WHAT DOES AN ENGINEERING AND MAINTENANCE MANAGER DO?

Reviewed by Lam Nguyen under Editorial Standards

Updated: Mar 11, 2026. The Engineering and Maintenance Manager leads engineering and maintenance teams to ensure equipment reliability, plant availability, and efficient manufacturing operations. This role oversees preventive and predictive maintenance programs, capital projects, asset management, and engineering strategy while ensuring compliance with safety, environmental, and regulatory standards. By optimizing maintenance performance, utilities systems, and operational processes, the position drives productivity, cost efficiency, and long-term asset reliability across industrial and manufacturing facilities.

A Review of Professional Skills and Functions for Engineering and Maintenance Manager

1. Engineering and Maintenance Manager Tasks

Employee Engagement and Empowerment: Create a culture of employee empowerment and engagement.
Safety Management: Support and contribute to a healthy and safe work environment by closing existing safety gaps.
Team Leadership: Manage and lead the maintenance team to follow all safety initiatives to achieve zero safety incidents.
Operational Problem Solving: Develop a team to solve day-to-day operational issues and reach short- and long-term performance goals.
Maintenance Program Development: Develop, implement, and improve preventive and predictive maintenance programs.
Operational Support: Provide support to operations to increase machine uptime and productivity throughout the mill.
Continuous Improvement: Create a culture of continuous improvement.
Data Analysis and Downtime Reduction: Use data to track and identify deficiencies that create downtime or reduce reliability.
Root Cause Analysis: Perform and Direct Root Cause Analysis for equipment/systems failures.
Budget Management: Manage the maintenance budget by tracking expenditures, labor costs, and capital projects to ensure compliance with mill and department budgets.
Vendor Relationship Management: Manage vendor relationships to ensure project goals are met.
Contractor Management: Manage contractor relationships to ensure safe, timely, and cost-effective repairs are completed.

2. Engineering and Maintenance Manager Roles

Procedure and Equipment Utilization: Ensure that proper procedures and process equipment are being utilized.
CMMS System Management: Work with the new COGZ CMMS System to enter Facility, Line, Equipment, Parts, and Routine Information to develop a highly effective Maintenance Management System.
Preventative Maintenance: Perform Preventative Maintenance functions as dictated by pre-existing schedules.
Equipment Repair: Repair and/or rebuild Existing Equipment and Facility Components.
Department Organization: Maintain organization and efficiency within the Maintenance Department.
Team Management: Train and Manage Maintenance Technicians to produce the most highly effective Team.
Equipment and Building Integrity: Direct Maintenance Technicians to maintain the highest Equipment and Building Integrity.
Sanitation and Maintenance Scheduling: Maintain Sanitation and Maintenance Schedules as well as other documentation required, such as Back-Flow Prevention Tests, Boiler Certifications, Scale Certifications, etc.
Parts and Supplies Management: Purchase necessary Parts and Supplies required to maintain the highest production efficiencies.
Downtime Prevention: Target “0” downtime with proper Preventive Maintenance Scheduling with flexibility.

3. Engineering and Maintenance Manager Duties

Production Scheduling: Work with Production Supervisors and Superiors to schedule necessary repairs without affecting Production.
Building and Equipment Inspection: Perform regular inspections to ensure Building and Equipment Integrity.
Project Support: Support the Senior Engineering and Maintenance Manager with project development, scoping, and execution, including adherence to Capital and Maintenance budgets.
Continuous Improvement Expertise: Provide technical expertise for Continuous Improvement projects in Safety, Quality, Service, and Cost.
Executive Decision Making: Demonstrate executive maturity through decision-making and effective communication with various departments and managers.
Technical Strategy Development: Support the development and implementation of overall plant technical strategies and tactics focused on engineering projects, maintenance, and store improvement programs.
Maintenance Management: Work with the Plant Manager and Senior Engineering and Maintenance Manager to maintain all aspects of Building and Equipment Maintenance, including preventative and repair/rebuild functions.
Inventory Management: Repair Parts Inventory is self-managed at the Plant level with the help of Outside Service Vendors weekly.
Reporting and Development: Report directly to the Engineering and Maintenance Manager, who will be responsible for their development, guidance, attendance, and performance.
Documentation Management: Manage all documentation as required by the Director of QC.

