8 Maintenance Operations Industrial maintenance and mechatronics encom- passes a wide range of jobs. See Figure 1-6. Oftentimes, you can move from one position to another by completing additional formal training or through on-the-job training. 1.3.2 Work Conditions A typical workday for an industrial maintenance techni- cian could begin with a brief start-of-shift meeting to discuss work assignments and priorities. Depending on the scope of the assignment, work may be performed individually or by small teams. Common assignments include the following: ■ Installing new machines, debugging machines, and bringing machines online. ■ Troubleshooting and repairing malfunctioning equipment. ■ Performing preventive maintenance. ■ Evaluating processes to improve productivity and performance. ■ Working with outside contractors or inside engineering on current or upcoming projects. Positions Related to Industrial Maintenance and Mechatronics Food service equipment technician Machine installer Lubricatio n technician Industrial mechanic City or municipal technician Water treatment technician or operator Forge technician Plastic injection molding technician Fluid power technician Instrumentation technician Instrumentation programmer/calibrator Electrical technician Electronic technician PLC programmer Communications technician HVAC/refrigeration technician Maintenance technician Vibration technician Goodheart-Willcox Publisher Figure 1-6. The skills you gain in your industrial maintenance education make you a candidate for many different jobs. Industrial maintenance work is often performed indoors in an industrial facility, Figure 1-7, but work may also be performed outdoors as well. Work schedules are typically 40 hours per week, but overtime work may be required at some facilities. Facilities may be operational 24 hours per day, so industrial maintenance work may need to be done during the day, at night, or during weekends. Pressmaster/Shutterstock.com Figure 1-7. Technicians have the skills to perform various job tasks in different work settings. This technician is performing mechanical maintenance with proper personal protective equipment and tools in a factory setting. 1.3.3 Case Studies Th e following are two career case studies based on actual students who completed an industrial maintenance and mechatronics program. Case Study #1: Jake After graduating high school, Jake was employed in an entry-level maintenance position at a small plastic injec- tion molding plant. Th e factory had an apprenticeship program that included completing specifi c industrial maintenance courses at a community college. Taking full advantage of this program, Jake went to school over the next two years and increased his hourly wage from $10 an hour to $20 an hour. He also earned a certifi cate in Industrial Maintenance, but did not fi nish his degree. Over the next several years, Jake moved among several employers. He lost one position when the plant he was working at closed, and left another posi- tion when his responsibilities and required hours were increased without receiving an appropriate increase in salary. Jake fi nally returned to school and fi nished his two-year degree. With his degree in hand, he accepted Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.