IST/Maintenance Technology

Overview

Today’s high production equipment and facilities costs make maintenance more critical to the bottom line of manufacturing and business than ever before. Employers must protect those investments and ensure their assets are well maintained. While on-time completion of planned work is vital, reducing downtime, the amount of unplanned work, and outsourcing is just as important. Well-trained maintenance workers are crucial in helping any organization save time and money and create a high-level impact.

Whether you are an experienced industrial maintenance technician or interested in entering the profession, Elgin Community College’s Integrated Systems/Maintenance Technology (IST) Program is suitable for those with no previous experience in the field, for those who seek specialization or a skills upgrade, and/or for those who seek quick entry into the workforce.

As an industrial maintenance student at ECC, you will gain the knowledge and skills in high demand to prepare you for career opportunities requiring considerable maintenance skills. Industrial maintenance coursework is performance-based and provides the information and knowledge for employment in jobs requiring multiple maintenance competencies. Hands-on training to maintain, calibrate, and repair equipment covers basic knowledge in electricity, mechanical drives, hydraulics, pneumatics, and programmable logic controllers.

Get additional information, including course listings and class descriptions.

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What do Industrial Maintenance Technicians do?

Industrial Maintenance Technicians are also called maintenance machinists. They maintain and repair factory equipment and detect any errors that the machine might have. Technicians must understand industrial equipment and read technical manuals. To see if a device might have any mistakes, they use computerized diagnostics systems and vibration analysis techniques to figure out the source of the problem, whether that be worn belts or weak motors. At Elgin Community College, students get access to state-of-the-art equipment. Students receive hands-on instruction and development skills. Students learn about low-level technology to high-level technology, taught by professionals with years of experience.

How do I become an Industrial Maintenance Technician?

If you enjoy working with machines and enjoying solving problems with repairing, an Industrial Maintenance Technician is an excellent career for you. Some essential qualities to have to become an Industrial Maintenance Technician is to have manual dexterity, mechanical skills, and troubleshooting skills. You can prepare for immediate employment at Elgin Community College by receiving an Associate of Applied Science in IST/Maintenance Technology. You can also receive essential certificates such as Automated Electronic Systems and Industrial Maintenance.

How much do Industrial Maintenance Technicians earn?

The median annual wage for industrial mechanics and machinery maintenance workers was $59,380 in May 2021. The median salary is when half the workers in an occupation earn more than that amount, and half earn less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $37,260, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $78,900. It is common for Maintenance Technicians to earn significant overtime pay during the year.