Mechanical Maintenance Jobs
Discussion
I've been thinking about a career move into this field for a while and wondered if there's anybody who could offer any advice or opinions, would be greatly appreciated.
I'm currently employed as a Bus & Coach Technician (IMI Level 3) with 5 years experience (2 years post qualification). Despite enjoying the core job itself, ideally I want to get out of the motor industry within the next few years. Obviously the current situation is very unpredictable and I'm more than grateful to still have my job as of now. I have been looking at mechanical roles within other industries and have come across several mechanical maintenance engineer jobs within the manufacturing industry that I like the sound of, plus the pay is better than what I'm on currently.
Most openings require a HNC in Mechanical Engineering, obviously I don't have this but I have found a training provider online (Tecol) that offer Mechanical Engineering qualifications. I believe I would need to start at Level 3 before I could do the HNC which is Level 4. In regards to study time, I have enough free time to dedicate that going by their guidelines I could complete Level 3 + HNC in around 3 years give or take.
With the qualification side out of the way, would I be considered to have enough transferable skills to get into a maintenance position in a different industry? I have experience with mechanical servicing and repair, fault diagnosis, planned/reactive maintenance on vehicles. I also have knowledge and experience working with hydraulic and pneumatic systems but only as found on heavy vehicles, plus basic electrical fault finding and repair.
If anybody has any advice, experience or other helpful thoughts on this please let me know.
Cheers
Will
I'm currently employed as a Bus & Coach Technician (IMI Level 3) with 5 years experience (2 years post qualification). Despite enjoying the core job itself, ideally I want to get out of the motor industry within the next few years. Obviously the current situation is very unpredictable and I'm more than grateful to still have my job as of now. I have been looking at mechanical roles within other industries and have come across several mechanical maintenance engineer jobs within the manufacturing industry that I like the sound of, plus the pay is better than what I'm on currently.
Most openings require a HNC in Mechanical Engineering, obviously I don't have this but I have found a training provider online (Tecol) that offer Mechanical Engineering qualifications. I believe I would need to start at Level 3 before I could do the HNC which is Level 4. In regards to study time, I have enough free time to dedicate that going by their guidelines I could complete Level 3 + HNC in around 3 years give or take.
With the qualification side out of the way, would I be considered to have enough transferable skills to get into a maintenance position in a different industry? I have experience with mechanical servicing and repair, fault diagnosis, planned/reactive maintenance on vehicles. I also have knowledge and experience working with hydraulic and pneumatic systems but only as found on heavy vehicles, plus basic electrical fault finding and repair.
If anybody has any advice, experience or other helpful thoughts on this please let me know.
Cheers
Will
I'm part way through a similar process but with an electrical and electronic bias so can offer a bit of insight to that route.
I used that provider to get a Level 3, is say get, and this is where you need to be carefull in making sure that you get the required credits. Cutting a long story short, I decided to use my local college to progress with the Level 4 (HNC) after what I thought was the end of my Level 3. During the interview, the amount of credits was questioned and it transpired I hadn't got enough. Fortunatly, existing skills and a suitable CV can help to show if you are suitable to jump straight onto the HNC.
Totally understand doing the course remotely, but you have to be very commited and structure your studies to suit your home life. Make sure you do enough modules to get the recognised amount set by Pearsons, and appreciate it may take longer than you think to complete.
Full credit to you if you think you can nail it in three years. I'm doing the HNC part-time over two years, and that's having the massive resources that a college can offer too. I have a few other bits of advice if you would like to know
I used that provider to get a Level 3, is say get, and this is where you need to be carefull in making sure that you get the required credits. Cutting a long story short, I decided to use my local college to progress with the Level 4 (HNC) after what I thought was the end of my Level 3. During the interview, the amount of credits was questioned and it transpired I hadn't got enough. Fortunatly, existing skills and a suitable CV can help to show if you are suitable to jump straight onto the HNC.
Totally understand doing the course remotely, but you have to be very commited and structure your studies to suit your home life. Make sure you do enough modules to get the recognised amount set by Pearsons, and appreciate it may take longer than you think to complete.
