Everything to know: Maintenance Mechanic

[@jasonjaeger4860]

Ive been working as a maintenance technician for 13 years now. I’m now maintenance lead. What I’ve learned from my experience. Do not express your complaints or dissatisfied situations to anyone you work with. No one there is your friend. Your co-workers are not your buddies. Vent out your frustration to your family at home. Keep a good positive calm attitude and take your time when working on equipment. Answer calls on the radio professionally and just relax. Isolate the problems to what is not the problem and isolate safely. Always use LOTO and be safe. Learn what you can. Keep notes on you phone. Take pictures before repairs so you will remember how it goes back. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. No one knows everything. If you are planning to go somewhere else never tell anyone. Use the maintenance manuals. Read and research. Over time you will become more proficient. Know your worth. Don’t be afraid to look for better jobs and go on interviews. Sometimes going somewhere might not be better. Be careful where you decide to work. In this trade you will see a high turn over rates because most people can’t handle it. If you stick out though you can make good money over time.

[@jasonpowell8832]

In my plant welding, plumbing, and electrical experience is part of the job. We do PM's and when do emergency repairs that we write up in Work orders. I've been at my plant for 5 years and I'm just getting good at it. I have boiler certifications and heavy equipment certification that I got through the job. I make close to 70k last year and started at 40k. Work hard, learn, and be a team player and you will succeed

[@andrewfurtado4875]

Fuck… some of the workers on the plant probably make close to $80k a year with all the overtime they work, I’m a cheesemaker and work a lot of 12’s and make close to 82k… I’d be taking a huge pay cut just to be home more often and better work schedule 😅 almost makes me wanna just keep slaving… sure i don’t get time to spend the money because i work so much but at least the moneys being saved and going towards a house.

[@ManuelPerez-sw9nj]

I work at national beef getting paid 27.60 an hour

[@MShah-ch6st]

Where do you work and what name of the company?

[@JIm-w1b]

Make sure you know what you're getting into, because maintenance means different things to different people. The kind of maintenance I worked, was as an electrician/mechanic who fixed anything in the plant that needed fixed. Some people think maintenance means grease monkey with lube and oil. Or maintenance means janitorial service. Or maintenance means you run a production machine and make your own repairs and adjustments. Or maintenance means you take care of and make repairs to buildings. Or maintenance means lawn mowing and taking care of a property. When I was in the navy, my rate was AMH. That stood for aviation maintenance hydraulics. I thought I was going to be a jet mechanic, but the job was wash rack and grease jobs on a flight line and I hated it

[@pelon7109]

Yeah I work a cheese plant in Texas and maintenance gets paid $32 starting and Max's at like 40 but they are the jacks of all trades master of noone. They have to fix everything in the plant sometimes it takes them a while but they figure it out

[@JasonWest-j8t]

I work as a Maintenance Mechanic. I’ve worked as a Technician, Manager and currently as Senior Industrial Lead and SME (subject matter expert). The pay rates quoted here are behind the actual. I love my job. Never the same thing day to day, always thinking. If you are interested in the field and work to be above average, learn the latest technologies in process and manufacturing you will be able to raise a family comfortably and always be in demand. I work with guys (and girls) that have been doing this work for 40+ years and can retire but don’t because they love to fix things. I have been fortunate to work as a Machinist, Master Electrician and now as a “Mechanic” and it’s exactly what I want to be doing. Success means mastering more than one trade but knowing a little about all- safely. That’s done with a mix of hands on and training (school and certification).

[@emiliohuerta2658]

it pays well, but seems like more and more they want you to be able to do everything. welding, electrical troubleshooting, hydraulics and even plc troubleshooting

[@unreal203]

The variety you listed is the very reason I love my job.

[@muadiib]

I mean, you can love it, but you can't be an expert in all of it like employers want you to be. I always try to explain to recruiters that 9 times out of 10 the manufacturers of these machines require a pass code to open up ladder logic and manipulate IOs. If that's the case, they may walk you through the IOs or they'll just tell you to call a service tech out. I prefer to be a master mechanic and let the techs do what they need to do.

