MILLWRIGHT
(Reference: National Occupation Code – 7311)
Alternative Titles:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
warehouse millwright
industrial mechanic
industrial mechanic apprentice
maintenance millwright
maintenance mechanic
millwright apprentice
plant equipment mechanic
treatment plant mechanic
Industry Description
Millwrights install, maintain, troubleshoot and repair stationary industrial machinery and mechanical
equipment. Industrial mechanics are employed in manufacturing plants, utilities, warehouse and other
industrial establishments.
General Job Description
Millwrights installs machinery and equipment according to layout plans, blueprints, and other industrial
establishment, using hoists, lift trucks, hand tools, and power tools.
Position-Job Functions
Millwrights perform some or all of the following duties:
• Read blueprints, diagrams and schematic drawings to determine work procedures.
• Install, align, dismantle and move stationary industrial machinery and mechanical equipment,
such as pumps, fans, tanks, conveyors, furnaces and generators according to layout plans using
hand and power tools.
• Operate hoisting and lifting devices such as cranes, jacks and tractors to position machinery and
parts during the installation, set-up and repair of machinery.
• Inspect and examine machinery and equipment to detect and investigate irregularities and
malfunctions.
• Install, troubleshoot and maintain power transmission, vacuum, hydraulic and pneumatic
systems, and programmable logic controls.
• Adjust machinery and repair or replace defective parts.
• Operate machine tools such as lathes and grinders to fabricate parts required during overhaul,
maintenance or set-up of machinery.
• Clean, lubricate and perform other routine maintenance work on machinery.
• Construct foundations for machinery or direct other workers to construct foundations.
1 of 3
•
Assemble machinery and equipment prior to installation using hand and power tools and welding
equipment.
Physical Demands Analysis
Working conditions for millwrights vary from one job to another. On construction job sites, they are
exposed to a variety of weather conditions. In plant maintenance, they may work indoors and outdoors.
Hours of work vary: shift work and some overtime may be required. The work environment may be noisy
and there may be some risk of injury when working with heavy machinery.
Millwright Position Expectations
Essential Skills
Reading Text
Document Use
Computation
Writing
Oral Communication
Thinking Skills
Working with Others
Computers
Continuous Learning
Scale: 0 = n/a, 1 = minimal, 2 = moderate, 3 = High
3
2
2
2
3
2
2
2
3
Salary Range:
$15,800 to $84,100 per year. The average salary was $55,000 per year.
Pre-employment Skills (Necessary training and where it can be obtained)
•
•
•
•
•
Completion of secondary school is usually required.
Completion of a three- to four-year apprenticeship program
or
A combination of over five years of work experience in the trade and some high school, college
or industry courses in industrial machinery repair or millwrighting is usually required to be eligible
for trade certification.
To register with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training, apprentices must:
have at least an Alberta Grade 11 education (with Math 20 or 23, Applied Math 20 or Pure Math
20, English 20 or 24, and Science 20 or 24, Biology 20, Chemistry 20 or Physics 20)
or equivalent or pass an entrance exam
find a suitable employer who is willing to hire and train an apprentice. Most employers prefer to
hire high school graduates and may select apprentices from among their current employees.
Courses in applied math and physics are particularly important.
2 of 3
Career Levels/Years of Experience
Career
Levels
Position
Average
Experience
From
7
Vice President
6
5
4
3
2
1
Director
Manager
Manager Trainee
Supervisor
Supervisor Trainee
Millwright
7 years
5 years +
4 years +
3 years
2 years +
2 years
1 years
To
10
years+
6 years
5 years+
4 years
3 years +
3 years
2 years
Training Institutions
Fairview College – http://www.fairviewcollege.com/
Career Pathways - http://www.cbelearn.ca/pathways/pathways/logistics/index-logistics.htm
SAIT - http://www.sait.ab.ca/
U of C - http://www.ucalgary.ca/
Reference:
NOC (National Occupation Codes – Government of Canada- http://www23.hrdcdrhc.gc.ca/2001/e/groups/7311.shtml
Economic Research Institute (ERI) http://www.erieri.com
Industry Standards (see industry information)
Alberta Learning Information Service http://www.alis.gov.ab.ca/wageinfo/Content/RequestAction.asp?aspAction=GetWageDetail&forma
t=html&RegionID=20&NOC=7311
Essential Skills - http://www15.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/english/general/Understanding_ES_e.asp
3 of 3