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Plant Technician Make IT - Qualifications

Occupation Description

Plant technicians working in the non-metallic mineral products industry will usually be involved in the constant monitoring, assessment and improvement of the quality and quantity of goods produced, and the efficiency and economics of their production. Plant technicians may specialise in ceramic, clay, glass, and cement and concrete products.

Plant technicians may…

conduct studies to evaluate work methods and use the information from such studies to determine and improve operating efficiencies of the company

study material-handling methods and suggest or implement changes that reduce physical effort, increase safety and reduce handling costs

design and modify equipment and processes to optimise use of resources and efficiency

produce and submit proposals to management for upgrading equipment

measure and study available floor space and draw plans of efficient plant layout

assist in developing tests for components and finished products to make sure that they meet quality standards and operating requirements

plan assignments and make recommendations based on worker performance, machine capacity and production schedules

assist with or produce routine maintenance schedules

aid in surveillance of inventories, ranging from raw materials to finished products, and prepare status reports

supervise and advise operators and work teams, making sure work is carried out according to plan

communicate with contractors and suppliers of goods and services

communicate with all persons in an organisation, from senior management through to technical and operations staff

Non-metallic mineral products plant technicians may also deal with computer operations, including CAD (computer aided drawing-design), CAM (computer-aided manufacturing) methods and CNC (computer numerical control) programming, as well as robotics, just-in-time production and manufacturing resource planning.

Personal Requirements

You should

enjoy technical and engineering activities

be able to identify, analyse and solve problems

possess good oral and written communication skills

possess an aptitude for computing and design

bo both practical and creative

possess leadership ability

be able to work independently

be able to work as part of a team

be willing and able to accept responsibility

Environment

Non-metallic mineral products plant technicians may work in a combination of office and in production areas on the factory floor. Production areas that may be noisy, hot, and dusty and at times contain fumes, however the work environments are generally spacious, ventilated and well lit.

Plant technicians will sometimes work alone but are usually also members of a team, and because of the nature of process operations safety awareness and compliance with regulations is important. They must be aware of safety regulations and whilst on the factory floor, must wear supplied protective equipment.

Training

To work as a plant technician you will usually require a Diploma of Manufactured Mineral Products .

You can work at even higher levels within this occupation and sector. With experience, and possibly further training, you can work as a process plant technologist or analyst, para-professionals assisting engineers.

Of course you can continue to progress further along a career pathway that could see you in a number of senior management positions.

Diploma of Manufactured Mineral Products

Earnings, Job and Employment Prospects

For detailed information about earnings, job and employment prospects for this occupation, go to the Australian JobSearch Careers page and click on Job Outlook .

Printed Resources

The INFOSHEET PDFs provide information about the Manufacturing Industry and its various sectors and occupations. To view and print these documents click RESOURCES (you will need to have Adobe Reader ® installed).

Where Can I Go From This Job?

To find out more about potential Manufacturing career possibilities click PATHWAYS.



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	Process Technician

	Plant Technician

	Process Plant Technologist

	Materials Engineer

	Materials Scientist

	Minerals Process Engineer