Let’s discuss what skills are required to be a after-sales service engineer
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Recently, something happened that puzzled me. An engineer at a Swiss company mentioned things like PLC S7300 during an interview. I come from a background in project work; I used to work at my previous employer and later switched to a U.S.-owned company as a mechanical engineer. I have little knowledge of electrical systems – I can only understand simple electrical diagrams. As a result, I wasn’t able to go to that company for the interview. My question now is: is it really necessary for those who work in mechanical maintenance to have knowledge of electrical systems? Or rather, how can one acquire this kind of knowledge in a factory? () I’ve personally summarized what skills are necessary for maintenance work: 1. Mechanical assembly 2. Lathes 3. Welding, TIG welding, gas welding, wire cutting 4. CAD Drawing 5. Surveying and mapping of mechanical parts 6. Electrical high-voltage 220 wiring 7. Motor, frequency converter, circuit breaker, multimeter, megohmmeter 8. Please, all maintenance technicians, actively discuss the software program PLC!
The company you interviewed is looking for engineers in the technical support field, specifically those with electrical expertise. Are you a mechanical maintenance engineer? 1. Mechanical assembly must be continuously improved, especially regarding the sequence in which components are assembled; in addition, an understanding of tolerances is essential, and this comes from the accumulation of experience. 2. You need to be skilled in electric welding; the other skills are relatively easier to master, but try to avoid TIG welding as much as possible – it’s very harmful to your health. 3. CAD drawing is generally used after parts have been measured and sent back to the company headquarters; it’s not a problem for most people. 4. It seems that high-voltage electricity of 380 volts is in more frequent contact with the equipment. 5. It is essential to be clear about instructions such as the adjustment of inverter parameters; read the inverter’s manual carefully, as specifications vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. With an inverter, motor problems such as phase loss generally occur less often, but it is essential to connect the enclosure ground wire. 6. It would be even better if you knew how to program PLCs, haha – what a challenge that must be for those electrical engineers! One must have plenty of exposure to electrical-related things. The more you understand the working principles, the better – it’s advisable to spend more time in the electrical room at the factory, and try to connect and arrange wires by yourself. After doing this several times on-site, you will gain a better understanding. Also, it’s best to bring some cigarettes when visiting clients; a cigarette can help bridge the gap between people, and it’s important to maintain good relationships with them. Sometimes, the people on site work with your equipment every day and have more experience than you do. Once the relationships are handled well, it becomes easier to carry out work, such as borrowing tools or equipment.