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