A Maintenance Technician is a professional who keeps a distillery and other buildings facilities and machinery running smoothly by conducting general to specialist repairs. As a Maintenance Technician you will ensure that heating and plumbing systems and HVAC installations operate effectively and oversee the general maintenance of plant and machinery. Typically, this will involve maintaining plant assets in a safe, clean and operational condition, routine maintenance, planned and emergency repairs, and installing new equipment or other machinery that controls the temperature in a building’s infrastructure.

Maintenance Technicians are highly-skilled individuals. The scope of work and degree of specialisation of a technician may depend on the size of operations of the facility and the number of assets that need to be maintained. Maintenance Technicians are responsible for the upkeep of a facility, and their tasks include the maintenance and repair of industrial machinery, such as factory equipment, conveyor systems and packaging machines etc.

Main duties and responsibilities

Aa a maintenance technician you are responsible for the repair and upkeep of the facility you work in, including most of its assets. You will be skilled in a variety of areas including plumbing, carpentry, and electrical systems.

Typical duties and responsibilities include:

• Oversee the maintenance and repair of all plant assets, including production equipment (fillers, conveyors, labellers, tanks), facilities equipment (forklifts, pallet jacks), and utility equipment (boilers, HVAC).
• Assemble, disassemble, install new machines, monitoring sensors and equipment.
• Implement preventative maintenance programmes and respond to emergency repairs when required.
• Conduct maintenance of electrical systems (replace light bulbs and sockets, clean and repair circuit breaker panels etc.).
• Maintain relationships with specialist service providers and procure their services when specialist knowledge is required.
• Manage, clean and maintain tools, parts and supplies required for maintenance and repair.
• Oversee inspections, oil changes, meter readings etc
• Plan incoming work requests and routine maintenance tasks.
• Maintain a record / log of maintenance work completed.
• Follow safety measures and policies.
• Solve mechanical, electrical and hydraulic issues on production and facility equipment.
• Troubleshoot mechanical breakdowns.
• Interpret technical procedures, schematics, blueprints and service manuals.
• Survey buildings and repair mechanical systems to ensure they comply with health and safety regulations.
• Assisting in the setup and maintain ventilation, refrigeration and other systems.
• Maintain heating, plumbing and HVAC equipment.

Skills, experience and qualifications

• Proven experience as a maintenance technician, preferably in a food or beverage manufacturing plant.
• High school diploma or equivalent; Certificate in HVAC, building maintenance technology or relevant field will be a plus.
• Certified Maintenance and Reliability Professional (CMRP) is desired
• Broad technical knowledge.
• Basic understanding of electrical, hydraulic and other systems
• Good understanding og general maintenance processes and methods.
• Experience of using a variety of equipment from lawn mowers to common hand tools and devices.
• Good problem-solving skills with close attention to detail.
• Good trouble-shooting skills including the ability to gather information, synthesise it, draw conclusions and execute a solution.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Careful following of safety protocols such as LOTO procedures
• Be physically in good shape, as the role can be physically demanding.

Institute of Brewing and Distilling
Tel: 020 7499 8144
Website: http://www.ibd.org.uk
Twitter: @IBDHQ
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IBDHQ

National Skills Academy for Food and Drink
Tel: 0330 174 1253
E-mail: info@nsafd.co.uk
Website: http://nsafd.co.uk
Twitter: @NSAFD

Scotland Food and Drink
Tel: 0131 335 0940
Website: http://www.foodanddrink.scot
Twitter: @scotfooddrink
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scotfooddrink