[@spydirtek]

@@muadiib meh, I do both. that said, if I don't have a company-issued laptop with the required software (also paid by the company), I ain't touching the ladder. you'll spend the rest of your natural life trying to edit through an HMI.

[@michaelmartin7333]

I have been a millwright and this is a good start. Remember it's a lifestyle. This is your life. The machines you take care of are your life. From compressor to plumbing to electrical to boilers its your life. On call its your site. No one gets paid if it isn't running. So in a sense you are the heart beat of all. Remember this. You might have alot of things prioritize what what keeps it running and fix down to factory. 1 thing at a time. Never stop. Never quit. We are a dying breed.

[@justsubtoome7347]

How long does maintenance mechanic school take I just started registering at my community college

[@michaelmartin7333]

@@justsubtoome7347 depends. School isn't the end all. It's just a start for standards. I'd say a good maintenance mechanic has been in multiple fields for at least 5 to 6 years of on the job training. Just to be dangerous. Then again I know my go too has been in for 20 I've been in for 10 now, I still teach him and him me

[@robertspence831]

Been doing it for years. My body is destroyed. Bad back, shoulders, knees....Arthritis and carpal tunnel, too. Get out while you're young. Over a lifetime? Don't do it.

[@darrancecain8524]

What's a good transition?

[@jasonjaeger4860]

@@darrancecain8524CNC programmer, planner, manager, maintenance lead, purchasing or just find another trade entirely.

[@brienwilliams4315]

Where I work, we use maintenance Technician. We do pm, machine commissioning/decommissioning, electrical upgrades to machines. Pretty much everything.

[@Hallboyjr]

Thank you so much! I’m just starting my maintenance career and don’t know where i’m headed but this helped so much!

[@alexvee562]

Can anyone give me tips on getting into maintenance or how I can start ? Im 24 years old, I know how to use certain hands tools besides that my experience is with wastewater & forklift operation.

[@unreal203]

Check local trade schools, and community colleges for courses in industrial maintenance, or mechatronics.

[@VicMansaMusa]

Sounds like it doesn't pay well unless you do a lot of overtime.

[@unreal203]

There's a lot of factors regarding pay rate. Size of company, size of plant, experience, skill set, seniority are the prime ones.

[@VicMansaMusa]

@@unreal203 I am talking in general. You just listed exceptions, for most you ll put in a lot of overtime. Yes, you can make lots of money

[@unreal203]

@@VicMansaMusa No, everything I listed is general. Everyplace I have worked, or even interviewed at, those have been the prime factors of pay rate. I did forget to mention location. The company I work for pays mechanics more or less than me in other areas because of cost of living. But yes, most places, the overtime is what pays more than just the bills. Then again, what do you consider "pays well"? I am quite happy with where I'm at pay wise. I'm doing better as an industrial mechanic than I ever did as an auto mechanic, or a boiler tech.

[@Anotherclevername20]

Oh my job mislabeled my job... I am both of these things. That's probabaly why I get paid so well too.

[@MultiAug]

Sorry if it sounded like i was criticising, i wasnt. I actually enjoyed the video. Good job

[@zhaoyun6732]

Its way too demanding for thaf money they need to pay az least 70k per year

[@MultiAug]

Isnt real life experience more important than certificates at your place guys ? This is USA right ? Here, in europe, nobody cares about papers. So we might aswell just go for minimum wage after highschool and learn while making money instead of spending. Ahhhhh, im sure its the same there !

[@jasonpowell8832]

Yes. I've only spent a few weeks getting certified. My ability is way more important than my papers

[@dagramirez]

Deep description of MX mech

[@SolomonAtinafu]

Good understaning

[@ParrotEater]

03:47

[@JohnofFinland291]

Nice and informative video. 👌⚙️🔧

[@dookidoodoo]

Tropicana and Frido lay hire alot

[@afish43]

Thats says alot! High turnover is a warning.