4. Engineering and Maintenance Manager Details

Process and Documentation Development: Develop and implement processes and documentation to support all maintenance-related activities through a team of maintenance personnel across multiple shifts.
Project Coordination: Improve line efficiencies, coordinate plant projects, coordinate contractors, and act as a technical resource for the facility.
Inventory Management: Establish and maintain work orders, preventative maintenance, and spare-part inventory systems.
Team Coaching: Coach, develop, train, and support plant maintenance personnel across multiple shifts.
Troubleshooting: Conduct troubleshooting tasks for operations and maintenance.
Equipment Monitoring and Improvement: Monitor the operation of equipment and provide recommendations for improved efficiency and reliability.
Priority Management: Work and establish priorities for the repair and maintenance of facilities and production lines.
Standards Development: Identify and develop standards for equipment repair, setup, and operation.
Consumables Management: Monitor the purchase and inventory of spare parts and consumables.
Safety Control Management: Ensure safety controls are maintained and reliable.
Documentation Maintenance: Keep up-to-date documentation related to plant equipment, parts, and maintenance.
Contractor Coordination: Coordinate contractors working on maintenance, repairs, or project installations.
Capital Project Execution: Execute capital improvement projects and initiatives.

5. Engineering and Maintenance Manager Responsibilities

Mechanical and Electrical Expertise: Ensure mechanical and electrical expertise is available to production and other departments.
System and Facility Maintenance: Maintain production systems, utilities, buildings, and grounds in a 24-hour, 7-day per week operation.
Collaboration with Management: Collaborate with the plant and senior management to utilize equipment.
Continuous Improvement: Improve employee safety, production quality, equipment reliability, and overall equipment effectiveness by utilizing Continuous Improvement techniques and a Management Operating Structure.
Regulatory Compliance: Remain current with the latest and emerging industry regulations and codes relative to mechanical and electrical systems design and operation.
Maintenance Standard Adherence: Ensure standards are followed in daily maintenance.
Environmental Compliance: Promote a safe and environmentally sound workplace that complies with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
Team Supervision: Supervise the maintenance team to ensure effective selection, retention, development, disciplinary action, and performance management.
Supplier Compliance: Ensure compliance with all procedures internal to Taylor Farms and from national suppliers.
Supervisor Responsibilities: Engage in the typical responsibilities of a Supervisor, including scheduling, evaluating, organizing, training, and delegating.

6. Engineering and Maintenance Manager Accountabilities

Engineering and Product Quality: Ensure engineering activities enhance product quality, plant performance, and business objectives.
Maintenance Team Management: Oversee the Maintenance team, including labor allocation and budgeting.
Health, Safety, and Environmental Compliance: Ensure adherence to employee health and safety, product safety, and the protection of the environment.
Environmental Compliance Program Development: Develop and maintain environmental compliance programs required by local, state, or federal agencies, and company policy.
Regulatory Communication: Timely communication with the Plant Manager and appropriate corporate partners regarding regulations that impact operations.
Safety Project Support: Support the Plant Manager and Safety team with safety-related projects, upgrades, or improvements.
Budget Management: Manage Maintenance and improvement budget, including capital projects and investments, annual maintenance, and repair budgets.
Engineering Alignment: Align with Division Engineering.
Process and Technology Implementation: Initiate and coordinate the implementation of new processes and technologies, including continuous process improvement initiatives.

