J O B D E S C R I P T I O N
Maintenance Incharge
Department: Maintenance
Reports To: General Manager / Production Manager
Supervises: Electrician (1), Fitter (1), Multi-tasking Technician (1)
Coordinates With: Procurement Executive, Production Manager, Admin Executive
Type: Full-Time, Permanent, Factory-Based
Salary Range: As per Industry Standards
Role Summary
This person owns every machine in the factory. They must understand how each machine works from the inside out — not just operate it, but know why it works, what can go wrong, and how to fix it. When a breakdown happens, the first response is to diagnose the root cause and attempt an in-house fix immediately. If the problem is beyond in-house capability, this person contacts the machine company or an outside vendor, follows up relentlessly, and ensures the machine is back to production in the shortest time possible.
Equally important: this person ensures breakdowns don’t happen in the first place. Regular checks, preventive maintenance schedules, proper machine usage by operators, and a disciplined spare parts system are all part of this role.
Fix it yourself first. Every breakdown follows this sequence: diagnose root cause → attempt in-house repair with your team → only if beyond capability, contact machine company or outside vendor → follow up daily until resolved. No breakdown should wait because “we called the vendor and they haven’t come yet.”
Key ResponsibilitiesMachine Knowledge & Breakdown Management
Study and understand the working principle, mechanism, and design of every machine in the factory — peeling lathe, dryer, hot press, glue mixer/spreader, DD saw, boiler, sanding machine, DG set, compressor.
When a breakdown occurs, reach the machine immediately, diagnose the root cause (not just the symptom), and decide the fastest path to fix.
The first attempt should always be to fix the issue in-house with the Electrician, Fitter, and MTS. Use your knowledge of the machine to guide the team on what exactly needs to be done.
If the problem requires OEM support or specialised expertise, contact the machine company directly, explain the issue technically, get their guidance or schedule their visit, and follow up every single day until the machine is running.
If the machine company cannot respond fast enough, identify and contact an outside vendor such as a local workshop, hydraulic specialist, or motor rewinding shop who can solve the problem faster.
Maintain a Breakdown Log for every incident, including date, machine, what failed, root cause identified, action taken, parts used, downtime duration, and whether fixed in-house or externally.
Preventive Maintenance & Regular Checks
Create a monthly Preventive Maintenance (PM) calendar for every machine covering greasing, oil changes, belt checks, bearing inspection, alignment, hydraulic system checks, and electrical panel cleaning.
Conduct a daily morning round of all machines before production starts to check for unusual sounds, vibration, leaks, temperature, and oil levels.
Build daily operator checklists for each section — simple one-page forms that operators fill before starting their machines (oil OK, sound normal, no leaks, temperature normal).
Ensure operators are using machines properly with correct procedures and settings, without overloading or bypassing safety features. If operators are misusing machines, train them and report the issue to the Production Manager.
Track running hours on critical equipment such as the hot press hydraulic pump, boiler, peeling lathe motor, and dryer chain drive. Schedule maintenance based on operating hours, not just calendar dates.
Spare Parts & Vendor Management
Work with the Procurement Executive to maintain minimum stock of critical spares — parts whose absence would stop production, such as specific bearings, belts, contactors, hydraulic seals, and blades.
Provide consumption data and reorder alerts to the Procurement Executive before stock runs out. Production should never stop because a spare was unavailable.
Actively search for and build contacts with new vendors including local machine shops, hydraulic repair specialists, motor rewinding shops, bearing dealers, and electrical component suppliers.
When identifying new vendors, loop in the Admin Executive for rate negotiation and vendor verification before placing orders.
Coordinate with the Admin Executive for all spare parts purchase bills and delivery verification.
Team Management & Coordination
Assign daily work to the Electrician, Fitter, and MTS every morning based on the PM schedule and pending repair jobs.
Develop your team’s skills by teaching them how machines work, not just how to replace parts. A team that understands root causes prevents repeat failures.
Coordinate with the Production Manager on maintenance windows and schedule PM during weekly offs or shift gaps to avoid production loss.
Submit a weekly maintenance report to the GM covering breakdowns during the week, PM tasks completed, pending jobs, spares needed, and machines at risk.
Work with the visiting Consultant Mechanical Engineer on major overhauls, machine modifications, and problems your team could not solve.
Machines Under Responsibility
- Peeling Lathe — spindle, chuck, knife carriage, hydraulic system
- Veneer Dryer — chain drive, rollers, steam system, temperature controls
- Hot Press — hydraulic pump, cylinders, platens, temperature and pressure controls
- Glue Mixer and Spreader
- DD Saw — blade, motor, alignment, feed mechanism
- Boiler — mechanical aspects, in coordination with Boiler Supervisor
- Sanding Machine, Edge Trimmer, and all finishing equipment
- DG Set, Compressor, and all utility equipment
- All electrical panels, motors, starters, and VFDs across the factory
Required Qualifications
Diploma or B.E./B.Tech in Mechanical or Electrical Engineering.
3–5 years hands-on maintenance experience in manufacturing — plywood, wood panel, paper, packaging, or any continuous process industry.
Must have actually worked with hands, not just supervised from a distance. The candidate should be able to open a machine, diagnose the problem, and guide the fix.
Strong understanding of both mechanical and electrical systems, even if specialised in one.
Experience with hydraulic systems is a strong plus, especially for hot press and peeling lathe operations.
Should have a strong problem-solving mindset that focuses on finding root causes rather than patching symptoms.
Leadership ability is essential to assign work, follow up, and hold the maintenance team accountable.
Must be willing to get vendor contacts, call machine companies, and chase follow-ups until the job is done.
Preferred
- Previous experience in plywood or veneer manufacturing
- Familiarity with boiler operations and IBR regulations
- Experience building preventive maintenance systems from scratch
- Knowledge of condition monitoring — vibration analysis, thermal scanning
What Success Looks Like
- Knows every machine inside out and can explain how it works, what can fail, and how to fix it
- Unplanned downtime below 2% of total production hours per month
- 90%+ of preventive maintenance tasks completed on schedule
- Breakdown response within 15 minutes — at the machine, diagnosing, and acting
- Zero repeat breakdowns — root cause fixed, not just symptom patched
- Critical spares always in stock with no production stoppage due to missing parts
- Growing list of reliable external vendors for specialised repairs
- Operators trained on proper machine usage and daily checks
First 30 Days
Study every machine in the factory, understand its working principle, read manuals if available, and talk to operators about recurring issues.
Create a Machine Master Register containing every machine with make, model, serial number, motor details, belt sizes, bearing numbers, and critical spare lists.
Build the first version of the monthly PM schedule and get it approved by the GM.
Set up the Breakdown Log system and start recording from Day 1.
Create daily operator checklists and deploy them across all sections.
Prepare the critical spares list and share it with the Procurement Executive, identifying what is already in stock and what needs to be ordered immediately.
Visit local vendors including machine shops, hydraulic repair centres, motor rewinding shops, and bearing dealers. Build an initial contact list and share it with the Admin Executive for rate negotiation.
Pay: ₹25,000.00 - ₹35,000.00 per month
Benefits:
Application Question(s):
- Do you have prior experience working as a Maintenance Incharge in a plywood manufacturing company?
Work Location: In person
