Job Description
Zinc Limited is seeking a skilled and experienced Mechanical Maintenance Technician to maintain, repair, troubleshoot, and improve mechanical machinery and equipment used throughout the company's manufacturing and fabrication operations.
The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring that production machinery operates safely, reliably, and efficiently. The role involves preventive and corrective maintenance, equipment inspections, fault diagnosis, breakdown response, installation of machinery, and participation in continuous improvement initiatives.
The ideal candidate will have strong mechanical knowledge, practical troubleshooting abilities, attention to detail, and the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced industrial manufacturing environment.
Key Responsibilities
1. Preventive Maintenance
Carry out scheduled preventive maintenance on production machinery and equipment.
Inspect mechanical systems regularly to identify signs of wear, damage, or potential failure.
Follow established maintenance schedules and procedures.
Lubricate bearings, gears, chains, shafts, and other mechanical components as required.
Inspect and replace worn or damaged mechanical components.
Maintain accurate records of preventive maintenance activities.
Recommend improvements to preventive maintenance schedules based on equipment performance.
Ensure machinery is maintained according to manufacturer specifications and company procedures.
2. Breakdown and Corrective Maintenance
Respond promptly to mechanical equipment breakdowns and production stoppages.
Diagnose mechanical faults using appropriate tools, testing equipment, and technical documentation.
Repair or replace defective components to restore equipment to safe operating condition.
Investigate recurring mechanical failures and recommend permanent corrective actions.
Work closely with production personnel to minimize equipment downtime.
Ensure emergency repairs are carried out safely and efficiently.
Document breakdowns, repairs, parts used, and corrective actions taken.
3. Machinery Inspection and Troubleshooting
Conduct routine inspections of production machinery and mechanical systems.
Monitor equipment for abnormal vibration, noise, temperature, leakage, or other signs of malfunction.
Troubleshoot mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and power-transmission systems.
Identify root causes of mechanical failures rather than simply treating symptoms.
Use technical drawings, equipment manuals, maintenance records, and engineering documentation when diagnosing faults.
Escalate complex technical problems to the Maintenance Manager or Engineering Manager when necessary.
4. Manufacturing Equipment Maintenance
Maintain and service a wide range of machinery and equipment used in metal manufacturing and fabrication, which may include:
CNC machines
Press brakes
Hydraulic presses
Cutting and forming machines
Welding equipment and associated mechanical systems
Rolling and bending machines
Conveyors
Compressors
Pumps
Gearboxes
Motors and drive systems
Hydraulic systems
Pneumatic systems
Material-handling equipment
Workshop machinery
Industrial production lines
5. Mechanical Repairs and Component Replacement
Dismantle, inspect, repair, and reassemble mechanical equipment.
Replace bearings, seals, belts, chains, gears, shafts, couplings, rollers, valves, and other mechanical components.
Align shafts, couplings, motors, pumps, and other rotating equipment.
Carry out basic machining, fitting, drilling, grinding, and fabrication work when required.
Perform mechanical adjustments to ensure equipment operates within required tolerances.
Verify equipment functionality following repairs.
6. Hydraulic and Pneumatic Systems
Inspect and maintain hydraulic and pneumatic equipment.
Diagnose leaks, pressure problems, valve failures, and other system faults.
Replace defective hoses, fittings, seals, valves, and related components.
Check hydraulic and pneumatic pressure levels.
Maintain hydraulic pumps, cylinders, actuators, and control components.
Ensure hydraulic and pneumatic systems operate safely and efficiently.
7. Equipment Installation and Commissioning
Assist with the installation of new machinery and production equipment.
Assemble and position mechanical equipment according to engineering drawings and specifications.
Assist with machine alignment, levelling, coupling, and commissioning.
Conduct functional checks following equipment installation or major repairs.
Work with external contractors and equipment suppliers during installations where necessary.
Ensure new equipment is properly documented and incorporated into maintenance schedules.
8. Workshop and Fabrication Support
Carry out mechanical fitting and fabrication tasks in the maintenance workshop.
Use hand tools, power tools, welding equipment, drilling machines, grinders, and other workshop equipment safely.
Manufacture or modify simple mechanical components when required.
Assist in producing replacement parts and maintenance fixtures.
Maintain workshop tools and equipment in good working condition.
9. Safety and Compliance
Follow all company health and safety policies and procedures.
Apply appropriate lockout/tagout procedures before working on machinery.
Ensure machinery is isolated and made safe before maintenance activities.
Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
Identify and report mechanical hazards and unsafe equipment.
Maintain a clean and safe working environment.
Report accidents, near misses, equipment hazards, and unsafe conditions.
