How to be a good mechanical equipment technician

Thread Content

1. Learn to perform maintenance – Participate in the maintenance of each piece of equipment on a regular basis; by doing so, one can understand the structure, principles, performance, and maintenance methods of those devices. Learning how to repair equipment is the foundation for being a good technician. A technician who cannot repair equipment can only be considered a third-rate technician and will have difficulty advancing in their career. Don’t be afraid of hard work, dirt, or fatigue. Don’t think that just because you’re a university student you should look down on workers; instead, get along well with them and sincerely regard them as your mentors. By participating in maintenance tasks, you can build a relationship with the maintenance workers. If they see that you’re comfortable, they will help you rather than make things difficult for you, and they will teach you maintenance skills, especially some key ones. 2. Have a ruler ready. Surveying is one of the basic skills of technicians. The key to measuring parts lies in ensuring high accuracy in the measurements. For some fits, standards are available; once the basic dimensions are measured, those standards can be used to determine the required values. However, for other cases, the dimensions of the parts need to be determined anew based on the fit requirements after the measurements are taken. Inaccurate measurement results mean one is not a good technician; if the dimensions specified in the drawings for the parts you produce are incorrect repeatedly, everyone will look down on you. In such a case, there’s no point in continuing to work as a technician. High accuracy in measurements is achieved through practice. 3. Take good notes. First, it is necessary to keep detailed records of each maintenance task, especially regarding critical equipment and the key steps in the maintenance process; these serve as valuable experience for future maintenance tasks and an important reference for such work. Secondly, it is necessary to keep proper records of each surveying and mapping task; the base maps and data collected during each survey must be carefully preserved. These serve as the most important references when conducting surveys on the same part again. By referring to the dimensions from previous surveys, the likelihood of making mistakes can be reduced. Notes should be recorded and stored in specialized notebooks, organized by category. Electronic documents and images should not remain only on the computer; it is important to save them on a hard drive (preferably by burning them to a CD). This is all the wealth you have accumulated. 4. Do not give hasty opinions on issues you do not understand, and avoid making empty promises. Do not rush to express an opinion on matters that are unclear; saying too many nonsense things will result in losing others’ trust. When something is not clear, first gather information and consult those with experience. Communicate more, and be humble when seeking advice, but don’t refrain from speaking just because you’re afraid of making mistakes. It’s best to accumulate knowledge over time and prepare in advance. 5. Be persistent, but not stubbornly so. Those working in technical fields should be persistent, yet not stubborn. The most common mistake that people in such fields make after gaining some experience is stubbornness. If your opinion is correct, it’s fine to be persistent; but if your opinion is wrong and you insist on it anyway, it will harm both others and yourself. Isn’t that why it’s said that being human is difficult? Listening more to others’ opinions, especially those of experienced craftsmen, can only be beneficial for your decisions. 6. Gain awareness of on-site information: Conduct regular comprehensive inspections of the equipment under your responsibility, carry out thorough checks on key equipment, and stay informed about the conditions on site. 7. Learn standard specifications: Technicians must learn, become familiar with, and master relevant standard specifications. These specifications need to be properly communicated and enforced so that major problems do not arise; especially when it comes to safety issues, there should be no room for complacency. 8. Improve spare parts management: Try to become well-versed in spare parts, ensure that you are familiar with all of them, and keep track of their information. 9. Improve technical foundation management. Equipment records need to be built up over time, and they should be continuously updated and improved to avoid any backlog. 10. Pay attention to developing a sense of responsibility. Don’t shirk responsibilities when faced with problems, and don’t be afraid to take on responsibilities; without a sense of responsibility, one shouldn’t become a mechanical technician! 11. One should have some understanding of the manufacturing process; seek opportunities to learn about it. It’s better to be able to operate the equipment, but don’t actually do so. 12. Treat the company as a school for your further education, and learn everything you can about what you can experience there. All of the above are sound advice. In short, it’s not difficult to be an ordinary technician and get by, but to become a competent and promising technician, one really needs to put in a lot of effort!