INDUSTRIAL MILLWRIGHT MECHANIC

JOB DESCRIPTION

An Industrial Millwright Mechanic is a universal position in the food and beverage processing industry, meaning that you can find a job in every subsector. This position can go by many different titles including:

Millwright Maintenance Mechanic
Maintenance Millwright
Industrial mechanic apprentice
Construction Millwright
Industrial Mechanic
Millwright Apprentice
Plant Equipment Mechanic
Millwright
Treatment Plant Maintenance Mechanic
Service Manager

In this role you’ll be responsible for keeping the mechanical equipment and stationary machinery running! As a critical thinker and a natural problem solver you’ll inspect and examine the machinery to diagnose problems and investigate any irregularities or malfunctions. You’ll also form good relationships with the Machine Operators who will give you valuable clues as to what’s been happening. Using your broad knowledge of mechanical systems and a vast array of tools, you’ll repair the equipment, replace and adjust parts and get the production line “back in business” in no time! Work with the production, food safety and maintenance teams to develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and regular upkeep schedules for equipment and machinery as well as the appropriate documentation and record keeping. This is just a snapshot of the exciting career waiting for you, there’s a full range of things to know and try – welding, grinders, pressed, hoisting, lifting, electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic systems, climbing things, lots of belts, motors, gears and so on. If this sounds like something you’re interested in, keep reading!

THE WORK ENVIRONMENT

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In general, Grain and Oilseed plants maintain an average temperature throughout the facility so there are no extreme temperature differences to endure – with other food processing subsectors, this may not be the case. As with all manufacturing plants, you can expect a higher noise level with the machinery running constantly, as well as exposure to dust, fumes.

As you move to different areas of the plant, you’ll be required to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and comply with all food safety and health. Depending on the work you’re doing, you may also need to wear additional PPE for the job such as goggles, masks, hard hats, gloves, aprons, etc.

Industrial Millwright Mechanics are onsite during production hours and often do shift work along with the rest of the production team. It’s important that they are there incase any of the equipment or machinery goes down during production – it’s a job that can’t wait! You may also have to work longer shifts to continue work on any machine causing issues so it’s back in business before the next production shift. This means, employers offer the full gamut of working hours from evening to daytime, late afternoon and so on.

FACT: There are about 10,500 people working as Industrial Millwright Mechanics in Canada with approximately 12% of them employed in the food and beverage processing industry.

INDUSTRIAL MILLWRIGHT MECHANIC SALARY

Low Range

$39k+ annually

$20 per hour

Average

$62k+ annually

$32 per hour

High Range

$87k+ annually

$45 per hour

*Annual salary calculated by 37.5 hr work week, and by a 52 weeks per year

Industrial Millwrights work all types of shifts, it’s not uncommon for shifts to be 10-12 hours in length. For night shifts and emergency on-call services, there’s usually premium pay or OT included. Keeping in mind that there are only a few people in a plant who can do what you do, so Millwrights are expected to have flexible hours working days, evenings, weekends, holidays and Overtime pay during high-demand processing seasons. There’s about a 50/50 split of some employers paying hourly wages and others paying annual salaries. Industrial Millwright Mechanics are typically eligible for full health and wellness benefits including dental and vision care, usually from the first day. Life insurance and disability insurance, as well as contributions to retirement savings plans. Depending on your employer’s size, some offer Employee Assistance Programs and provide opportunities for ongoing education reimbursement and support. Another cool perk of the job is tool allowances and a casual dress code! Some employers offer premium pay for additional certifications held such as PLC troubleshooting, Power Engineering, etc.

INDUSTRIAL MILLWRIGHT MECHANIC JOB DUTIES

Here are some of the duties you can expect on the job:

Maintain the following systems in the manufacturing plant: electrical system, water system, steam system, compressed air and gas system

Read blueprints, diagrams and schematics to determine work procedures

Using an array of hand and power tools, install, align, dismantle and move stationary industrial machinery and mechanical equipment. This could include pumps, fans, tanks, conveyors, furnaces and generators according to layout plans.

Operate hoisting and lifting devices such as cranes, jacks and tractors to position machinery and parts during the installation, set-up and repair of machinery

Inspect and examine machinery and equipment to detect any irregularities or malfunctions that may require fixing. Adjusting and repairing defective parts as needed.

Perform routine preventative maintenance and emergency repairs throughout the plant, including cleaning or lubricating machinery to keep it in top shape.

Install, troubleshoot and maintain power transmission, vacuum, hydraulic and pneumatic systems, and programmable logic controls

Operate machine tools such as lathes and grinders to fabricate parts required during overhaul, maintenance or set-up of machinery

Assemble machinery and equipment before the pieces are moved onto the plant floor

Adhere to all Food Safety, Health & Safety, HACCP, WHMIS and good manufacturing practices guidelines and contribute to a healthy work environment, while maintaining high food safety and health and safety standards.