Full credit to you if you think you can nail it in three years. I'm doing the HNC part-time over two years, and that's having the massive resources that a college can offer too. I have a few other bits of advice if you would like to know
Hotspark said:
I'm part way through a similar process but with an electrical and electronic bias so can offer a bit of insight to that route.
I used that provider to get a Level 3, is say get, and this is where you need to be carefull in making sure that you get the required credits. Cutting a long story short, I decided to use my local college to progress with the Level 4 (HNC) after what I thought was the end of my Level 3. During the interview, the amount of credits was questioned and it transpired I hadn't got enough. Fortunatly, existing skills and a suitable CV can help to show if you are suitable to jump straight onto the HNC.
Totally understand doing the course remotely, but you have to be very commited and structure your studies to suit your home life. Make sure you do enough modules to get the recognised amount set by Pearsons, and appreciate it may take longer than you think to complete.
Full credit to you if you think you can nail it in three years. I'm doing the HNC part-time over two years, and that's having the massive resources that a college can offer too. I have a few other bits of advice if you would like to know
Thanks for that Hotspark, the advice regarding the credits is something to think about for sure. I'd seen on their website that the entry requirements for the HNC would be either a Merit for the Level 3 6 unit course, or a Pass for the 9 unit. I was looking at the 6 unit and if I don't manage to get the Merit, they offer the additional 3 units separately as a means of upgrading. I used that provider to get a Level 3, is say get, and this is where you need to be carefull in making sure that you get the required credits. Cutting a long story short, I decided to use my local college to progress with the Level 4 (HNC) after what I thought was the end of my Level 3. During the interview, the amount of credits was questioned and it transpired I hadn't got enough. Fortunatly, existing skills and a suitable CV can help to show if you are suitable to jump straight onto the HNC.
Totally understand doing the course remotely, but you have to be very commited and structure your studies to suit your home life. Make sure you do enough modules to get the recognised amount set by Pearsons, and appreciate it may take longer than you think to complete.
Full credit to you if you think you can nail it in three years. I'm doing the HNC part-time over two years, and that's having the massive resources that a college can offer too. I have a few other bits of advice if you would like to know
I'd based my 3 years on their guideline study time which is given as up to 360 hours for the Level 3, then 1200 hours for the HNC. I have around 10-12 hours each week that I can dedicate (probably more but thinking consistently), around 150 weeks it came out at. Although that's definitely one of those calculations that wouldn't translate so simply into the real world, especially if its 2 years for the HNC for yourself with the facilities you mentioned. There's no rush for me anyway, I'd rather take it steadier if needs be and get the best marks first time etc.
Gooose said:
Is it absolutely essential you have a HNC? I did an Mechanical Engineering apprenticeship at 30, I didn’t take the option of HNC as I want to be on the tools for a fair few years, isn’t that what a maintenance technician will do as well?
As Hotspark added, the vast majority of jobs ask for the HNC. I know a few people who have done a Mechanical Engineering apprenticeship to Level 3 then they've just carried on to do the HNC, presumably its becoming commonplace? Staying on the tools is my aim too, the main reason I'd look to doing the HNC would be to give myself the best chance at getting a job when seemingly there will be other candidates with it. Plus I'd think employers might appreciate the self-funding and dedication to learning it in my own time as a mark of seriousness etc.
Cheers
Will
I am a mechanical engineer for a British manufacturer at the moment. I do a certain amount of travel around the UK and Europe.
My background was as a plumbing and heating engineer. I got this job because they looked at my qualifications as mechanical qualified engineer. They were happy that I could do the job. I found it quite easy.
There are opportunities out there and I dont see why you would need to train again.try your luck at applying with a good cover letter. I'm sure youd be what they are after. Most of it is being able to talk to customers.
My background was as a plumbing and heating engineer. I got this job because they looked at my qualifications as mechanical qualified engineer. They were happy that I could do the job. I found it quite easy.
There are opportunities out there and I dont see why you would need to train again.try your luck at applying with a good cover letter. I'm sure youd be what they are after. Most of it is being able to talk to customers.
Apply for the jobs you're seeing but also look at the smaller local firms. If you can get in and talk directly without having to go through a recruitment agency you stand a much better chance of convincing them to give you a go.
