Maintenance Manager

Investigate the words "Maintenance" and "Manager" and use the word "Ideal" as a filter.

Be aware that you are probably going to hear from some chemical engineers.

The decision as to whom is going to be maintenance manager or factory manager is usually done by someone above that position. Many times the candidate with more mechanical training or experience is passed over for a person viewed by the chooser to be a better supervisor.

Basically, a good man on the bench stays on the bench, don't kick him upstairs, you may be raising him above the level of his competence. It's the clip-board man or the back-stabber that gets ahead, leaving the competent workers in the blue collars.

I guess I really didn't answer your question. Of course a manager should know what he is dealing with, ideally. Supervisory experience would be your answer. Just don't be surprised when the one quickest with the knife gets the job. Scruples are not necessary.

Having recently retired from the chemical/mechanical industry where I spent some times as the Maintenance Manager and also the Plant Manager (I have been told I was somewhat good at them) I would say even more important than technical knowledge is the ability to get things done through one's subordinates by motivation and honesty. You can only be as good as the personnel who are working for you. You can fool them or the boss for a short while but the truth comes out after the Bull Sh_t wears off. If your personnel are positive about the team you have built or inherited they will work to pull the organization forward. If they are negative about you and the organization they will drag it and slow it's progress.

Try- http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/manage to find out what management is.

Good Luck, Old Salt

Majority of facilities in factories comprise many plant & equipment which are electro mechanical based and hence it is preferred to have a maintenance manager with Electro mechanical education back ground. However I have noticed many tines even with civil engineering background excelled as a maintenance manager at many places. It is the attitude which makes you as a good manger whether it is maintenance or design or construction.

Good description. I have rich 35yrs work experience as mm. I just enjoy my work. Normally I look for a new assignment when I feel bored in the present job. One should be: Creative, innovative, Know manpower management, can train even fools, able identify design/ erection problems using statistical techniques and solve or manage them will be successful MMs. You need a good team at your disposal hence you must know how to build and manage a team of engineers/ technicians. It is very important that a MM should be "A learning Manager instead of learnt Manager". If one can not resolve a problem permanently, they should at least know to manage it so as to keep more up-time & low downtime. though Reliability Centered maintenance is ultimate, in some applications operate to failure are proved to be economical. Finally performance is measured on "Money Scale"; hence knowing little bit accountancy is also important. MM should able to prove that he is effective, hence some communication and presentation skills are needed. Also you need some one at the top to give pat on your back, hence you need to know HR skills. I am with electrical background, worked long as fecilities manager; got hands-on mechanical, hydraulics & pneumatics experience. I can work on most engines, compressors, pumps, Central A/C, etc. I learned electronics as a hobby and now my Designation is "Sr.Manager Electronics and Charger Maintenance"

hien, most of the comments sum together gives you an ideal mm. if you want to be a good leader "yes leader" you need to respect your people, listen from them and support them while protecting the company needs not wants. Always set as an example. You need to understand what you are doing. You dont need to be an expert of everything. Your people will do it for you.

Maintenance man here, I have only worked under a few good maintenance mangers. The similar qualities they had were: 1) an understanding or all the duties of a maintenance worker 2) the ability to advance those most qualified to a supervisory position over his workers 3) administrative handling abilities 4) an ability and willingness to roll up his sleeves and get in their and get the job done 5) a heavy dose of patience, it is hard to get things from an engineer to a maintenance person but that is the reality of the job as I saw it.