r/IndustrialMaintenance

random question for other maintenance people, when you already have the part number for a sensor, valve, bearing, connector, or whatever how do you usually find where to buy it? Do you just search on google, or maybe have a list of websites where you think you could find that part? How much time would you say you spend searching for parts each day/week? I feel like i spend on average 3 hours or so a week, and it is not even my job (we have a procurement team). I'd like to understand if there is a better way to search for parts, especially obsolete ones from old machines

I worked for a large OEM for over 12 years, this year I went freelance.

Was a bit nervous if it would work or not, especially losing the support of the OEM when issues crop up.

But actually the customers have been very keen to work together as it's much cheaper for them rather than going through the OEM.

March was a decent month, hopefully continue this, what I really enjoy is not having to go to the boring office after the mission is complete.

I was also feeling that companies are becoming more strict with rules and removing benefits, we would always fly premium economy but now they have changed to economy to cut costs.

Anyone else having some issues working with OEM and want to go freelance?

Would like some advice on the freelance life as I have only been doing it for a few months.

https://preview.redd.it/v3ganm9sbebh1.png?width=2160&format=png&auto=webp&s=d64316c6e97c7b2e00fd04ab8141fdd2df583c0f

Just some bogus $hit. I don’t blame people who called out.

We've a system that's pretty prone to limescale build up. Requires unit to diver, pipes to be stripped and jetted etc ..

Has anyone ever heard of or seen a ultrasonic limescale remover? Like, attach a unit to a line and vibrate the pipe to remove the limescale? Does such a thing exist?

Hi, how are you all? I'd like to ask for your help. I need to create an annual maintenance plan for my company, which has 4 concrete batching plants, 18 mixer trucks, 5 excavators, and 10 light-duty vehicles. But I don't know how to put together this annual maintenance plan. Can anyone help me?

I am a team member in a manufacturing factory right now in the south. I want to move out west and get into industrial maintenance. What company’s/colleges have apprenticeships? What’s the best way or how did you become an industrial maintenance technician?

Mainly asking this for the poultry maintenance guys, i don’t wanna bring anything home or contaminate anything in the car?

Just accepted a new job and I’m really nervous about it because it seems way more complicated than my current role, I’ve been doing maintenance for 3 years at a cnc shop and I’ve learned a good amount but this new job is a waste company and the machines are way bigger and seem more complicated and I just feel like I’m under qualified my current job pays 23$ and the new one I’m starting at 29$ plus 3$ graveyard differential, but yeah any tips you guys give me for being able to succeed at the new position?

Oh boy, do I have a story to share with you...

Well, I was doing some remote troubleshooting with an on site tech today and he both entombed himself inside an industrial compactor and electrocuted himself with 480V 3-phase power. In the same call.

So, he calls me for tech support as the industrial compactor isn't working correctly. The call gets transferred over to me as I'm well familiarized with this type of equipment. We're going through a bunch of things trying to get it to work. At one point he goes to go into this compactor, puts his phone down, and walks into it. Now for the life of me, I don't know why he put the phone down for this, but he did. I hear the creak and slam of the door followed by him pounding on the walls of the machine and screaming. The door latched closed behind him, trapping him inside. I'm panicking, trying to pull up his main offices phone number to call them to get someone out there to save him. Thankfully, someone else heard him and rushed over there and let him out.

He gets back on the phone with me and is audibly shaken. Dude just keeps going "I could have died" over and over.

This however wasn't the end of the stupidity. Once he calms down and we continue, at one point we get it working, but the motor is running backwards. So, I tell him to swap the legs on the power. This brilliant man doesn't shut off the power. I hear AAAAAAA followed by a brief silence. I'm calling out for him, asking if he's alright, and thinking "fuck, this man just killed himself". He comes back and laughs saying oops, "I forgot to shut off the power".

WTF DO YOU MEAN YOU FORGOT TO SHUT OFF THE POWER?!?!

It's 480V 3-phase industrial power. This kills people. Instead of shutting it off at the discount and locking it out, this man had the bright idea to just grab the lines with his hands while they were live.

Thankfully he's fine. Thankfully. I swear he has a death wish.

After I got off the phone, I had to take a break before telling my boss. The amount this guy spiked my anxiety and blood pressure.

Edit: Because it keeps coming up, there's a few things I want to add

1. It was locked out prior to the shock. We had to turn it back on to test it.

2. He didn't secure the door open properly. He needed to go in it to check some mechanical components. I didn't know the door wasn't properly secured, I though it was.

3. there was no power to it when the door closed. He just locked himself in. Still a scary experience being locked inside equipment.

4. He did take a break after being locked in. He wanted to continue, and seemed like he was in a good head space to do so. I asked several times if he was sure.

5. He knew to lock it back out before touching lines. It had been locked our prior to us testing functionality. I can't control the man's actions.

I work industrial maintenance in a poly manufacturing plant. Me and one other guy. The plant runs 24/7, never closes. Our normal schedule is 7-5 but we both normally cover 80+ hours a week. Further more I provide ALL of the tools! I have a 16’ enclosed trailer with all my tools in it. From welders, wrenches and all the way to my machinist tools. We rarely call in outside contractors, almost everything is done by us two maintenance guys. From little dumb stuff all the way to installing complete new lines. Electrical, welding and fabrication, machine work, building new cabinets etc. is all of this worth 85k a year salary??