7. Engineering and Maintenance Manager Functions

Team Culture Development: Actively develop and manage the culture of the team to align with Tecton's mission and values, as measured by survey scores, turnover, retention, and other key culture metrics of the position.
Leadership and Resource Management: Provide leadership to custodial, maintenance engineering, and maintenance associates by setting work expectations, mentoring and developing associates within teams, and managing resources.
Training and Work Instruction: Facilitate work instruction development and training of associates in the given functional areas.
Project Management: Serve as project manager for equipment and facility projects.
Budget Management: Manage budgetary responsibilities for the given functional areas.
Equipment Safety: Ensure that Tecton equipment remains safe to operate and production-ready in support of manufacturing demands.
Continuous Improvement: Lead continuous improvement efforts of equipment, and work towards optimizing the performance of equipment as measured through equipment-caused scrap and downtime.
Regulatory Compliance: Provide engineering guidance and support to ensure environmental and safety regulatory compliance.
Operations Leadership Support: Serve as a member of the operations leadership staff and support projects and initiatives.
Facility and Grounds Management: Responsible for the management of the facility and grounds, including all required maintenance and improvements.
Infrastructure Management: Ensure facility infrastructure capability and capacity (i.e., water, air, electrical, etc.) meet or exceed production demand.
Hazardous Waste Management: Handle hazardous waste following established procedures and attend annually administered hazardous waste management/handling training.
Safety Standards: Ensure all Maintenance areas and associates meet housekeeping, safety, and 5S standards.

8. Engineering and Maintenance Manager Overview

Team Leadership: Lead and motivate the maintenance team to maintain engagement, accountability, and operational discipline.
Performance Management: Set departmental targets and monitor execution to achieve operational and maintenance performance objectives.
Technical Reliability: Ensure reliable operation of technology, machinery, and engineering communication systems across facilities.
Shutdown Planning: Plan and coordinate maintenance shutdowns to support safe and efficient equipment servicing.
Budget Control: Control maintenance budget execution while ensuring cost-effective resource allocation and operational continuity.
Performance Analysis: Analyze technical equipment performance and propose improvements to enhance efficiency and reliability.
Inventory Management: Manage maintenance inventory to ensure the availability of critical spare parts and materials.
Project Leadership: Lead engineering investment projects and negotiate effectively with external subcontractors and service providers.
Strategic Contribution: Participate in management team discussions, contributing technical insight to strategic operational decisions.
Cross-Team Communication: Communicate and collaborate effectively with internal teams and cross-functional departments.
Workflow Coordination: Improve coordination and workflow between maintenance and production teams to support operational efficiency.

9. Engineering and Maintenance Manager Details and Accountabilities

Team Leadership: Lead multidisciplinary engineering teams responsible for costing, order processing, and order entry activities.
Product Development: Lead teams developing new products, technical solutions, and improved engineering processes.
Process Improvement: Improve enquiry-to-order management processes supporting continuous operational and commercial efficiency.
Cost Estimation: Review enquiry specifications and prepare material and manufacturing cost estimates for sales evaluation.
Specification Analysis: Summarize key technical and commercial points within enquiry specifications for sales quotation decisions.
Discrepancy Identification: Identify discrepancies between request documents and specifications for client clarification through sales.
Manufacturing Planning: Provide manufacturing method options supporting cost, feasibility, and delivery considerations.
Order Review: Review and process customer orders while conducting technical and contractual project assessments.
Material Allocation: Manage the allocation of materials to orders and determine solutions during stock shortages.
Production Documentation: Create engineering operations and prepare job documentation for production execution.
Manufacturing Expertise: Apply expertise in machining and manufacturing processes to support production planning and scheduling.
Supplier Management: Manage supplier and subcontractor relationships supporting manufacturing and operational requirements.
Process Engineering: Design and refine product development, testing, and manufacturing processes to improve product quality.
Resource Planning: Secure operational resources by evaluating requirements and proposing appropriate capital investments.

10. Engineering and Maintenance Manager Tasks

Team Management: Manage maintenance engineers responsible for preventive maintenance planning and execution.
Preventive Maintenance: Execute preventive maintenance schedules, ensuring reliable operation of plant machinery and equipment.
Machine Utilization: Manage machine utilization while addressing equipment breakdowns and coordinating repair activities.
Operational Support: Support production operations and communicate maintenance progress and technical updates.
Repair Scheduling: Plan and schedule machine repairs while coordinating maintenance stoppages with production teams.
Requisition Approval: Approve maintenance requisitions supporting the timely procurement of required repair resources.
Task Coordination: Coordinate maintenance tasks assigned to technical specialists and engineering personnel.
Repair Delegation: Delegate urgent repair activities, ensuring rapid response to equipment failures.
Equipment Improvement: Lead machine improvement initiatives, enhancing equipment reliability and maintenance performance.
Maintenance Compliance: Approve completed maintenance repairs, ensuring compliance with maintenance standards and procedures.