I had no experience in the industry but the ad I seen when straight through to the boss of a small company and we hit it off over an informal chat style interview. I support specific machinery within customer factories and I travel around a lot of sites so if I ever fancy a switch to factory maintenance I now have many, many contacts and experience. Before this job I applied to mechanical maintenance roles online and never got a reply.
I had no experience in the industry but the ad I seen when straight through to the boss of a small company and we hit it off over an informal chat style interview. I support specific machinery within customer factories and I travel around a lot of sites so if I ever fancy a switch to factory maintenance I now have many, many contacts and experience. Before this job I applied to mechanical maintenance roles online and never got a reply.
I am a multi skilled maintenance engineer, I did my apprenticeship in mechanical maintenance and have completed an electrical conversion course and various others to this end.
If you have a choice in units or course to go into maintenance in factories and/on equipment i would advise that you need to include electrical and PLC based training in there and aim to be multi skilled.
With more modern control methods and advances in motors and controllers I am sure that soon enough there will be very little mechanical in machines, no drive systems, no gearboxes or things like that. And therefore it could potentially limiting to be a mechanical maintenance engineer
Where I work there is a team of 10 hands on maintenance engineers, and apart from myself, they all did electrical maintenance apprentiships.
All the newer stuff where I work is generally relatively simple mechanically with directly coupled motor or servos. When we have faults here it is more often than not a sensor, software or communication issue which is tracked down via a multimeter or a laptop.
If you have a choice in units or course to go into maintenance in factories and/on equipment i would advise that you need to include electrical and PLC based training in there and aim to be multi skilled.
With more modern control methods and advances in motors and controllers I am sure that soon enough there will be very little mechanical in machines, no drive systems, no gearboxes or things like that. And therefore it could potentially limiting to be a mechanical maintenance engineer
Where I work there is a team of 10 hands on maintenance engineers, and apart from myself, they all did electrical maintenance apprentiships.
All the newer stuff where I work is generally relatively simple mechanically with directly coupled motor or servos. When we have faults here it is more often than not a sensor, software or communication issue which is tracked down via a multimeter or a laptop.
austina35 said:
I am a mechanical engineer for a British manufacturer at the moment. I do a certain amount of travel around the UK and Europe.
My background was as a plumbing and heating engineer. I got this job because they looked at my qualifications as mechanical qualified engineer. They were happy that I could do the job. I found it quite easy.
There are opportunities out there and I dont see why you would need to train again.try your luck at applying with a good cover letter. I'm sure youd be what they are after. Most of it is being able to talk to customers.
My background was as a plumbing and heating engineer. I got this job because they looked at my qualifications as mechanical qualified engineer. They were happy that I could do the job. I found it quite easy.
There are opportunities out there and I dont see why you would need to train again.try your luck at applying with a good cover letter. I'm sure youd be what they are after. Most of it is being able to talk to customers.
pando99 said:
I would just apply for the jobs, HNC is an overkill for a technician and experience pays dividends over paperwork.
You don't lose anything by applying and might get a start sooner than waiting for years until you complete the course
Good luck
You don't lose anything by applying and might get a start sooner than waiting for years until you complete the course
Good luck
BelfastBlack said:
Apply for the jobs you're seeing but also look at the smaller local firms. If you can get in and talk directly without having to go through a recruitment agency you stand a much better chance of convincing them to give you a go.
I had no experience in the industry but the ad I seen when straight through to the boss of a small company and we hit it off over an informal chat style interview. I support specific machinery within customer factories and I travel around a lot of sites so if I ever fancy a switch to factory maintenance I now have many, many contacts and experience. Before this job I applied to mechanical maintenance roles online and never got a reply.
Thanks for the replies and information there, it has given me a lot more perspective (and perhaps hope!) about making the change! Regarding BelfastBlacks comment on speaking directly to companies, this was definitely something I had been considering rather than dealing with recruitment agencies that unfortunately seem to be totally useless for the majority. I had no experience in the industry but the ad I seen when straight through to the boss of a small company and we hit it off over an informal chat style interview. I support specific machinery within customer factories and I travel around a lot of sites so if I ever fancy a switch to factory maintenance I now have many, many contacts and experience. Before this job I applied to mechanical maintenance roles online and never got a reply.
It actually transpires that one of the night fitters here went over to a factory maintenance job after being let go after his apprenticeship at our place due to there not being a job for him. I'll have to pick his brains next week when I see him again.
