| In many manufacturing companies, the plant | | | | ascertaining that upgrades to machinery are |
| includes a separate area for either the | | | | done as necessary, being certain all machine |
| machinery that is used in the final | | | | shop employees know their specific job |
| manufacturing process or machinery that is in | | | | functions and are well-trained in that area, |
| need of repair. The more common use for a | | | | keeping well-documented records of both |
| machine shop is within companies that have | | | | maintenance and repair of each piece of |
| specialized equipment that the production | | | | machinery, making sure that replacement parts |
| line workers are not qualified to operate. It | | | | are on hand to repair primary machinery, and |
| may be a matter of welding parts of the | | | | reporting to line managers any problems that |
| product together, or machine insertion of | | | | may exist or maintenance schedules of line |
| bolts or other fasteners. Whatever the | | | | machinery. Some smaller companies may also |
| process is, there is likely to be the need | | | | call upon the machine shop manager and his |
| for some type of machinery, and that means | | | | stuff to make emergency repairs to office |
| the need for a machine shop if only for the | | | | equipment because they have the expertise to |
| purpose of maintenance and repair of | | | | do so. |
| machinery that is used on a daily basis. | | | | |
| | | | The responsibilities of a machine shop |
| Regardless of the reason for its existence, | | | | manager can overlap that of the general |
| having a machine shop means that the need | | | | maintenance and repair functions within the |
| exists for someone to keep things under | | | | company because of the intricate nature of |
| control and assure that everything runs | | | | the training this department has. In other |
| smoothly, is in good working order, and that | | | | companies, the machine shop manager may have |
| new employees know how to properly use the | | | | specific functions within his department and |
| equipment if their job entails the use of any | | | | cannot operate outside of that scope of |
| machinery. Those who are trained and | | | | duties. A new employee in this field needs to |
| qualified to use the machinery should be the | | | | understand what his own company expect and |
| only ones in the machine shop, and the | | | | what his duties are within that company. Not |
| machine shop manager's job is to monitor who | | | | everyone has a separate machine shop, but the |
| has access to the equipment. | | | | need for someone to perform those duties and |
| | | | train others to do the same may exist within |
| Other functions a machine shop manager may | | | | the confines of a different department such a |
| have other than training new employees and | | | | Facilities and Maintenance or Equipment |
| maintaining the equipment include | | | | Maintenance and Repair. |