Online Industrial Maintenance Training: What Actually Helps You Get Hired?
Many industries rely on electromechanical technicians and industrial maintenance technicians to maintain their automated systems. Having skilled technicians on hand reduces downtime and keeps equipment functioning. To maintain facilities' operations, employers need candidates with practical skills—including troubleshooting skills—to get the job done.
Understanding which skills are important can help you prepare for your future career as an electromechanical technician or industrial maintenance technician. If you're a working adult seeking online training to get ready for your future job, you need to know what to look for in a certificate program.
Key takeaways:
- Industrial maintenance technicians troubleshoot systems and perform preventative maintenance on equipment and automated systems in many industries.
- These technicians need strong troubleshooting skills to become valuable workers.
Consider taking a flexible online training program designed for adult learners.
What Do Industrial Maintenance Technicians Do?
Industrial maintenance technicians troubleshoot equipment failures, maintain electrical and mechanical systems, perform preventative maintenance, diagnose automation problems, and repair motors and automated systems. These professionals can be found working in many industries, including food processing, energy and utilities, manufacturing, logistics, distribution, and more.
What Employers Really Want When Hiring Maintenance Technicians
Employers look for maintenance technicians with a range of troubleshooting skills, electrical fundamentals, PLC basics, and so on. The type of skills the employer looks for depends on the industry, position roles and responsibilities, and whether the position is entry-level or advanced.
If you are considering becoming an industrial maintenance technician or electromechanical technician, a good starting point would be to learn what skills are most desirable for technician positions in your area. Training yourself to fit those roles will make you more employable.
Practical Troubleshooting Skills
Industrial maintenance technicians must engage in systematic troubleshooting to discover where errors are coming from and what can be done to fix them. Some examples of what these technicians do in real-world scenarios include:
- Diagnose equipment failures
- Repair and replace components as needed
Isolate faults
All of this is done while minimizing downtime during production. Having hands-on troubleshooting skills can be invaluable. This is why many employers are more interested in real-world experience than theoretical knowledge. If you're a student learning industrial maintenance, enroll in a program that offers hands-on troubleshooting through simulation software.
Strong Electrical Fundamentals
Electrical knowledge makes repairing automation and mechanical components possible. To do the work, employers expect technicians to understand basic electrical theory, how to read wiring diagrams, relays and contractors, motor controls, and more. Since many automated systems depend on electrical control systems to function, this information is essential for doing the work correctly.
Hydraulics and Pneumatics Knowledge
Hydraulic pumps and valves and pneumatic cylinders and actuators are important components frequently found in industrial equipment, especially in manufacturing machinery and automated production lines. Knowing how to work with pneumatic systems is important for industrial maintenance workers. Maintenance technicians should understand how to diagnose and repair these components.
PLC Basics and Automation Awareness
Automation systems are growing in importance in modern industrial settings. To keep these automation systems running, employers require technicians familiar with programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and knowledge of automation troubleshooting. Even entry-level knowledge of PLC systems can be helpful. This information can accumulate as technicians develop skills.
Skills That Strengthen an Industrial Maintenance Resume
Having a strong resume is fundamental to being hired in today's workforce. If you're in the industrial maintenance field, here are additional skills to highlight when you're interviewing for jobs.
Mechanical Maintenance Skills
Mechanical skills are required when repairing and diagnosing problems. You'll need to be familiar with many motor components and how maintenance can help prevent breakdowns.
Reading Technical Documentation
Having the ability to read technical documentation can guide you through various processes without seeking help. This is a must for any tech seeking to diagnose and repair equipment efficiently. Examples of the type of technical documentation you should be able to read include:
- Equipment manuals
- Wiring diagrams
- Maintenance procedures
Schematics
Safety and Compliance Awareness
In industrial settings, safety is critical for protecting workers and equipment while maintaining compliance. Practical safety skills you'll need to know include electrical safety, lockout/tagout, and equipment shutdown procedures.
What You Need in an Online Industrial Maintenance Training Program
The training program you choose for starting a career in industrial maintenance makes all the difference. Good programs teach students how to work safely, efficiently, and correctly. If you're an adult choosing a program to join, consider these criteria:
- Skills-focused curriculum: Look for a program emphasizing important skills employers seek, such as troubleshooting techniques and electrical fundamentals.
- Virtual labs: Lab simulation software helps students develop practical knowledge that transfers easily to real-world scenarios. If you're learning in an online program, this is the hands-on learning you need.
- Flexible scheduling: Self-paced programs with open enrollment and flexible scheduling allow adults to learn new skills while also meeting their adult obligations. This takes some stress out of learning, so you can focus on developing the practical skills you need.
Affordable: Affordability is another important component of any online training course. Similar to flexible scheduling, if the program is affordable, it's easier to focus on learning.
Get Started with Industrial Maintenance Training
Are you interested in industrial automation or electromechanical equipment maintenance and working on advanced machinery? Do you want to take the next step in your career? Talk to a program consultant at George Brown Polytechnic by calling 1-888-553-5333, or follow this link to discover the skills you can develop in our Electromechanical Technician training program.