Buzz84 said:
I am a multi skilled maintenance engineer, I did my apprenticeship in mechanical maintenance and have completed an electrical conversion course and various others to this end.
If you have a choice in units or course to go into maintenance in factories and/on equipment i would advise that you need to include electrical and PLC based training in there and aim to be multi skilled.
With more modern control methods and advances in motors and controllers I am sure that soon enough there will be very little mechanical in machines, no drive systems, no gearboxes or things like that. And therefore it could potentially limiting to be a mechanical maintenance engineer
Where I work there is a team of 10 hands on maintenance engineers, and apart from myself, they all did electrical maintenance apprentiships.
All the newer stuff where I work is generally relatively simple mechanically with directly coupled motor or servos. When we have faults here it is more often than not a sensor, software or communication issue which is tracked down via a multimeter or a laptop.
Interesting insight there Buzz84 thank you and duly noted. It isn't a surprise to hear that its becoming a multi-skilled job, seems to be the case in a lot of industries, my own included. Of course there is a massive difference between basic auto electrics and the level you describe so I expect the learning curve to be steep indeed. I will go for the 9 or possibly even 12 unit Level 3 as a minimum where I can take electrical units, undecided on the HNC as yet as it seems it may add years on and I may still be able to get a foot in the door without?If you have a choice in units or course to go into maintenance in factories and/on equipment i would advise that you need to include electrical and PLC based training in there and aim to be multi skilled.
With more modern control methods and advances in motors and controllers I am sure that soon enough there will be very little mechanical in machines, no drive systems, no gearboxes or things like that. And therefore it could potentially limiting to be a mechanical maintenance engineer
Where I work there is a team of 10 hands on maintenance engineers, and apart from myself, they all did electrical maintenance apprentiships.
All the newer stuff where I work is generally relatively simple mechanically with directly coupled motor or servos. When we have faults here it is more often than not a sensor, software or communication issue which is tracked down via a multimeter or a laptop.
Would you mind if I PM'd you with something privately regarding the electrical elements?
Cheers
Will
I would echo the previous comments in electrical knowledge and multiskilling, I work for the water board and they aren’t advertising for mechanical or electrical anymore really, they are classing them as maintenance engineers and will expect you to do both!
I’m on the fence really as I have seen electricians make mistakes, ones who have done an apprenticeship and 10 years experience under there belt so to expect me to do a crossover course in 16 weeks a bit dodgy really.
So if you get the chance do it whilst learning.
I’m in limbo really, as I could do the electrical if I wanted but I don’t have any interest in electrics, I love mechanical work . The thought of stripping armoured cable and fiddling with little wires all day will make me question whether I want to Do it anymore, if your happy with both then that is how it’s all going.
I’m on the fence really as I have seen electricians make mistakes, ones who have done an apprenticeship and 10 years experience under there belt so to expect me to do a crossover course in 16 weeks a bit dodgy really.
So if you get the chance do it whilst learning.
I’m in limbo really, as I could do the electrical if I wanted but I don’t have any interest in electrics, I love mechanical work . The thought of stripping armoured cable and fiddling with little wires all day will make me question whether I want to Do it anymore, if your happy with both then that is how it’s all going.
Consider work in the Facilities Management/M&E industry. Building Services are simpler than manufacturing etc. It's basically pumps, fans, etc. Anything specialised is sub-contracted out to specialist contractors (lifts, boilers, water treatment etc)
I've worked in the industry at all levels over the past 30 years. On the tools it's pretty simple, and they still employ mechanical and electrical disciplines, as well as multi-skill and specialists. I moved into it from a career as a Navy Weapons Engineer!
I'm currently a Busines Analyst mainly implementing and developing CAFM systems, so it can lead onto other careers. My hands on experience means I can speak on the same terms with the engineers, then translate that into the IT world.
The big players are always looking for people.
I've worked in the industry at all levels over the past 30 years. On the tools it's pretty simple, and they still employ mechanical and electrical disciplines, as well as multi-skill and specialists. I moved into it from a career as a Navy Weapons Engineer!
