Maintenance Technician Job Description, Skills, and Salary
Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a maintenance technician. You can use our job description template in this article to produce your own. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a maintenance technician.
Who is a Maintenance Technician?
A maintenance technician maintains equipment used in industrial environments such as factories and processing plants. Training may take place in the workplace through apprenticeship schemes or in technical schools, where students gain knowledge along with practical training. Employment prospects in this field may depend on the level of qualification, as well as the industry and region. In some cases, relocation may be necessary to obtain a better job.
Companies may also employ maintenance technicians as consultants when they are needed. Part of the job is to install and test new equipment. Training may be required before the equipment is used, and this may also be part of the job. A maintenance technician will confirm that the subordinate staff knows how to use equipment safely and properly to reduce the risk of injury or equipment malfunction.
Routine maintenance is also part of the job. Tools and equipment must be regularly cleaned, lubricated, and maintained to keep them in good working order. Equipment problems can endanger safety or delay a production line. Routine maintenance may include safety checks or equipment breakdowns to check for blockages and other problems. This may need to be done quickly or outside working hours to minimize production line downtime.
When equipment breaks down, a maintenance technician will troubleshoot and repair it. The equipment may be complex, requiring knowledge of engineering, as well as skills such as welding, plumbing, and wiring. If components break, the maintenance technician may have to repair or replace them. The job may also involve working with equipment in a workshop environment to ensure that companies have spare parts if production machines break down on the line.
The work of a maintenance technician can be time-consuming. Some companies operate 24 hours a day or have extended working hours, and they may call in technicians to deal with urgent problems on the line. The job may involve performing complex tasks under pressure, relaying information to workers and supervisors, and developing creative solutions to problems to keep the line running smoothly.
Maintenance Technician Job Description
Below are the maintenance technician job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The duties and responsibilities of a Maintenance Technician include the following:
- Communicating with the facility management on building-related issues daily.
- Responding to service and maintenance requests from building occupants.
- Ensuring electrical systems are safe and in working order.
- Cleaning and performing routine maintenance on heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.
- Ensuring that fire alarms, carbon monoxide, and other alarms are maintained in a safe condition
- Operating and maintaining tools and equipment required for the job.
- Assisting in the evacuation of people in a building or facility in an emergency.
- Painting and repairing parts of the building or facility that may be falling apart.
- Calling in external specialists if necessary to do more specialized work.
- Maintaining an inventory of parts needed for repairs, ordering new parts as necessary, and following up on repairs.
- Performing preventive maintenance on equipment such as grease traps, air conditioning systems, sewage treatment plants, boilers, and lifts.
- Repairing plumbing systems, electrical wiring, and mechanical installations
- Inspecting equipment for safety hazards and potential problems
- Coordinating with engineers to ensure that equipment meets industry standards and regulations.
- Repairing and maintaining building structures such as roofs, floors, walls, and stairs, using hand tools such as saws and hammers.
- Supervising the operation of equipment and carrying out tests to ensure that equipment is working efficiently.
- Assembling equipment and machinery, using welding equipment and other tools such as screwdrivers and spanners.
- Cleaning work sites, equipment, and tools to remove debris or hazardous materials that could cause accidents or injuries.
Other important tasks include the following:
- Creating and following standard operating procedures for maintenance
Maintenance technicians document each step of the standard operating procedure for all machines under their care. More experienced maintenance technicians ensure that new employees follow these procedures.
- Troubleshooting faulty equipment
Maintenance technicians resolve equipment malfunctions. They start up the machine and make sure they fix every part that is not functioning well.
- Recording maintenance and repairs in the daily logbook
Maintenance technicians must document each maintenance and repair session. This allows other technicians working on different shifts to see what was done and what was not done.
- Training new service technicians
Experienced maintenance technicians are required to mentor new employees and train them in various rules, procedures, and repair methods.
- Ensuring that equipment meets the company’s standards.
Compliance with the company’s standards is critical to employee safety. This includes adopting injury and illness prevention plans, and fire and emergency safety plans.
Qualifications
Some qualifications are generally required to become a maintenance technician. These include :
Education
Maintenance technicians generally require a high school diploma or a General Educational Development (GED) certificate. Some employers prefer to hire technicians with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in a related field such as electronics, plumbing, or building maintenance.
Training and experience
Maintenance technicians may receive on-the-job training from their new employer. This training may include learning specific equipment and processes used by the company.
Certifications and licenses
Although certifications are not mandatory for the maintenance technician job, they can be valuable to candidates applying for this job. Certifications demonstrate current knowledge of a technician’s abilities and commitment to their career.
Essential Skills
- Attention to detail
Maintenance technicians must be able to follow instructions and perform tasks accurately. This skill is important because it ensures that the work you do meets the needs of your employer’s business or organization. It also ensures the safety of the people using the equipment you are servicing, as well as those around them.
- Use of equipment
Maintenance technicians use equipment to carry out their tasks, so they must know the tools and machines they are working with. This includes knowing how to operate machines such as lifts, air conditioners, boilers, and other types of industrial equipment. It also involves getting the knowledge of how to read and interpret technical manuals that explain how these machines work.
