Duties and responsibilities of the industrial maintenance mechanic

Industrial maintenance mechanics ensure that factories and manufacturing facilities operate safely and efficiently by performing routine and emergency maintenance for complex machinery. This role requires diagnostic skills to successfully identify and troubleshoot machinery problems, as well as the mechanical skills required to perform repairs and perform regular maintenance.

In this role, many industrial maintenance mechanics work closely with technical teams and other mechanics to ensure that all repair and maintenance tasks are assigned and completed correctly. They play a central role in preventing accidents or work stoppages by solving mechanical and electrical problems, keeping detailed records of their actions.

Duties and responsibilities of the industrial maintenance mechanic

Although industrial maintenance mechanics can work in a variety of manufacturing contexts, most share several key responsibilities:

Perform regular maintenance activities

The primary task of an industrial maintenance mechanic is to perform routine and scheduled maintenance on complex machinery. This may involve periodic service inspections and services where the mechanic ensures that the machinery is operating as intended, is properly lubricated and calibrated, and is operating within safe limits for heat and speed. In this aspect of the role, the industrial maintenance mechanic can follow the manufacturer's suggested maintenance schedule to keep the equipment running efficiently.

Provide emergency repair services.

Industrial maintenance mechanics also perform emergency repairs with limited downtime to prevent damage to machinery or injury to personnel. This may involve replacing defective parts or, in some cases, replacing the entire machine. As industrial machinery has become increasingly complex, this may involve working with electronic components and using a variety of hand and power tools to perform repairs.

Identify mechanical problems

In this role, industrial maintenance mechanics also troubleshoot and identify mechanical problems or areas of potential failure. Typically this involves the use of various diagnostic tools, along with visual inspections and tests to eliminate potential causes of mechanical or electrical problems. Industrial maintenance mechanics can also determine that some problems are covered by the manufacturer's warranty and prepare documents to file the warranty claim.

Prepare work orders

Many industrial maintenance mechanics work with teams of technicians and mechanics. To ensure that work is completed on time and according to the most urgent needs, they prepare and manage work orders. These work orders generally describe the problems or required maintenance activities, as well as the team members responsible for solving these problems. Industrial maintenance mechanics then submit these work orders to supervisors or team members, who assign projects to the appropriate teams.

Complete maintenance reports

Finally, industrial maintainers support maintenance activities by preparing reports on their actions. These reports can range from diagnostic reports describing tests and observations to related results and repair reports. Industrial maintenance mechanics can keep these reports for their records or send them to plant managers and other decision makers, who keep them on hand in case of claims or other mechanical accident investigations.

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