Industrial Instrument Technicians and Mechanics (2243)

Job titles

• apprentice industrial instrument mechanic
• apprentice instrument mechanic
• control technician, nuclear generating station and heavy water plant
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Nature of work

Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics repair, maintain, calibrate, adjust, and install industrial measuring and controlling instrumentation. They are employed by pulp and paper processing companies, nuclear and hydro power generating companies, mining, petrochemical and natural gas companies, industrial instrument and other manufacturing companies, and by industrial instrument servicing establishments.

Fields of interest

• Making or building things, constructing, doing repairs, and performing installations
• Working in transportation and maintenance
• Working with your hands

Main duties

• Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics perform some or all of the following duties:
• - Consult manufacturer's manuals, circuit diagrams and blueprints to determine tests and maintenance procedures for instruments used for measuring and controlling flow, level, pressure, temperature, chemical composition and other variables in manufacturing and processing
• - Inspect and test operation of instruments and systems to diagnose faults using pneumatic, electrical and electronic testing devices and precision measuring instruments
• - Repair and adjust system components, such as sensors, transmitters and programmable logic controllers, or remove and replace defective parts
• - Calibrate components and instruments according to manufacturers' specifications
• - Perform scheduled preventive maintenance work and complete test and maintenance reports
• - Install control and measurement instruments on existing and new plant equipment and processes
• - Consult with and advise process operators.

Employment requirements

• * Completion of secondary school is usually required.
• * Completion of a four- or five-year apprenticeship program in industrial instrument repair
• or
• Completion of a two-year college program in industrial instrumentation technology and several years of work experience are usually required for trade certification.
• * Industrial instrument mechanic trade certification is available, but voluntary, in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and the Yukon.
• * Interprovincial trade certification (Red Seal) is also available to qualified industrial instrument mechanics.
• * In Quebec, membership in the regulatory body is required to use the title of Professional Technologist.

More information in All of Québec