What do Industrial Machinery Mechanics do?

An Industrial Machinery Mechanic would typically need to:

• Keep all manufacturing machinery in working order, including production machines, packaging machinery, and conveyor systems.
• Maintain equipment by checking for and fixing mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic problems before they may cause harm to the machine or the goods it produces.
• Examine broken equipment and perform basic diagnostic checks to determine whether major repairs are needed.
• Troubleshooting problems, such as vibration due to old belts or weak motor bearings, requires consulting technical manuals, knowing about industrial equipment, and using one’s senses.
• If computerized diagnostics and vibration analysis are available, use these to assist in locating the origin of the issue.
• After identifying a problem, disassemble the machine, and fix or replace the defective parts. Metal cutting and welding for metal fixing and making metal stuff
• After a repair, the machine must be tested by running a few sample batches.
• Please share information about problems and concerns with their managers; keep track of maintenance activities using a CMMS or paper records.
• You are responsible for work orders, inspections, oil changes, meter readings, equipment and machinery adjustments, and calibrations.
• Clean the tools and equipment they use; relocate them as required; Construct and set up cutting-edge equipment.
• Input data and instructions to set up condition monitoring sensors and computer-controlled machinery.
• Provide machine operators with a thorough demonstration of the machine’s capabilities; observe all necessary safety procedures.

Standard Work Environment

Most of a Mechanic’s workdays will be spent in manufacturing, power plants, or building sites. Some factories are clean and comfortable, whereas others are dingy, loud, and freezing.

You may have to climb ladders, crouch, bend, and reach often, and move heavy things during your employment.

Work Schedule

The typical work week for an Industrial Machinery Mechanic is 40 hours. However, it would be best to be prepared to work nights, weekends, and on-call hours. Machine breakdowns are a common cause of overtime needs.

Employers

The locations of manufacturing facilities looking to hire Industrial Machinery Mechanics may be listed on school placement offices’ and online employment sites’ databases. Jobs may also be posted through union or government offices in your area. You may apply for a job at an industrial facility directly when they advertise positions in the newspaper or on a public bulletin board.

Numerous factories in the country’s most industrialized regions are hiring.

Industrial Machinery Mechanics are generally employed by:

• Manufacturing Industries
• The Wholesale Trade Sector
• Repair and Maintenance of Commercial/Industrial Machinery & Equipment (excluding automotive and electronic) Facilities
• Construction Companies

Unions / Professional Organizations

Unions for industrial machinery mechanics may be a valuable source of information, connections, and training opportunities.

If you’re an Industrial Machinery Mechanic interested in furthering your career or making connections with peers in your field, joining a professional group or organization like the International Society of Automation is essential.

Belonging to one or more of these groups will look great on your resume and help you stand out.

Workplace Challenges

• Likelihood of injuries such as cuts and bruises from working around industrial machinery without taking proper precautions and using protective equipment
• High probability of strains from lifting heavy objects and working in awkward positions, including on top of ladders or in cramped conditions under heavy machinery
• The need to stay physically fit to remain focused and avoid injuries and errors during night shifts and overtime work
• Discomfort in the dirty, noisy and draughty work environment if employed in older heavy industry plants

Suggested Work Experience

More and more employers are looking for skilled workers with industrial technology, electrical, hydraulic, and computer programming backgrounds to work as Industrial Machinery Mechanics.

If you’ve worked in a factory before, you may already have some of the fundamental skills you’ll need.

Technical instruction may also be obtained on-site from consultants or the sales teams of the used products. Your company may also support educational opportunities at regional technical institutes.

Common duties taught during on-the-job training include preparing equipment, cleaning it, applying lubricant, and turning it on. You could also learn shop math, how to interpret blueprints, how to use hand tools correctly, how to weld, how to work with electronics, and how to program computers.

Look for four-year union-sponsored apprenticeship programs that combine classroom education with work experience. High school grades are often given priority for these types of programs. Local union or government employment offices often have listings for applicable apprenticeship training programs.

Gain experience with tools and equipment through volunteer work or part-time employment with a mechanic or artisan. You can hone your talents by learning about and working on various machines.

The time spent in high school studying math and computer science will pay off later. Get as much training in the shop as possible.

To demonstrate your dedication to the field, you should research the industry, conduct interviews with professionals, and observe them while they operate industrial machinery.

Recommended Qualifications

Most Industrial Machinery Mechanics have training in welding, arithmetic, hydraulics, and pneumatics, all of which are part of the two-year associate degree or one-year certificate programs they finish.

A smaller percentage have at least a high school education and further training in mechanical drawing, mathematics, blueprint reading, computer programming, and electronics from either high school or college.

Certifications, Licenses and Registration

Certification as an Industrial Machinery Mechanic validates the holder’s plant maintenance and dependability knowledge and abilities.

You can set yourself apart from the competition in the job market and earn a significant salary premium of up to 18 percent by voluntarily obtaining certification in computer-aided design (CAD), computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), data entry, enterprise resource planning (ERP), supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), and Microsoft Office software from an unbiased and reputable organisation.

Projected Career Map

Job Prospects

The finest work opportunities are for those with various machine maintenance abilities.

Beneficial Professional Development

In several ways, industrial machinery mechanics who are actively employed may benefit from continuing professional development (CPD).

Consistent professional development (CPD) in electrical, electronic, and computer programming is available to everyone, regardless of age, occupation, or prior experience.

If you want to move through the ranks and into a management or supervisory role, the time you spend honing your managerial abilities will be well spent. Regular participation in CPD also helps maintain professional memberships and the validity of authorized credentials.

Conclusion

Plants and industries could only function with Industrial Machinery Mechanics who kept the machinery running. So it should come as no surprise that these workers are in great demand globally.

Advice from the Wise

Machines might become more empathetic in a fully automated and educated society. It’s feasible that one-day robots will carry out the essential tasks of survival while people focus on the more pleasurable and meaningful aspects of daily living.

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