Industrial Maintenance Specialist

Course Description

ETI0458 – Industrial Maintenance Specialist is a workforce certificate program offered under the Florida Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS) within the Engineering Technologies > Industrial Systems Technology taxonomy. The program prepares students for entry-level and mid-level employment as industrial maintenance mechanics and specialists in manufacturing, processing, and production facilities across Florida and the nation. Students develop broad, transferable skills in electrical systems, mechanical systems, fluid power, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), and workplace safety through an integrated combination of lecture, demonstration, and hands-on laboratory practice. The program aligns with national industry standards including OSHA, NCCER, and MSSC frameworks.

Total program length is 450 clock hours, structured as a vocational certificate at the postsecondary level. The course is offered at multiple Florida colleges and technical centers and is eligible for Florida financial aid programs.

Learning Outcomes

Required Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, all students will be able to:

• Apply workplace safety regulations and procedures in compliance with OSHA General Industry standards, including hazard identification, lockout/tagout (LOTO), and personal protective equipment (PPE) use.
• Read, interpret, and create technical drawings, schematics, blueprints, and wiring diagrams used in industrial maintenance environments.
• Perform electrical troubleshooting and repair on industrial equipment, including single-phase and three-phase systems, motor controls, and control circuits.
• Diagnose and service hydraulic and pneumatic systems, including pumps, cylinders, valves, actuators, and fluid power circuits.
• Perform mechanical maintenance tasks including bearing installation and replacement, V-belt and chain drive alignment, shaft coupling, and precision measurement using hand and power tools.
• Demonstrate proficiency in preventive and predictive maintenance planning, including scheduling, documentation, and use of maintenance logs.
• Apply applied mathematics skills relevant to industrial maintenance calculations, including measurement, unit conversion, and basic electrical calculations (Ohm's Law, power calculations).
• Operate, program, and troubleshoot basic Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) in an industrial control environment.
• Identify and follow environmental regulations and proper disposal procedures for industrial fluids, lubricants, and hazardous materials.

Optional Learning Outcomes

Depending on institutional focus and available resources, students may also be able to:

• Perform basic arc welding and cutting operations (DC arc welding with common electrodes; oxygen-acetylene cutting) applicable to maintenance repair tasks.
• Apply CNC machine operation fundamentals, including basic programming and setup for maintenance contexts.
• Conduct introductory vibration analysis and rotating equipment balancing for predictive maintenance programs.
• Demonstrate basic industrial robotics principles and safety procedures relevant to automated manufacturing environments.
• Use Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) software to log work orders, track assets, and schedule preventive maintenance.
• Complete NCCER Core Curriculum modules and demonstrate readiness for NCCER credentialing in applicable trades.

Major Topics

Required Topics

The following content areas are covered in all standard offerings of ETI0458 across Florida institutions:

• Workplace Safety & OSHA Compliance – OSHA 10-Hour General Industry certification content; hazard communication (HazCom/GHS); lockout/tagout; fire safety; electrical safety; PPE selection and use.
• Applied Mathematics for Industrial Maintenance – Measurement systems (standard and metric), geometric calculations, basic algebra, and electrical formulas relevant to maintenance tasks.
• Blueprint Reading & Technical Documentation – Interpretation of mechanical and electrical drawings, schematic symbols, parts lists, and technical manuals.
• Basic Electricity & Electronics – DC and AC circuit theory; Ohm's Law; series, parallel, and combination circuits; use of multimeters, ammeters, and test equipment.
• Electrical Controls for Industrial Machines – Motor starter circuits (across-the-line starters); control relay logic; overload protection; three-phase motor wiring; single-phase and remote start/stop stations; electrical symbols and wiring diagrams.
• Hydraulics & Pneumatics (Fluid Power) – Principles of hydraulics and pneumatics; properties of hydraulic fluids; pumps, cylinders, and control valves; pneumatic compressors; air treatment and filtration; identification of system components; hands-on trainer exercises.
• Mechanical Systems & Machine Trades – Precision measuring instruments; bearing types, installation, and replacement; V-belt and chain drives; shaft alignment; coupling installation; lubrication; drill press, lathe, and milling machine basics; hand tools and power tools.
• Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) – PLC hardware components; ladder logic programming; input/output wiring; program upload/download; basic troubleshooting of PLC-controlled systems.
• Preventive & Corrective Maintenance – Maintenance strategies (preventive, predictive, corrective, reactive); maintenance scheduling; work order documentation; equipment inspection procedures; downtime reduction principles.
• Industrial Safety & Environmental Compliance – Proper handling, storage, and disposal of lubricants, solvents, and hazardous waste; compliance with EPA and OSHA general industry standards.

