Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Equipment Maintenance Technician

🎯 Role Definition

The Equipment Maintenance Technician is responsible for ensuring production and facility equipment operate safely, reliably, and efficiently. This hands-on role performs preventive and corrective mechanical, electrical, and control-system maintenance; executes root-cause analysis to reduce repeat failures; documents work in the CMMS; and partners with operations, engineering and safety teams to optimize uptime and equipment performance. Ideal candidates combine technical skill across mechanical and electrical domains with strong troubleshooting, safety discipline, and a continuous improvement mindset.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Maintenance Helper / Apprentice
Mechanical Technician I
Electrical Technician I / Controls Apprentice

Advancement To:

Sr. Equipment Maintenance Technician
Reliability Technician / Specialist
Maintenance Team Lead / Supervisor
Maintenance Planner / Scheduler
Maintenance Engineering Technician

Lateral Moves:

Controls or PLC Technician
Calibration Technician
Facilities Technician
Process Technician

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Perform scheduled preventive maintenance on production machinery, conveyors, motors, pumps, gearboxes and process systems to maximize equipment uptime and extend asset life.
Diagnose and repair mechanical failures, including bearings, shafts, couplings, seals, belts, chains, gearboxes and couplings using precision alignment, bearing replacement and machining as required.
Troubleshoot and repair electrical systems up to 480V including motors, starters, drives, relays, contactors and control wiring while following lockout/tagout procedures and electrical safety standards.
Read and interpret electrical and mechanical schematics, P&IDs, ladder logic and manufacturer manuals to guide troubleshooting and repairs on complex equipment.
Perform PLC and HMI troubleshooting, basic logic checks, I/O verification and collaborate with controls engineers to resolve automation-related failures (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or equivalent).
Execute predictive maintenance tasks such as vibration analysis, thermography (infrared scanning), oil analysis and ultrasonic inspection to identify developing faults before failure.
Complete corrective maintenance work rapidly to restore equipment to service, including emergency repairs during production shifts and planned downtime activities.
Use CMMS (e.g., Maximo, SAP PM, Infor EAM) to create and update work orders, record labor and parts used, report downtime reasons and follow preventive maintenance schedules.
Conduct root cause analysis (RCA) for repeat failures, develop corrective actions, and implement countermeasures to reduce mean time between failures (MTBF).
Perform mechanical installations, equipment changeovers, and reassembly during capital projects, ensuring installation meets OEM specifications and local codes.
Maintain spare parts inventory and recommend critical parts stocking levels to ensure rapid repair and minimize production impact.
Calibrate and verify process instrumentation, gauges and sensors to ensure accurate process control and product quality.
Maintain accurate maintenance documentation, update maintenance logs, SOPs and equipment histories to support audits and continuous improvement.
Support planned shutdowns and turnarounds by executing assigned maintenance scopes, completing punch lists and ensuring safe, timely project delivery.
Install and set up machinery components including bearings, seals, hydraulic cylinders, pneumatics valves and associated tubing and fittings.
Operate lifting equipment safely (hoists, forklifts, crane tag-along) to move heavy components for repair while following rigging best practices and permits.
Collaborate with production, quality and engineering teams to troubleshoot process-related equipment issues and provide technical solutions that improve throughput, yield and safety.
Implement and enforce safety standards such as lockout/tagout, confined space entry, PPE use and hazard communication to maintain a safe work environment.
Participate in reliability improvement initiatives, Lean maintenance, 5S, and Kaizen events to improve maintenance efficiency and reduce waste.
Mentor and train operations personnel on basic equipment checks, preventive maintenance tasks, and safe operating practices to reduce equipment misuse.
Perform adjustments, alignments and load testing after repair to verify proper operation and compliance with performance specifications.
Respond to after-hours emergency maintenance calls on a rotating on-call schedule, diagnosing problems remotely or on-site to restore critical systems.
Evaluate and recommend replacements or upgrades for aging equipment based on failure mode data, ROI, and improved reliability potential.
Coordinate with external vendors and contractors for specialized repairs, warranty work, or calibration services, ensuring vendor compliance with site safety and QA procedures.
Apply continuous learning to stay current on new technologies, safety regulations, and maintenance best practices across mechanical, electrical and automation disciplines.

