parts of machines to check for dimensional irregularities. If you identify any, you would then use measuring instruments like rulers, micrometers, etc., to carry out the necessary changes.
You must know about adjusting the functional parts of the machinery by using hand tools.
Inventory Management
Inventory management knowledge is a must for you. Maintaining supplies of equipment, parts by checking the stock is necessary.
You must anticipate the requirement of equipment and parts of equipment to place an order. This would help you save time and have ample supplies in advance.
Well Prepared Reports
As an industrial maintenance technician, you would be responsible for preparing reports. You would do this by analyzing and summarizing data and information.
The reports need to be inferable and well documented. They must be supported by information.
Ensure Safety and Cleanliness
As an industrial maintenance technician, you would be responsible for ensuring a safe environment. You would achieve this by complying with rules and regulations.
Keeping the equipment clean is also a necessity. A piece of well-cleaned equipment ensures that it is performing well.
Future of Industrial Maintenance Technician Jobs
The demand for industrial maintenance personnel is only going to increase from here on. This is mostly because there has been an increased role of technology in industrial processes.
The more utilization of machines in industries, the more will be the demand for maintenance personnel such as yourself. You would be employed to keep the machines running and carrying out repairs as they come.
The industrial maintenance technician salary mostly depends on the type of industry you work in. It also depends on how many years of experience you have.
You might need some certifications in addition to your high school diplomas to land a job as an industrial maintenance technician. Moreover, the more skills you can demonstrate, the higher your salary range will be.
In conclusion, a career as an industrial maintenance technician sounds promising both in terms of skill set and salary.
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