lung-buster
Well-Known Member
Less than 2 years and make good money. I've been thinking about going back for it in a year or so.
Industrial Maintenance..
- Thread starter lung-buster
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CATCHDAWG
Well-Known Member
I did and it really paid off. Been with the same major company for twenty years making great money. On the downside, last year they went to swing shift and I hate it. Gonna work bout another year to pay my house off then I'm out! Lol
J.W.308
Well-Known Member
Cant go wrong in the maintenance field . Good mechanics are hard to find .
I think it's a great line of work to get into these days. But an I.M. "degree" shouldn't be a goal....it ought to be a starting point. You should follow up with some more in depth electrician certification, as well as a welder certification.
I just did work for a guy Friday that was talking about the previous I.M. supervisors that preceded him....his company was surprised he could weld. His answer was:
"You've never hired an Industrial Maintenance supervisor...you've always employed parts changers."
I just did work for a guy Friday that was talking about the previous I.M. supervisors that preceded him....his company was surprised he could weld. His answer was:
"You've never hired an Industrial Maintenance supervisor...you've always employed parts changers."
Plott 1
Well-Known Member
I would take a look at the jobs in the area you are looking at working. In our area of Monroe COunty I will tell you its tough to get a maintenance position unless you have experience as well as the education. I took Electro/Mech Maint at CLeveland State in 2000. Companies like to have a well rounded worker with experience and a desire to improve which is apparently yourself or you would not be looking at going back to school. Newell Sanford in Maryville pays well for experienced Maint people but they do not hire very often. Good Luck
Kirk
Well-Known Member
My only word of warning about a career in Maintenance in an industrial plant. You will work a lot of hours, weekends and holidays. If you don't mind that little Caveat then you will have a great field to work in.
CATCHDAWG
Well-Known Member
^This^ and I said in my other post, most places work swing shift now and that SUCKS!Kirk said:
Like others have said alot of hours and holidays. Took a 2 year course a State Vo-Tech school. That was 2 years wasted because I never pursued a career in the field. My employer at the time decided to pay me well for what I was doing at the time.
280longshot
Well-Known Member
I have worked in the field for 18yrs or so plus 4 yrs Aviation Maintenance in the military.
The majority of employers are looking for multi-skilled technicians not just mechanics.
Just like TAFKAP said, you need to further your skills in Industrial Electricity, Pneumatics, Hydraulics, and Industrial Controls. In a Fully Automated Plant you will have to troubleshoot all of these with great proficiency.
I think it is worth it just depends on what you want.
The majority of employers are looking for multi-skilled technicians not just mechanics.
Just like TAFKAP said, you need to further your skills in Industrial Electricity, Pneumatics, Hydraulics, and Industrial Controls. In a Fully Automated Plant you will have to troubleshoot all of these with great proficiency.
I think it is worth it just depends on what you want.
CATCHDAWG
Well-Known Member
All those classes were included in my course, might be different now, that was in 91. I had to take welding and machining separately.280longshot said:
280longshot
Well-Known Member
I would look into some Allen Bradley classes also. They offer some advanced classes in motor controls (VFD), automation (Control Logix). These classes go a long way on your resume!
These are the latest contols that alot of manufactures are using.
These are the latest contols that alot of manufactures are using.
DIRTTRAX
Well-Known Member
I been in the field for 14 years and have been a maintenance supervisor for 6 now. Its a good field, if you dont mind working and the long hours. But without experience it is hard to find someone willing to give you a dream job. More than likely you will have to start on the bottom, weekends, nights or pm crew and just work your way up. Main thing beside common sense we look for now is strong background with PLC, control logix training. The course you mentioned above will be a good start, just remember you may not come out making 50k to 100k a year till you earn it somewhere.
Kirk
Well-Known Member
280longshot said:
Good Advice. The old days of mechanical controls are gone. Most companies are looking for "technician" type maintenance employees now.
I watched a group of "old School" maintenance men spend several hours trying to get a new wrapper to work. When the newest guy walked in it was running in less than 5 minutes. He simply flipped the "remote manual" switch off on the PLC and switched to automatic. Ran like a charm. Sometimes it is the simple things that only a PLC tech knows.
rabbit hunter
Well-Known Member
Great field to get in. I have been at my plant for 8 years and they even pay for me to keep taking classes. I lucked out, my place is straight Monday thru Friday, 8 hours a day, some Saturdays, not many. Good luck!
CATCHDAWG
Well-Known Member
That's what I took, didn't remember their being much difference but after Eric listed the classes there is!Plott 1 said:
CATCHDAWG
Well-Known Member
Rabbit hunter, I'm jealous! First ten years of my career was like that but the last ten has went down hill. I've done a year of the swing, hopefully I can do one more...
ImThere
Well-Known Member
Its a great career. But like others have said be prepared for long hours and some holidays. Starting out most of the time on nights or weekends. Kinda like the Marines first in last out lol. I took a class similar to the one you described. I took several classes with allen bradley and took my first job sitting behind a desk programing new machines. After 2 yrs of continuous bs i left and went the 4 yr journeymen electrician program. And i haven't looked back i love what i do. The one worst aspect of my job is being on call 24/7/365.
marlin45/70
Well-Known Member
Eric, its a great career choice. I've been doing it now going on 20 years now and absolutly love what i do.You will have to start at the bottom and work your way up, but i went from a gofor to a supervisor of 14 tech's now and wouldn't change nothing. I strongly suggest PLC, and Electrical because everything is going to them,No more relay's and old time stuff.We currectly have over 120 assembly machine and 23 injection molding machine and everyone one of them have PLC'S in them that we have to get a enginneer to look at because we have never had any PLC experience (something were working on changing).Hydraulic's is another thing to look into, With the injection molding machine we have, they have a complex hydraulic system on them and there only about 6 of us that works on them. I work at Newell that plott 1 spoke of and we do hire but when we do we find it hard to find quailified tech's with the above experiences. Good Luck with your career choice
Good time Charlie
Well-Known Member
We need one right now ,good benefits and lots of work.
They are the highest paid group in the plant.
They are the highest paid group in the plant.
waynesworld
Well-Known Member
Maintenance, building and all those things can be great if you are happy working with your hands. I worked in the navy on aircraft in electrical and mechanical types of work. When I got out of the navy I did a few things but I always had a great aptitude towards numbers so when I finally knew I needed a degree to get above where I was wanting to go I got it in Accounting. My dad wanted me to get a quick degree in a construction type of area. Now I am glad I did not I now a lot of friends that took that route and are still killing themselves to keep what they got. As others said long hours and in some area's it is work that will take a toll on the body. I like to have work not take the toll on my body so now my play time can. Just my 2 cents and I have nothing against the people who do the laborious work. But if you talk to most and they are honest they will tell you that if you have other opportunities you should explore them.