Secondary Functions

Contribute input to maintenance budgets and capital expenditure requests by estimating labor, parts and downtime impacts for proposed repairs or equipment upgrades.
Support cross-functional improvement projects such as energy-efficiency initiatives, production capacity expansions and new equipment installations.
Assist maintenance planners by providing technical detail for work order scopes, estimated labor hours and required materials or tooling.
Participate in internal audits, safety inspections and ISO/OSHA compliance activities; implement corrective actions from audit findings.
Lead small troubleshooting teams during complex repairs and mentor junior technicians in diagnostic techniques and documentation best practices.
Coordinate equipment decommissioning or relocation activities, ensuring proper tagging, disassembly and safe transport.
Provide feedback to procurement on sourcing reliable spare parts, suggested suppliers, and critical component lifecycle risks.
Maintain and calibrate shop tools and test equipment (multimeters, meg-ohm meters, vibration sensors, thermal imagers) to ensure valid measurements.
Assist quality and process engineers with failure analysis by providing hands-on investigation and disassembly of defective components.
Communicate scheduled maintenance impacts and status updates to production supervisors and operations planners to minimize disruptions.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Preventive maintenance execution for rotating and fixed equipment (conveyors, pumps, motors, gearboxes).
Electrical troubleshooting up to 480V and knowledge of motor controls, starters and VFDs.
PLC and HMI familiarity (Allen-Bradley, Siemens, or equivalent); ability to read ladder logic and perform basic I/O checks.
Pneumatics and hydraulics diagnosis and repair, including valve and cylinder replacement and line maintenance.
CMMS proficiency (e.g., Maximo, SAP PM, Infor EAM) for creating work orders, logging downtime and tracking spare parts.
Predictive maintenance techniques: vibration analysis, infrared thermography, oil analysis and ultrasonic testing.
Blueprint, schematic and P&ID reading and interpretation.
Mechanical alignment, shaft coupling installation, belt/chain replacement and bearing replacement skills.
Calibration of instrumentation, pressure gauges, flow meters and sensors to ensure process accuracy.
Welding, brazing or soldering skills (MIG/TIG or brazing as applicable) for fabrications and repairs.
Rigging and safe lifting practices; forklift and crane safety awareness.
Use of hand, power and precision tools, torque tools and portable diagnostic equipment.

Soft Skills

Strong troubleshooting and analytical problem-solving skills with a focus on root cause elimination.
Clear verbal and written communication to document work, report issues, and coordinate with cross-functional teams.
Attention to detail and a disciplined approach to safety, compliance and SOP adherence.
Time management and prioritization skills to balance reactive repairs and scheduled maintenance.
Teamwork and collaboration with operations, engineering and contractors.
Continuous improvement mindset; willingness to engage in Lean, 5S and reliability initiatives.
Customer-service orientation when interacting with production stakeholders to minimize downtime.
Adaptability to changing production schedules and emergency repair situations.
Training and mentoring ability to develop junior technicians and operator-maintenance partnerships.
Ethical behavior, accountability for work quality and ownership of assigned equipment.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED plus relevant technical training or certificate in industrial maintenance, electrical, mechanical, or manufacturing technology.

Preferred Education:

Associate degree or technical diploma in Mechanical Technology, Industrial Maintenance, Electrical Technology, Mechatronics, or Electronics.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Industrial Maintenance Technology
Electrical/Electronic Technology
Mechanical Engineering Technology
Mechatronics / Automation
Welding and Fabrication Technology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 2–5 years of hands-on maintenance experience in a manufacturing, processing, or industrial environment.

Preferred: 3–7+ years of combined mechanical and electrical maintenance experience with demonstrated PLC or controls troubleshooting, predictive maintenance practice, and CMMS usage.