Index
Intro
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.
The Red Seal endorsement allows for interprovincial mobility.
Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
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. - Instrumentation and control technician trade certification is available, but voluntary, in all provinces and territories, except in Quebec.
- Red Seal endorsement is also available to qualified instrumentation and control technicians upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.
All Titles
- apprentice industrial instrument mechanic
- apprentice instrument mechanic
- control technician, nuclear generating station and heavy water plant
- heavy water plant control technician
- industrial instrument mechanic
- industrial instrument panel repairerindustrial instrument panel repairman, industrial instrument panel repairwoman
- industrial instrument technician
- industrial process control equipment repairerindustrial process control equipment repairman, industrial process control equipment repairwoman, repairman, industrial process control equipment, repairwoman, industrial process control equipment
- instrument maintenance mechanic
- instrument mechanic – utilities
- instrument technician, industrial
- instrumentation and electrical technician, industrial
- instrumentation technician, industrial
- mechanic, industrial instrument
- nuclear generating station and heavy water plant control technician
- nucleonic controller repairernucleonic controller repairman, nucleonic controller repairwoman, repairman, nucleonic controllers, repairwoman, nucleonic controllers
- precision instrument mechanic
- process control equipment mechanic
- process control equipment repairerprocess control equipment repairman, process control equipment repairwoman
- repairer, industrial process control equipment
- repairer, nucleonic controllers
- service technician, industrial instruments
- service technician, process control equipment
- technician, industrial instruments
Exclusions
- Aircraft instrument technicians (See 2244 Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors)
- Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians (2241)
- Industrial mechanics (See 7311 Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics)