Operations & Maintenance

Operating and Maintenance means running the production machinery and associated systems, ensuring that it all functions efficiently.

Operating and Maintenance in manufacturing – what does that mean?

Operating and maintenance in pharma covers highly skilled jobs from running the production equipment and detecting/rectifying any faults, to planned maintenance and repairs within the manufacturing and laboratory facilities. The combination of skilled operators and maintenance staff ensures that the machinery on the production lines is working at its most efficient, and is set up to produce the right quantity and quality of output. Maintenance will involve routine general servicing and checks on all equipment and essential utilities systems, and troubleshooting problems.

What does an operator or maintenance professional do?

An operator is part of a team controlling and monitoring the machines in a GMP production facility. Monitoring may be done by an operator depending on their seniority and training, but specialist professionals such as electricians will be used for designated checking and maintenance tasks. Within production, overhauling electrical systems and troubleshooting problems is an example and an electrician must be competent in using relevant tools such as a programmable logic controller (PLC) program. An electrician may also be required to keep an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system ready for use. Other maintenance jobs in pharma manufacturing that require specialist training and knowledge might be technical support for laboratory equipment or areas such as HVAC, specialist gases, steam and water supplies or programmable systems.

Popular job titles within Operating and Maintenance

Operating and Maintenance – where can it take me?

In the Netherlands, operators are designated A, B or C according to training and experience, ‘C’ being the most senior and usually involving management as well as the more complex machines. As you gain more experience and training you can move up to a more senior position, for example from an Assistant Operator to a Lead Operator, right up to a Process Operator. It is a similar situation with maintenance professionals – depending on your trade, although you may need additional training to move into a pharma environment, there is plenty of scope for advancement as you gain experience and knowledge right up to senior levels.