11. Engineering and Maintenance Manager Roles

Team Leadership: Lead cross-functional teams responsible for annual maintenance planning and scheduling activities.
Program Management: Manage planning, budget, schedule, quality, and safety performance of plant maintenance programs.
Maintenance Strategy: Develop maintenance strategies extending intervals between shutdowns while maintaining equipment reliability.
Reliability Improvement: Drive reliability improvement initiatives through engineering studies and technical evaluations.
Reliability Analysis: Analyze reliability reports generated from maintenance planning systems to identify performance trends.
Engineering Solutions: Develop and implement engineering solutions addressing recurring equipment reliability issues.
Reliability Support: Support plant reliability programs through technical expertise and continuous improvement initiatives.
Metrics Tracking: Track maintenance metrics, including schedule compliance, preventive maintenance backlog, and equipment reliability performance.
Planning Management: Manage maintenance planning and scheduling processes to maximize plant availability and operational readiness.
Failure Response: Respond to unplanned equipment failures, ensuring rapid resolution during operational and non-operational hours.
Operational Coordination: Coordinate with operations and technical teams to develop integrated plant operational strategies.

12. Engineering and Maintenance Manager Additional Details

Maintenance Strategy: Develop maintenance strategies to improve compliance, safety performance, and cost efficiency across operations.
Performance Reporting: Track and report maintenance compliance and operational performance metrics to support informed decision-making.
Compliance Leadership: Influence maintenance operations to strengthen regulatory compliance and improve cost management practices.
Fleet Strategy: Develop fleet sustenance strategies optimizing asset lifecycle performance and operational efficiency.
Asset Compliance: Ensure fleet assets maintain compliance with operational and regulatory maintenance requirements.
Inventory Management: Manage spare parts programs and critical inventory to improve operational readiness and reduce excess stock.
Engineering Support: Provide maintenance engineering expertise, technical training, and operational support for asset management.
System Management: Manage the computerized maintenance management system, ensuring effective use, training, and system standards.
System Adoption: Promote effective adoption and operational use of the maintenance management system across maintenance teams.
Root Cause Analysis: Coordinate root cause analysis investigations addressing equipment failures and safety-related incidents.
Technical Analysis: Provide technical analysis and procedures to improve equipment reliability, safety, and operating costs.
Data Analysis: Analyze maintenance and asset performance data, identifying trends and predictive maintenance strategies.
Resource Allocation: Manage prioritization and resource allocation for maintenance engineering work requirements.
Team Development: Lead recruitment, development, and performance management of maintenance engineering personnel.
Budget Management: Develop and manage the maintenance engineering budget, ensuring alignment with operational objectives.

13. Engineering and Maintenance Manager Essential Functions

Team Mentorship: Mentor team members supporting continuous professional development and technical capability growth.
Project Management: Manage equipment and facility projects, ensuring timely execution and operational alignment.
Equipment Reliability: Ensure equipment operates safely and remains production-ready, supporting manufacturing requirements.
Equipment Improvement: Lead equipment improvement initiatives, reducing downtime and minimizing production scrap.
Safety Compliance: Provide engineering guidance supporting environmental compliance and workplace safety standards.
Leadership Participation: Participate in operations leadership activities supporting cross-functional projects and initiatives.
Infrastructure Management: Ensure facility infrastructure capacity supports production requirements, including utilities and technical systems.
Waste Management: Manage hazardous waste handling in accordance with established environmental procedures and regulations.
Workplace Compliance: Ensure maintenance areas and personnel comply with housekeeping, safety, and workplace organization standards.