I'm currently a Busines Analyst mainly implementing and developing CAFM systems, so it can lead onto other careers. My hands on experience means I can speak on the same terms with the engineers, then translate that into the IT world.
The big players are always looking for people.
ivattw83 said:
Interesting insight there Buzz84 thank you and duly noted.
[snip]
Would you mind if I PM'd you with something privately regarding the electrical elements?
Cheers
Will
Your welcome, yes by all means feel free to message, can't promise to be able to answer but will try my best![snip]
Would you mind if I PM'd you with something privately regarding the electrical elements?
Cheers
Will
98elise said:
Consider work in the Facilities Management/M&E industry. Building Services are simpler than manufacturing etc. It's basically pumps, fans, etc. Anything specialised is sub-contracted out to specialist contractors (lifts, boilers, water treatment etc)
I've worked in the industry at all levels over the past 30 years. On the tools it's pretty simple, and they still employ mechanical and electrical disciplines, as well as multi-skill and specialists. I moved into it from a career as a Navy Weapons Engineer!
I'm currently a Busines Analyst mainly implementing and developing CAFM systems, so it can lead onto other careers. My hands on experience means I can speak on the same terms with the engineers, then translate that into the IT world.
The big players are always looking for people.
Always interesting to learn what people do on here and the immense amount of variation.I've worked in the industry at all levels over the past 30 years. On the tools it's pretty simple, and they still employ mechanical and electrical disciplines, as well as multi-skill and specialists. I moved into it from a career as a Navy Weapons Engineer!
I'm currently a Busines Analyst mainly implementing and developing CAFM systems, so it can lead onto other careers. My hands on experience means I can speak on the same terms with the engineers, then translate that into the IT world.
The big players are always looking for people.
We use Concept here and the original implementation/setup was rubbish. One asset entity to cover a whole manufacturing area, floors or areas of the factory were set up as buildings so when another factory was built there is no way to segregate them and loads of other stuff. Sounds more like it was brought in early and people didn't really know what do do with it or how useful it could be
I have taken it on as a bit of a pet project to improve it. Divided the lines up and have assets for each individual piece of equipment, set up proper PPMs and alsorts rather enjoyed it and its made a big difference.
I am currently at risk of redundancy too, looking around in preparation shows very few jobs on the machinery maintenance side but as you say FM jobs still seem to being advertised.
But anyway I digress from the OPs post...
Buzz84 said:
98elise said:
Consider work in the Facilities Management/M&E industry. Building Services are simpler than manufacturing etc. It's basically pumps, fans, etc. Anything specialised is sub-contracted out to specialist contractors (lifts, boilers, water treatment etc)
I've worked in the industry at all levels over the past 30 years. On the tools it's pretty simple, and they still employ mechanical and electrical disciplines, as well as multi-skill and specialists. I moved into it from a career as a Navy Weapons Engineer!
I'm currently a Busines Analyst mainly implementing and developing CAFM systems, so it can lead onto other careers. My hands on experience means I can speak on the same terms with the engineers, then translate that into the IT world.
The big players are always looking for people.
Always interesting to learn what people do on here and the immense amount of variation.I've worked in the industry at all levels over the past 30 years. On the tools it's pretty simple, and they still employ mechanical and electrical disciplines, as well as multi-skill and specialists. I moved into it from a career as a Navy Weapons Engineer!
I'm currently a Busines Analyst mainly implementing and developing CAFM systems, so it can lead onto other careers. My hands on experience means I can speak on the same terms with the engineers, then translate that into the IT world.
The big players are always looking for people.
We use Concept here and the original implementation/setup was rubbish. One asset entity to cover a whole manufacturing area, floors or areas of the factory were set up as buildings so when another factory was built there is no way to segregate them and loads of other stuff. Sounds more like it was brought in early and people didn't really know what do do with it or how useful it could be
I have taken it on as a bit of a pet project to improve it. Divided the lines up and have assets for each individual piece of equipment, set up proper PPMs and alsorts rather enjoyed it and its made a big difference.
I am currently at risk of redundancy too, looking around in preparation shows very few jobs on the machinery maintenance side but as you say FM jobs still seem to being advertised.
But anyway I digress from the OPs post...
I really enjoy the technical stuff like back end coding, but I'm a contractor so I'll do whatever the client will pay me for
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