Maintenance and Operations Engineering Technician Apprenticeship

Level: 3

Duration: Up to 4 years

Role Profile

Maintenance and Operations Engineering Technicians covers 7 roles: Electrical Technicians; Mechanical Technicians; Control & Instrumentation Technicians; Wind Turbine Technicians Electrical System and Process Control Technicians; Electromechanical Technicians and Plant Operations Technicians. They will maintain the safety, integrity and effective operation of plant and equipment in industries that are part of or have activities that are part of the broader national infrastructure Engineering Sector: the electricity generating environment, which may use a range of different fuels including coal, gas, nuclear, wind and other renewable sources; telecommunications power plants; oil and gas refining; nuclear waste reprocessing; processing and production of chemicals; pharmaceuticals; human and animal food; cosmetics; petrochemicals; sewerage and the exploration and exploitation of oil and gas. Electrical/Mechanical/Control and Instrumentation Technicians will work on various types of plant and equipment commonly found throughout the Engineering Industry sectors.

To support the business and operational requirements of modern integrated engineered production plant and services, Electrical Systems and Process Control Technicians and Electromechanical Technicians will need to apply a range of conventional skills and knowledge to undertake engineering activities on a selection of electromechanical and process control plant, systems and equipment.

These Technicians will undertake installation, testing, servicing, removal, replacement, maintenance and repair of a range of equipment, sometimes complex, as part of planned preventative and reactive maintenance programmes. They may also undertake decommissioning activities when plant is being removed from service.

Plant Operation Technicians will undertake the safe and efficient operation of complex integrated energy conversion and production plant and systems. These activities could include plant commissioning, isolation and testing, plant preparation, plant start-up and shut down, monitoring and controlling plant and dealing with critical operational problems.

Entry requirements:

A minimum of four GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above including English, Maths, Science and Technology.

Where will I study?

North West Training Council

How will I study?

Year 1 – full time at NWTC

Year 2 – 1 day per week on technical certificate 4 days in your workplace

Year 3 / 4 – assessment in your workplace

SPECIFIC SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

What will I learn?

·         first principles relating to the operation and maintenance of appropriate plant and equipment

·         relevant industry health and safety standards, regulations, and environmental and regulatory requirements

·         maintenance and operational practices, processes and procedures covering a range of plant and equipment

·         the relevant engineering theories and principles relative to their occupation

·         comply with industry health, safety and environmental working practices and regulations

·         locate, and rectify faults on plant and equipment

·         communicate with and provide information to stakeholders in line with personal role and responsibilities

·         read, understand and interpret information and work in compliance with technical specifications and supporting documentation

·         prepare work areas to undertake work related activities and reinstate those areas after the completion of the work related activities

·         inspect and maintain appropriate plant and equipment to meet operational requirements

·         assess and test the performance and condition of plant and equipment

·         communicate, handover and confirm that the appropriate engineering process has been completed to specification

In addition an Electrical Technician will:

·         position, assemble, install and dismantle electrical plant and equipment, which will include motors, switchgear, cables & conductors, to agreed specifications

·         carry out planned, unplanned and preventative maintenance procedures on electrical plant and equipment.

·         replace, repair and/or remove components in electrical plant and equipment and ensure its return to operational condition.

·         diagnose and determine the cause of faults in electrical plant and equipment

In addition a Mechanical Technician will:

·         position, assemble, install and dismantle mechanical plant and equipment which will include pumps, valves, gearboxes, pipework, to agreed specifications

·         carry out planned, unplanned and preventative maintenance procedures on mechanical plant and equipment.

·         replace, repair and/or remove components in mechanical plant and equipment and ensure its return to operational condition.

·         diagnose and determine the cause of faults in mechanical plant and equipment

In addition a Control & Instrumentation Technician will:

·         position, assemble, install and dismantle plant and equipment which will include instrumentation and control of temperature, pressure and flow systems to agree specifications

·         carry out planned, unplanned and preventative maintenance procedures on plant and equipment.

·         replace, repair and/or remove components in plant and equipment and ensure its return to operational condition.

·         diagnose and determine the cause of faults in plant and equipment

·         calibrate and configure instrument and control systems

·         In addition an Electromechanical Technician will:

·         position, assemble, install and dismantle integrated electromechanical power and control systems

·         carry out planned, unplanned and preventative maintenance procedures on integrated plant and equipment.

·         replace, repair and/or remove components within integrated plant and equipment and ensure its return to operational condition.

·         diagnose and determine the cause of faults within integrated electromechanical power and control systems

SPECIFIC SPECIALIST KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

What qualifications will I achieve?

After a period of foundation skills and technical knowledge development all apprentices will be required to achieve the following qualifications

·         Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Development Knowledge) – Awarding organisation EAL; GLH 750, this qualification ensures full knowledge to complete the MOET role.

·         Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Development Technical Knowledge) – Awarding organisation Pearsons; GLH 720 – this qualification ensures full knowledge to complete the MOET role.

·         Level 3 Diploma in engineering discipline – Awarding organisation EAL

·         End Point Assessment

ROLES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN

Electro-technical engineer

Chemical industry

Petrochemical industry

Pharmaceutical industry

Biotechnology

Nuclear manufacturing

Maintenance team management

Contract management

Technical sales