14. Engineering and Maintenance Manager Role Purpose

Capital Projects: Develop and implement capital projects improving environmental compliance, safety performance, quality, and operational service levels.
Engineering Management: Manage engineering activities related to equipment design, improvement, and process optimization.
System Development: Develop and maintain systems capturing equipment performance and maintenance history data.
Data Analysis: Analyze maintenance and equipment data to identify improvements, reducing downtime and increasing efficiency.
TPM Implementation: Implement procedures improving overall equipment effectiveness through total productive maintenance principles.
Team Leadership: Direct and monitor maintenance and engineering team activities supporting operational and safety objectives.
Employee Development: Encourage employee engagement and professional development aligned with operational and regulatory requirements.
Inventory Control: Manage storage and control of routine and critical spare parts and maintenance equipment.

15. Engineering and Maintenance Manager General Responsibilities

Team Management: Manage the service engineering team supporting technical maintenance and engineering operations.
Configuration Management: Maintain technical configuration and engineering documentation of railway vehicles.
Change Management: Implement engineering change management processes, ensuring controlled technical modifications.
Fleet Performance: Manage technical performance of fleet maintenance operations, ensuring reliability and operational readiness.
Defect Analysis: Analyze defect reports and develop corrective action plans addressing recurring technical issues.
Maintenance Planning: Define maintenance engineering plans supporting effective fleet maintenance strategies.
Safety Compliance: Ensure product safety policies are implemented and maintained within engineering operations.
Vehicle Safety: Ensure vehicles remain maintained in a safe operating condition with updated maintenance documentation.
Technical Coordination: Coordinate technical communication and issue resolution with customers and operational stakeholders.
Process Management: Manage specialized maintenance and engineering processes supporting operational reliability.
Predictive Maintenance: Implement advanced maintenance tools supporting condition monitoring and predictive maintenance practices.
Reliability Monitoring: Monitor fleet maintenance performance using reliability and safety engineering methodologies.

16. Engineering and Maintenance Manager Key Accountabilities

Equipment Reliability: Ensure plant and equipment remain maintained and available to support manufacturing operations and customer requirements.
SHE Leadership: Lead the engineering department's safety, health, and environmental practices following regulatory and operational standards.
Risk Assessment: Ensure risk assessments cover maintenance activities and required safety inspections of equipment.
Permit Authority: Act as the permit issuing authority, ensuring safe work authorization procedures are applied correctly.
Maintenance Programs: Develop and implement planned maintenance programs supporting equipment reliability and operational continuity.
Inspection Coordination: Arrange internal equipment inspections to identify maintenance issues and implement corrective actions.
Regulatory Compliance: Coordinate statutory inspections, ensuring plant equipment complies with regulatory requirements.
Capital Projects: Lead capital engineering projects supporting facility and equipment improvement initiatives.
Business Case Development: Prepare business cases supporting capital investment for plant and equipment improvements.
Project Monitoring: Monitor project status, identifying critical paths, risks, and deviations affecting project delivery.
Budget Tracking: Maintain capital project registers, tracking expenditure against approved budgets.
Service Planning: Ensure maintenance service plans exist while maintaining critical spare parts availability.
Team Development: Coordinate engineering team training and development, supporting continuous improvement of technical competencies.

17. Engineering and Maintenance Manager Roles and Details

Performance Management: Achieve maintenance performance metrics, including reliability, uptime, productivity, and equipment effectiveness.
Team Supervision: Supervise maintenance engineers and technical specialists supporting maintenance, fabrication, and engineering design activities.
People Management: Manage employee performance, including resource planning, performance reviews, succession planning, and professional development.
Capacity Planning: Balance design and fabrication capacity with operational demand to maintain efficient resource utilization.
Process Standardization: Drive standardized engineering processes and tools supporting consistent design and fabrication practices.
Schedule Management: Ensure fabrication and design activities meet schedules while supporting cost-effective engineering objectives.
Strategy Execution: Execute operational strategies aligned with broader organizational engineering and maintenance goals.
Maintenance Planning and Execution: Direct and provide oversight to plan, schedule, coordinate, and execute mill maintenance and outage activities to maximize paper machine availability/capacity.
Capital Project Oversight: Provide oversight to ensure schedules are developed/executed for capital improvement projects.
Technical Support: Provide technical support for maintenance functions.