- Communication
Maintenance technicians often work with a variety of people, including managers, engineers, contractors, and customers. Strong communication skills can enable them to explain technical details clearly so that everyone understands their role and how it affects other aspects of the business.
- Preventive maintenance
Preventive maintenance involves identifying and resolving equipment faults before they lead to more serious problems. Maintenance technicians use preventive maintenance to keep equipment running smoothly, thereby saving time and resources in the long run.
- Safety procedures
Safety is an important aspect of any job, especially when working with equipment. Maintenance technicians should be aware of the safety procedures and protocols for the equipment they are working on. This ensures their safety and the safety of others who may come into contact with them, during their work time.
- Customer service
Customer service skills are important for maintenance technicians, as they are often in contact with customers regularly. They may be the first point of contact when a customer has a problem or question about their equipment, and they must provide excellent service to ensure customer satisfaction. Customer service skills can also help them to work well with customers in other roles, such as sales representative.
- Teamwork
Maintenance technicians often work in teams with other technicians and staff. They must be able to communicate effectively, collaborate on projects and support each other when problems arise. Maintenance technicians also often work as part of a team when performing tasks such as cleaning or maintaining equipment, therefore teamwork skills are important for progress in their job.
- Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting is the ability to identify and solve problems. Maintenance technicians use their troubleshooting skills to check different equipment, machines, and other systems that are not working properly. This may involve identifying the cause of a problem, determining how to fix it, and implementing solutions. Troubleshooting also includes the ability to recognize potential problems before they occur so that the appropriate steps can be taken to avoid them.
- Documentation
Maintenance technicians must be able to document their work and the condition of the equipment. This may include writing reports, creating checklists or logs for maintenance procedures, and documenting repairs. Documentation is important because it allows you to track the progress of your work and ensure that any necessary actions have been taken. It also ensures that someone else in your position will know what actions you have taken and why.
- Stock management
Maintenance technicians need to manage their stock of equipment and tools. This includes knowing how much of each item they have, where it is on-site and when it needs to be replaced. It also includes ordering new materials as needed and tracking inventory levels.
- Repair and replacement
Maintenance technicians use their repair and replacement skills to keep building systems running smoothly. They may replace worn or broken parts, such as welding and electrical wiring. They also use these skills to repair equipment, such as lifts or boilers. This is an important skill for maintenance technicians as it helps to ensure the safety of people in the buildings they work in.
- Cleaning and housekeeping
Maintenance technicians often have cleaning and housekeeping duties in the buildings they maintain. These include vacuuming, dusting, mopping, changing linens, and removing waste from latrines. Knowing the basics of cleaning will help you maintain a healthy workplace and keep others safe. It will also help you understand the standards of cleanliness that employers expect when they hire maintenance technicians.
- Organization
Maintenance technicians need to be organized so that they can keep track of all the equipment in their workplace. They must also have organizational skills in paperwork, as their responsibilities may include writing up maintenance logs and taking records of all repairs made. Being organized will save them time as they will know where to find files or records and will be able to complete tasks more efficiently.
- Analytical skills
Maintenance technicians use their analytical skills to troubleshoot equipment, analyze data and solve problems. They must be able to identify the cause of a problem and determine how to fix it. For example, if a machine is not working properly, it may need to examine the parts to find the cause of the problem. They may then develop a plan to repair or replace the faulty part.
- Flexibility
Maintenance technicians often work on different projects and machines, so flexibility is an important skill. You may have to switch between tasks frequently or change locations, so being able to adapt quickly will help you be more productive in your work. Flexibility also allows you to adapt your approach when necessary, which can ultimately save you time and resources.
How to Become a Maintenance Technician
Here are some steps you can take to become a maintenance technician:
- Get an education
A high school diploma or GED is the basic requirement for most maintenance technicians. Entry-level maintenance technicians can also take a two-year program at a community college or similar program to earn an associate’s degree in their chosen field.
- Gaining Work Experience
Most of a maintenance technician’s knowledge and experience comes from daily practice. For example, an apprenticeship with a painter, plumber, electrician, or other similar professionals can help an aspiring maintenance technician gain enough experience to get a job.
- Obtain appropriate certifications
Maintenance technicians can prepare for exams to obtain certifications from various organizations that will demonstrate their experience and commitment to the field.
- Write a CV
List your education, skills, and work experience, starting with your most recent and relevant experience, as well as the names of the organizations and the length of time you worked in each organization. An effective CV will be relevant to the specific job you are applying for.
- Search for job vacancies
Once you have found open positions that match your level of education and experience, read the application instructions carefully. Write a cover letter briefly stating why you would be a good candidate for the job.
Where to work as a Maintenance Technician
Maintenance technicians work in a variety of environments, including factories, office buildings, hospitals, and other organizations. They may be exposed to noise, dust, and other airborne particles, as well as hazardous materials such as cleaning fluids and lubricants. They may also be exposed to electrical shocks and burns.
Maintenance Technician Salary Scale
The average annual salary of a Maintenance Technician in the United States and Canada is $46562 and $58,671 respectively. In the United Kingdom, the average annual salary of a Maintenance Technician r is £33,904.
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