WHAT DOES A CONTROLS TECHNICIAN DO?

Published: August 16, 2024 - The Controls Technician works various hours on a rotating schedule, utilizing a company vehicle for transit between posts on weekends and remaining vigilant until properly relieved. This role requires maintaining technical expertise to independently handle complex issues, commissioning and troubleshooting systems, and interfacing directly with customers for training and support. Additionally, responsibilities include supervising subcontractors, assisting in site surveys, and ensuring quality installation of building automation systems.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Controls Technician

1. Controls Technician Duties

  • Safety Compliance: Following all company safety policies and procedures to ensure a safe working environment
  • System Integrity: Responsibility for the overall integrity and reliability of control systems throughout the plant
  • Control System Support: Responsibility for supporting, creating, integrating, troubleshooting, and improving a variety of processing and packaging control systems including Wonderware, ArchestrA Systems, PLC's
  • Schematic Interpretation: Reading and updating electrical and control schematics, piping, and instrumentation diagrams
  • System Design: Designing and troubleshooting a range of electrical and instrumentation systems
  • Technical Support: Providing technical support and skills for equipment troubleshooting and controls/equipment modifications
  • System Modification: Working with engineering and maintenance teams to modify control systems to improve operations
  • Equipment Maintenance: Providing coverage as a troubleshooting mechanic and performing preventative maintenance on all equipment when needed
  • Continuous Improvement: Participating in Continuous Improvement initiatives to increase platform performance
  • Food Safety Compliance: Understanding and applying food system design and complying with AIB guidelines for food safety

2. Controls Technician Details

  • Rotating Schedule: Works various hours on a rotating schedule with other control technicians.
  • Vehicle Operation: Uses a company vehicle to go from one post to another on the weekends when the shuttle bus does not run.
  • Post Vigilance: Remains alert and does not leave the assigned post until properly relieved.
  • Technical Knowledge: Maintains technical knowledge of operations in order to independently resolve unusual and complex problems.
  • Commissioning: Commissions, tests, and checks out field controllers and devices.
  • Circuit Troubleshooting: Troubleshoots low voltage circuitry and verifies that functional requirements are met.
  • GUI Work: Works with graphical user interfaces for building automation systems.
  • Customer Interface: Interfaces with customers for training and troubleshooting before, during, and after the project.
  • Subcontractor Supervision: Works with onsite subcontractors to supervise and ensure a quality installation of control systems.
  • Site Survey Assistance: Assists project development and implementation teams to conduct site surveys and existing building automation system assessments.

3. Controls Technician Responsibilities

  • Engineering Assistance: Assists engineering staff by testing products/prototypes, preparing and conducting experiments, and recording results during experiments.
  • Product Development: Assists in product design, development, and production.
  • Quality Inspection: Inspects products and processes for flaws and identifies areas of improvement.
  • Test Equipment Setup: Builds and sets up test equipment.
  • Work Area Management: Manages the work area in the Engineering Lab.
  • Equipment Calibration: Ensures that all equipment is under calibration/PM control.
  • Workplace Safety: Maintains a clean and safe work area.
  • Employee Training: Assisting with training new employees
  • Meeting Participation: Attending meetings and training

4. Controls Technician Job Summary

  • Practice Safety: Practice safety and support site-wide safety awareness.
  • Workload Assistance: Assist with the completion of the team workload.
  • CMMS Entry: Ensure information is entered in the CMMS to track utilization.
  • Workload Coordination: Coordinate and prioritize assigned daily workload.
  • Issue Recording: Ensure major issues are recorded and communicated.
  • Issue Escalation: Ensure issues and temporary repairs are escalated.
  • Team Support: Support team with positive motivation and team engagement.
  • Feedback Provision: Give feedback to RTL and SAE regarding scheduled work to ensure work is completed accurately and completely.
  • Storeroom Process Compliance: Ensure storeroom processes are followed correctly to ensure inventory is accurate.
  • Lifecycle Management: Recognize the current phase of the lifecycle for each Infrastructure Solution and Service and prepare an appropriate action plan.

5. Controls Technician Accountabilities

  • Fitting and Adjustment: Utilize fitting, adjustment, securing maneuvers from drawings, engineering standards, shop orders, and/or verbal instructions.
  • Technical Assistance: Supply technical information and assistance to others.
  • Department Interaction: Interact with other departments.
  • Equipment Maintenance: Responsible for the maintenance and repair of Company equipment and/or systems as may be assigned by management.
  • Assembly Task Execution: Read drawings and engineering specifications to perform assembly tasks on products.
  • Equipment Operation: Operate and maintain Company equipment (e.g., Test HPUs).
  • Material Handling: Operate forklifts, overhead cranes, and other material-handling equipment.
  • Defect Identification: Identify defects from returned equipment and generate documentation.
  • Process Improvement: Pursue and support process improvements to drive shrink initiatives.
  • Electrical Project Identification: Identify potential electrical controls-focused capital projects and communicate to the Directorate METT team.
Relevant Information
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