Optional Topics

The following topics may be included at the discretion of the offering institution:

• Welding Fundamentals – DC arc welding using 6010 and 7018 electrodes in flat, horizontal, and vertical positions; oxygen-acetylene cutting procedures; equipment safety.
• CNC Machine Operation Basics – Introduction to CNC mill and lathe programming; G-code fundamentals; setup and operation for maintenance technicians.
• Predictive Maintenance Technologies – Introduction to vibration analysis, thermographic inspection, and oil analysis as tools for condition-based monitoring.
• Industrial Robotics Introduction – Robot types and configurations; teach-pendant programming basics; robot safety (ANSI/RIA standards); integration with PLCs.
• CMMS Software Applications – Work order management; asset tracking; spare parts inventory; maintenance reporting using industry-standard CMMS platforms.
• NCCER Core Curriculum Modules – Basic rigging and material handling; construction math; introduction to hand and power tools per NCCER standards.

Resources & Tools

• Textbooks & Workbooks: NCCER Industrial Maintenance series (Electrical & Instrumentation; Mechanical); Hydraulics and Pneumatics by Andrew Parr; Herman's Industrial Motor Controls; manufacturer-supplied PLC programming manuals (Allen-Bradley/Rockwell Automation).
• Laboratory Equipment: Hydraulic and pneumatic tabletop trainers; PLC training stations (Allen-Bradley MicroLogix or CompactLogix series); electrical motor control panels; precision hand tools; multimeters and clamp meters; dial indicators and micrometers.
• Software: RSLogix 500/5000 or Studio 5000 (Allen-Bradley PLC programming); CMMS platforms (e.g., eMaint, Fiix, or MP2); AutoCAD (optional, for blueprint reading context).
• Standards & References: OSHA 29 CFR 1910 (General Industry Standards); NFPA 70 (National Electrical Code); NCCER standardized curricula; MSSC Certified Production Technician (CPT) framework.
• Personal Protective Equipment: Students are required to provide or obtain safety glasses, steel-toed boots, hearing protection, and work gloves as specified by program requirements.

Career Pathways

Graduates of the Industrial Maintenance Specialist certificate are prepared for entry-level employment in Florida's manufacturing, processing, utilities, and facilities management sectors. Common job titles include:

• Industrial Maintenance Mechanic – Repairs and maintains factory production machinery and mechanical equipment.
• Maintenance Technician – Performs preventive maintenance and repairs across mechanical, electrical, and fluid power systems in industrial settings.
• Industrial Electrician – Installs, maintains, and troubleshoots electrical systems and motor controls in manufacturing environments (with additional electrical licensure pathway).
• Automation Technician – Supports PLC-controlled automated production lines; performs troubleshooting and minor programming changes.
• Facilities Maintenance Specialist – Maintains building systems and industrial infrastructure for commercial and industrial employers.

This certificate also provides a foundation for articulation into the Associate of Science (A.S.) in Industrial Management Technology or related Engineering Technology programs at Florida state colleges, and toward credentials such as the MSSC Certified Maintenance & Reliability Technician (CMRT) and NCCER Industrial Maintenance credentials.

Special Information

Certification Preparation

• OSHA 10-Hour General Industry Card – The OSHA 10-Hour General Industry training is embedded within program requirements. Students who complete the requisite modules are eligible to receive an official OSHA 10-Hour completion card from the U.S. Department of Labor.
• NCCER Industrial Maintenance Credentials – Program content is aligned to NCCER Industrial Maintenance Electrical & Instrumentation and Mechanical curricula. Institutions offering NCCER-accredited instruction may administer NCCER written knowledge and performance assessments, enabling students to earn portable, nationally recognized NCCER credentials.
• MSSC Certified Production Technician (CPT) / Certified Maintenance & Reliability Technician (CMRT) – Program competencies overlap substantially with the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) CPT and CMRT frameworks. Students may be prepared to sit for MSSC certification exams upon program completion, depending on institutional testing arrangements.
• Allen-Bradley / Rockwell Automation PLC Training Recognition – Institutions using Rockwell Automation educational equipment may be eligible to offer Rockwell-recognized training completion acknowledgments aligned to their ControlLogix or MicroLogix platforms.

Program Notes

• This is a clock-hour vocational certificate program (450 contact hours). It is classified at the postsecondary vocational level under the Florida Department of Education and is eligible for Florida Bright Futures (Gold Seal Vocational Scholar) and federal financial aid (Pell Grant) for qualifying students.
• Students should expect a significant portion of instruction to occur in a hands-on laboratory environment. Appropriate work attire, including closed-toe shoes and safety glasses, is required at all times in lab settings.
• Completion of this certificate may satisfy prerequisite requirements for advanced ETI-prefix technical courses at Florida state colleges and count toward stackable credential pathways in Industrial Systems Technology.