Follow safe working practices when working with rotating machinery, hydraulic systems, compressed air, lifting equipment, and other industrial hazards.
10. Maintenance Documentation
Maintain accurate maintenance records for machinery and equipment.
Record breakdowns, inspections, repairs, replacement parts, and maintenance activities.
Update equipment maintenance histories.
Complete maintenance work orders accurately and on time.
Report outstanding mechanical issues to the Maintenance Manager.
Assist in maintaining an accurate inventory of mechanical spare parts.
11. Spare Parts and Materials
Identify mechanical spare parts required for repairs and preventive maintenance.
Assist the Maintenance Manager in preparing spare-parts requirements.
Ensure replacement components meet required specifications.
Monitor frequently used spare parts and report low stock levels.
Avoid unnecessary use and wastage of maintenance materials.
Assist with receiving and inspecting mechanical components and spare parts.
12. Production Support
Work closely with production supervisors and machine operators to ensure reliable equipment availability.
Respond to production-related mechanical problems quickly.
Provide technical assistance to machine operators when required.
Identify mechanical problems that could affect production quality or output.
Recommend equipment improvements to increase reliability and productivity.
Support production teams during machine changeovers, installations, and adjustments.
13. Continuous Improvement
Identify opportunities to improve machinery reliability and maintenance efficiency.
Participate in root-cause analysis of recurring equipment failures.
Recommend modifications that reduce breakdowns and maintenance costs.
Support predictive and condition-based maintenance initiatives.
Participate in maintenance improvement projects.
Contribute ideas for reducing equipment downtime, energy consumption, and operating costs.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Performance in this position may be measured against:
Reduction in unplanned equipment downtime
Preventive maintenance completion rate
Equipment availability and reliability
Response time to breakdowns
Mean time to repair (MTTR)
Reduction in recurring equipment failures
Maintenance cost control
Quality and accuracy of maintenance work
Compliance with safety procedures
Accuracy of maintenance records
Timely completion of maintenance work orders
Required Qualifications
Diploma or National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering, Mechanical Maintenance, Plant Engineering, or a related technical field.
A recognized trade qualification in mechanical fitting, maintenance, or a related discipline is highly desirable.
Additional training in hydraulics, pneumatics, industrial machinery, welding, or condition monitoring will be an advantage.
Occupational health and safety training will be an added advantage.
Required Experience
Minimum of 3–5 years' experience in mechanical maintenance, preferably within a manufacturing, engineering, metal fabrication, mining, automotive, or industrial environment.
Proven experience maintaining industrial machinery and production equipment.
Practical experience in mechanical fault finding and equipment repairs.
Experience with hydraulic and pneumatic systems.
Experience with bearings, gearboxes, pumps, conveyors, belts, chains, shafts, and other mechanical systems.
Experience working in a production environment with strict downtime and productivity requirements.
Technical Skills
The successful candidate should have knowledge and practical ability in:
Mechanical fault diagnosis
Preventive and corrective maintenance
Industrial machinery
Hydraulic systems
Pneumatic systems
Bearings and lubrication systems
Gearboxes and power transmission
Pumps and compressors
Shaft and coupling alignment
Mechanical fitting
Basic machining
Welding and fabrication
Reading engineering drawings
Use of mechanical measuring instruments
Use of hand and power tools
Root-cause analysis
Maintenance planning and documentation
Personal Competencies
The ideal candidate should demonstrate:
Strong mechanical aptitude
Excellent troubleshooting and problem-solving abilities
Good attention to detail
Strong organizational skills
Ability to work under pressure
Ability to respond quickly to equipment breakdowns
Strong teamwork and communication skills
Safety-conscious attitude
Reliability and accountability
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
Willingness to work shifts, overtime, or on-call schedules when required
Commitment to continuous learning and technical development
Working Environment
The Mechanical Maintenance Technician will work primarily within Zinc Limited's manufacturing plant, workshops, and production areas. The position may involve exposure to machinery, noise, heat, dust, oils, lubricants, metalworking operations, welding activities, and other industrial conditions.
The technician may be required to work at heights, in confined areas, or around operating industrial equipment, subject to appropriate safety procedures and authorization.
The role may also require shift work, weekend work, overtime, or emergency call-outs to respond to critical equipment breakdowns.
What Zinc Limited Offers
Zinc Limited provides an opportunity to work in a professional manufacturing and engineering environment focused on quality, innovation, safety, and operational excellence.
The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work with modern industrial machinery, develop their technical expertise, contribute to production efficiency, and play an important role in maintaining the reliability of the company's manufacturing operations.