If you’re preparing for a career in industrial maintenance, the amount of knowledge needed can be intimidating. Many industrial maintenance training websites, courses, and publications exist, each offering different information. Some sites offer free industrial maintenance training, while others charge thousands of dollars for uncertified programs. It can be hard to know what’s worth it and what isn’t.
We’ve compiled a list of 15 resources to help you expand your knowledge about industrial maintenance and learn about the importance of choosing a Maintenance Technician program.
Industrial Maintenance Training Resources
The following resources for industrial maintenance labor and training provide clear, up-to-date information from reputable sources. It’s important to note that while these resources offer information, they rarely provide courses. They do, however, offer valuable insights for current students and professionals in the field. Five of the best include:
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
If you plan to have a career in industrial maintenance, OSHA protocols will be an essential part of your training. OSHA controls workplace safety, which is vital when working with major machinery. The OSHA website provides useful safety information, free safety training resources, and resources to improve safety in industrial facilities.
Hydraulic Supermarket Technical Library
Working on a hydraulic machine and have questions? The Hydraulic Supermarket Technical Library is a huge resource for troubleshooting tips on hydraulic machinery, helping technicians fix problems, learn how hydraulics work, and generally increase their knowledge base. From “How to troubleshoot hydraulic cylinder” to “Hydraulic winch drive calculations,” this resource is a one-stop shop for hydraulics information.
Maintenance World
For the latest trends in maintenance and reliability, look no further than Maintenance World. A website for maintenance managers, Maintenance World publishes best practices for maintenance workers. The site offers regular updates on workforce tips, checklists for keeping processes running smoothly, and more.
Industrial Machinery Digest
For the latest news on new machines, check out Industrial Machinery Digest. Featuring overviews of top technology, easy-to-understand walkthroughs, and information about a wide range of tools and machinery, this is the publication to check while you familiarize yourself with different machines you may work with as an industrial maintenance worker.
Industrial Supply Magazine
Available in both print and online, Industrial Supply Magazine keeps up-to-date on trends in industrial maintenance. The website also offers several free online seminars on industrial maintenance, technology, supply practices, and workforce trends.
Free Industrial Maintenance Training Resources
While many organizations offer industrial maintenance training online for a fee, free resources also exist. These resources cover topics such as an industrial technician’s daily workload, training videos, and free video series related to your education in industrial maintenance.
FastMaint CMMS Software for Maintenance Management
FastMaint CMMS Software offers a free 30-day trial available for download and use on your computer, allowing you to familiarize yourself with the basic capabilities and features of maintenance management software. Also, check out their Maintenance Software Blog for tips and advice on maintenance software.
Big Clive Vlogs
If you want to see mechanical skills in action in a small setting, Big Clive Vlogs is a good place to start. The channel tests and uses affordable electronic soldering equipment and tools to build, teardown, modify, and occasionally mess up electronic equipment. For those interested in industrial mechanics because they love tinkering with electronics and equipment, this resource is both educational and enjoyable.
BIN Industrial Training
BIN Industrial Training uses YouTube videos to offer free online maintenance training. Video topics range from straightforward lectures about how systems work to webinars on possible career opportunities. If you’re unsure if industrial technician careers are right for you, these videos can give you a good overview of what’s involved.
TPC Training
While TPC Training videos direct you to paid courses, their YouTube channel remains a valuable free resource for understanding the basic mechanics of industrial maintenance. Videos include overviews of tools used on the job, safety and compliance training, and other areas where industrial technicians may require skill gap training.
Websites for Industrial Maintenance Knowledge
The following resources teach valuable skills. Some programs are instructor-led, but most are online webinars. They offer resources for learning beyond strictly industrial maintenance, including electrical engineering basics, mechanical overviews, and safety training.
Electrical Construction & Maintenance Training
EC&M is a magazine and online repository for all things electrical. Its online training materials cover safety and electrical maintenance. The magazine offers free training webcasts, events, eBooks, and other written materials.
Free Electrical Safety Training
OSHAcademy offers a free Electrical Safety Training course that complies with OSHA standards. The training module includes slides, a video, and a quiz to assess your learning.
MIT Electrical Engineering Courses
Do you wish you could expand your knowledge of electric maintenance for free? What if it were from a top-tier university like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology? MIT offers free online electrical engineering seminars that provide a basic understanding of electrical mechanics to help you better understand the machines you’ll work on as an industrial maintenance technician.
Organizations for Industrial Maintenance Professionals
As you embark on your journey in industrial maintenance, consider joining organizations that support your career. These organizations support manufacturing, maintenance workers, and machinists, while providing industry news, trends, and lobbying on behalf of industrial maintenance professionals.
National Association of Manufacturers
The National Association of Manufacturers works for the success of the more than 12.8 million men and women who make things in the US. The organization promotes free enterprise, competitiveness, individual liberty, and equal opportunity. Their website provides information on manufacturing trends, workforce skills gaps, and other operational and maintenance information.
Society for Maintenance and Reliability Professionals
The Society for Maintenance & Reliability Professionals is a nonprofit professional society formed to develop and promote excellence in maintenance, reliability, and physical asset management and to create leaders in the profession.
Precision Machined Products Association
The PMPA is an international trade association representing the interests of the precision-machined products industry. It’s a valuable resource to keep up with industry trends, new technology, and workforce training.
How to Choose the Right Training Resource
The right industrial maintenance training depends on your current training and education. Look for general resources if you’re exploring the possibility of becoming an industrial maintenance technician or in the early days of your training. Once you have some formal training, identify your skill gaps and seek out more advanced resources to fill them.
Consider how you learn as well. Online resources are fine for theory and general knowledge, but not so great for hands-on learners. Do you like to study whenever you have free time, or do you need the structure of set class times? These considerations help determine which resources provide the most benefit.
Do You Need Formal Training for Industrial Maintenance?
While reading, blogging, watching videos, and joining associations can all help with your industrial maintenance education, hands-on formal training remains a valuable way to acquire the skills and knowledge to pursue an industrial maintenance career. San Joaquin Valley College’s Maintenance Technician program provides fundamental, hands-on training with industrial systems and equipment in an instructor-led, supportive setting. To learn more about our program, contact us.