18. Engineering and Maintenance Manager Responsibilities and Key Tasks

Maintenance Management: Manage and improve preventive and predictive maintenance programs based on reliability analysis.
Operations Management: Manage centralized maintenance and construction activities supporting the installation and maintenance of facilities and equipment.
Team Supervision: Supervise the regional engineering team supporting maintenance and technical operations.
Maintenance Guidelines: Establish guidelines for preventive and predictive maintenance systems and critical maintenance tasks.
System Documentation: Ensure maintenance activities are tracked and documented within maintenance management systems.
Repair Performance: Monitor repair performance metrics and implement procedures and training to reduce equipment repair time.
Engineering Oversight: Provide engineering oversight for the procurement and installation of industrial equipment and facility systems.
Training Development: Develop and implement maintenance training programs supporting technical workforce capability development.

19. Engineering and Maintenance Manager Duties and Roles

Operations Management: Manage engineering department operations, ensuring efficient support for production equipment, utilities, safety, environmental, and regulatory programs.
Budget Management: Prepare and control the engineering department budget supporting plant operations and cross-functional departments.
Engineering Strategy: Establish and implement an engineering strategy supporting capacity expansion, operational efficiency, and sustainability objectives.
Utilities Management: Ensure reliable operation and continuity of utilities and facility systems supporting plant operations.
Investment Planning: Develop site investment and layout plans while ensuring effective capital and operational expenditure governance.
Cost Control: Control engineering and facility expenses, ensuring alignment with approved operational budgets.
Strategic Initiatives: Deploy strategic initiatives, including digitalization, smart operations, and sustainability programs, with regional collaboration.
Team Development: Develop team capabilities and succession pipeline while promoting an inclusive and collaborative workplace culture.

20. Engineering and Maintenance Manager Roles and Responsibilities

Team Management: Manage and coordinate maintenance engineering teams, ensuring equipment performance and manufacturing efficiency.
Workload Planning: Plan and review workloads of engineers and technicians supporting production output and timely delivery targets.
Maintenance Compliance: Ensure maintenance activities follow preventive maintenance specifications, quality standards, and cost control requirements.
Procurement Coordination: Collaborate with purchasing teams, ensuring cost-effective procurement and timely availability of maintenance parts.
Cross-Team Collaboration: Coordinate with quality, production, and process engineering teams supporting operational performance objectives.
Resource Readiness: Ensure technicians possess the required skills, tools, resources, and competencies to support production targets.
Operational Coordination: Communicate and coordinate resources, including personnel, equipment, and processes, supporting efficient operations.
Capability Development: Develop technical capability and operational knowledge, preparing teams for advanced equipment technologies.
Equipment Reliability: Ensure safe maintenance and high uptime of production equipment supporting product quality and operational performance.

Job Role FAQs

What is a job role?

A job role refers to the duties, responsibilities, and expectations associated with a specific position within an organization. It explains what tasks an employee performs, how they contribute to team objectives, and how their work supports the company’s overall goals.

What are the typical responsibilities of a job role?

Typical job role responsibilities include completing daily tasks, collaborating with team members, making decisions, and meeting performance targets. For example, a software developer may write code, fix bugs, review pull requests, and collaborate with product teams.

What is the difference between a job role and a job title?

A job title is the official name of a position, such as Marketing Manager or Software Engineer. A job role describes the actual duties, responsibilities, and expectations associated with that position.

Why are clearly defined job roles important?

Clearly defined job roles help organizations improve productivity, reduce workplace confusion, and ensure accountability. When employees understand their responsibilities and expectations, teams can collaborate more effectively.

How do job roles support career development?

Understanding different job roles helps professionals identify career paths and the skills required for advancement. By learning the expectations of various roles, individuals can build relevant skills and plan long-term career growth.

Editorial Process

Lamwork content is developed through structured review of publicly available job postings and documented hiring trends.

Editorial operations are managed by Thanh Huyen, Managing Editor, with research direction and final oversight by Lam Nguyen, Founder & Editorial Lead. Content is periodically reviewed to reflect observable labor market changes.

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