Industrial machinery works around the clock
to manufacture food products,
generate power,
and move suitcases at the airport.
Industrial machinery maintenance workers,
mechanics, and millwrights
make sure industrial machinery
stays on the job.
Machinery maintenance workers
do basic maintenance and repairs,
such as cleaning and lubricating machinery,
performing basic diagnostic tests,
and testing damaged parts.
Using computerized diagnostic equipment
and expertise,
industrial machinery mechanics detect and fix
mechanical problems;
just listening to a machine’s vibration,
they can distinguish a worn belt
from a weak motor bearing.
Millwrights install and disassemble
industrial machines
as well as conduct repairs.
They often move machines within a facility,
carefully categorizing
and sequencing every part.
They use cranes and forklifts
to bring the heavy parts to the new location.
In addition to hand tools,
these workers use welding
and cutting equipment,
and precision-measuring devices.
Because of the high risk of injury on the job,
safety precautions and protective equipment
such as hardhats, steel-toed shoes,
and earplugs are essential.
Industrial machinery mechanics
and maintenance workers
typically work regular, full-time hours,
although overtime is common,
especially for mechanics.
Millwrights may have more variable schedules
with downtime between projects,
as they usually work on a contract basis
to assemble or disassemble machines.
While all 3 need a high school education
to enter the field,
machinery maintenance workers
typically receive on-the-job training;
industrial machinery mechanics
need a year or more of training;
and most millwrights learn their skills
in a 4-year apprenticeship—
although an associate’s degree
in industrial maintenance may suffice.