What's a Millwright

Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics install, maintain, troubleshoot and repair stationary industrial machinery and mechanical equipment. Construction Millwrights are employed by millwrighting contractors. Industrial mechanics are employed in manufacturing plants, utilities and other industrial establishments.

Example Titles
construction millwright
industrial mechanic
industrial mechanic apprentice
maintenance millwright
millwright
millwright apprentice
plant equipment mechanic
treatment plant mechanic

Main duties

Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics perform some or all of the following duties:

• Read blueprints, diagrams and schematic drawings to determine work procedures
• Install, align, dismantle and move stationary industrial machinery and mechanical equipment, such as pumps, fans, tanks, conveyors, furnaces and generators according to layout plans using hand and power tools
• 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 and investigate irregularities and malfunctions
• Install, troubleshoot and maintain power transmission, vacuum, hydraulic and pneumatic systems, and programmable logic controls
• Adjust machinery and repair or replace defective parts
• Operate machine tools such as lathes and grinders to fabricate parts required during overhaul, maintenance or set-up of machinery
• Clean, lubricate and perform other routine maintenance work on machinery
• Construct foundations for machinery or direct other workers to construct foundations
• Assemble machinery and equipment prior to installation using hand and power tools and welding equipment.

• Completion of secondary school is usually required.
• Completion of a three- to four-year apprenticeship program
  or
  A combination of over five years of work experience in the trade and some high school, college or industry courses in industrial machinery repair or millwrighting is usually required to be eligible for trade certification.
• Industrial mechanic trade certification is compulsory in Quebec and available, but voluntary, in all other provinces and territories.
• Construction millwright trade certification is available, but voluntary, in Ontario.
• Interprovincial trade certification (Red Seal) is also available to qualified industrial mechanics or millwrights.

• Construction millwrights are mostly engaged in the initial installation of industrial plant machinery and equipment; industrial mechanics are more concerned with the postinstallation maintenance and repair of machinery and equipment.
• Industrial mechanics and millwrights may be cross-trained in a second trade such as pipefitting, welding, machining or electrical maintenance.
• Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
• Red Seal trade certification allows for interprovincial mobility.

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