FACT: Canada has the largest coastline in the world, measuring 243,042 km.

BECOMING A INDUSTRIAL MILLWRIGHT MECHANIC

Size of Organization

While all food and beverage processors have equipment and big moving parts, not all organizations can afford to keep a qualified Millwright on staff. Typically, only larger operations will be able to employ an in-house Millwright or maybe even a small team of Millwrights. Medium-sized operations will have a Facilities Maintenance team who take care of the plant and perform regular maintenance on the machines, and some basic fixes when required. When things go awry, mid-sized operations will call in the help of a Millwright Mechanic to perform all of the larger and more complex fixes. Small and micro food processing operations may not have either occupation on staff and would have to hire out both skills on an as-needed basis (usually to comply with food safety standards). In other words, there’s a place for Industrial Millwright Mechanics in all food and beverage operations – you’ll just need to decide what type of work best suits your personality. With the larger plant you’ll get an opportunity to continuously improve one set of machinery, building schedules and ensuring continuity in work. If you’re more interested in traveling and seeking new and unfamiliar challenges, then taking a spot with a maintenance/ building management-type company who services micro, small and medium food operations may be your best fit. If you’re interested in working at a large organization, check out this career video of what an Industrial Mechanic’s role looks like at Frito Lay:

Competitiveness & Availability

Millwrights are always in high demand as they have a broad knowledge of the mechanical field allowing them to work in numerous types of positions in many different industries. With the current market conditions, there’s even forecasted to be a shortage of Millwrights and Industrial Mechanics across Canada in the coming years. This is a very secure and rewarding occupation, as there will always be a need for Millwright Mechanics especially as automation continues to increase.

Advancement Opportunities

As with anything, “practice makes perfect” and that’s certainly the case here, over time you will encounter numerous pieces of machinery and will troubleshoot all types of problems, giving you greater exposure to different scenarios and their solutions. Manufacturing plants typically have custom machinery pieces to fit their production needs so no two plants are exactly alike! If you’re just starting your career, you’ll work in a junior position assisting more experienced Millwrights in the plant in performing preventative maintenance and problem-solving newer problems. As you gain experience, you’ll take on responsibility for various areas on the plant and report to senior managers. Over time you’ll become familiar with all plant operations and be the “go-to person” able to resolve most issues. Any specializations and ongoing professional development activities will contribute toward career progression and advancement.

Education

An Industrial Millwright Mechanic is a certifiable trade in Canada, an apprenticeship or certification is only required to work in the province of Quebec and is voluntary throughout the rest of the country. However, to become employed as an Industrial Millwright, most employers are looking for your Apprenticeship, Red Seal Certification, and/ or 2-3 years’ work experience. The “433A” Industrial Mechanic Millwright Apprenticeship program takes approximately 4 years to complete and most of that time is spent learning on the job so you can still earn and gain experience while you are learning! To apply for the Apprenticeship program, you only need a minimum of Grade 12 high school education. Here’s what you can expect:

7,280 hours of on-the-job training/ work experience
720 hours of in-school training – 3 levels of theoretical training
A certification exam at the end

For the education portion of your Apprenticeship, many Colleges and Universities throughout Canada are partnered with the apprenticeship program to provide the training. This comes in 3 levels and you’ll take the training in segments as you clock your work experience. Alternatively, some post-secondary institutions offer a separate 1-2 year training program so you can see if this is your ideal career fit before you take on a 4-year apprenticeship program. If you’re unsure if this is the right career for you, many Colleges and Universities throughout Canada offer 1-2 year programs that contribute towards the “in school” training component of your apprenticeship. So, you may want to try it out in the classroom. Since the Industrial Millwright Mechanic trade can be applicable to numerous industries, some food science and safety-related courses may be beneficial in scoring the perfect job in the Food & Beverage Manufacturing Industry. Here are some short courses to consider for an extra competitive edge:

Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs)
Introduction to HACCP
Introduction to Preventive Control Plans (PCPs)
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
Industrial Sanitation and Standard Sanitation Operating Procedures (SSOP)
Introduction to Allergens in the Food Manufacturing Industry
Written and Oral Communication Skills
Job Task Planning and Organizational Skills
Record Keeping & Documentation
Quality Assurance & Quality Control

CHECKOUT THESE RESOURCES

Each province has its own trade regulations, so you’ll need to check out the different requirements per province. Alternatively, you can get your official Red Seal certification, which is an exam taken after your Apprenticeship that formally recognizes your knowledge, skills and abilities, allowing you to work anywhere throughout Canada!

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