Granular Reliability Technician

Position Summary

The Granular Reliability Technician is responsible for maintaining, troubleshooting, repairing, and improving equipment used in granular manufacturing operations. This position combines hands-on maintenance responsibilities with reliability-focused activities designed to maximize equipment uptime, improve process efficiency, reduce unplanned downtime, and extend asset life. The Granular Reliability Technician supports preventive and predictive maintenance programs, participates in root cause analysis, and works closely with operations and engineering teams to improve the reliability and performance of production systems.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Equipment Maintenance and Repair

• Troubleshoot, diagnose, and repair mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, conveying, mixing, screening, packaging, and bulk material handling equipment.
• Perform corrective maintenance activities to restore equipment to safe and efficient operation.
• Read and interpret schematics, blueprints, technical manuals, and equipment documentation.
• Support installation, startup, and commissioning of new equipment and process improvements.

Preventive and Predictive Maintenance

• Execute preventive maintenance tasks according to established schedules.
• Evaluate PM effectiveness and recommend improvements to maintenance frequencies and procedures.
• Perform predictive maintenance activities including vibration analysis, thermal imaging, lubrication inspections, and equipment condition assessments.
• Identify equipment deterioration trends and recommend corrective actions before failures occur.

Reliability Improvement

• Participate in root cause failure analysis (RCFA) investigations and implement corrective and preventive actions.
• Identify recurring equipment failures and recommend reliability improvements.
• Assist in developing and implementing reliability-centered maintenance practices.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives focused on reducing downtime, improving throughput, and increasing equipment effectiveness.

Documentation and Data Management

• Accurately document maintenance activities, equipment conditions, labor hours, and parts usage within the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS).
• Collect and analyze equipment performance, downtime, and failure data.
• Maintain accurate maintenance records and equipment history files.

Safety and Compliance

• Follow all company safety policies and procedures, including Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) requirements.
• Maintain compliance with OSHA regulations and company environmental, health, and safety standards.
• Identify and report unsafe conditions and participate in safety improvement efforts.

Team Collaboration

• Work closely with production, quality, engineering, and operations personnel to improve equipment performance and reliability.
• Provide technical support and guidance to maintenance personnel as needed.
• Participate in capital projects, equipment upgrades, and process improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• Technical degree, certification, or equivalent training in Industrial Maintenance, Mechatronics, Electrical Technology, Mechanical Technology, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years of industrial maintenance experience required.
• 3–5 years of manufacturing maintenance or reliability experience preferred.
• Strong mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic troubleshooting skills.
• Experience with CMMS software and preventive maintenance programs.
• Familiarity with predictive maintenance technologies such as vibration analysis, thermography, and lubrication analysis.
• Ability to read and interpret schematics, blueprints, and technical documentation.
• Understanding of reliability metrics including MTBF, MTTR, and failure mode analysis.
• Reliability certifications such as CMRT or CMRP are preferred.

Physical and Environmental Requirements

• Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, climb, and work in manufacturing environments for extended periods.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to work at heights, around moving machinery, and in varying environmental conditions.
• Exposure to noise, dust, vibration, heat, and industrial manufacturing environments.
• Ability to work overtime, weekends, and emergency call-ins as business needs require.