Becoming a Millwright in Canada
Millwright Jobs Offer a Wide Range of Employment Opportunities
In the most general of terms, a millwright is a professional who constructs, maintains, and repairs heavy machinery in many industrial settings including most production and manufacturing facilities. In some circles, millwrights are defined as industrial mechanics, and while perhaps not the most commonly known of professions, millwright jobs can provide careers that are stimulating, gratifying, and relatively well-compensated.
Millwrights are required to be knowledgeable and skilled in the use of hoists, lift trucks, and hand and power tools. These competencies can be applied in a diverse number of employment opportunities, a cross-section of which would consist of:
- Metal and steel fabrication
- Automotive assembly plants
- Mining and logging operations
- Automated manufacturing facilities
- Recreational facilities/amusement parks
- Transportation equipment manufacturing
To pursue their certification as a millwright, prospective candidates must possess a high school diploma or equivalent then complete a multi-semester program at a community college or school of applied technology. The areas of study at the post-secondary level encompass a wide range of courses that include but are not limited to:
- Mechanical theory
- Machine technology
- Rigging and hoisting
- Technical mathematics
- Welding and fabrication
- Drawing and schematics
- Electrical/electronic control
To complete the certification process after classroom studies have concluded, graduates will be tasked with securing employment opportunities through apprenticeship programs. In some/many instances, their respective schools may have pre-established placement programs with specific employers in certain industries, although there may be instances where such placements/apprenticeships are not guaranteed.
Another option would be to use the placement services offered by a staffing agency such as Winters Technical Staffing. The consultants at Winters Technical Staffing have developed strong working relationships with hiring managers and employers in a number of major industries, including:
As a result of these relationships, Winters Technical Staffing often has information on and/or access to a wider range of apprenticeship opportunities, including those that may not be posted publicly or shared with educational institutions.
CNC Mill Operator Roles Are Vitally Important to the Manufacturing Sector
There is currently a critical shortage of skilled labour in Canada and there are projections of an additional increase in demand for such tradespeople due to the ongoing and rapid advances in technology. This bodes well for those choosing to pursue millwright jobs.
One area of specialization for millwrights that has been positively impacted by computer technology is the position of Computer Numerical Control lathe operator or a CNC mill operator. In this area of discipline, responsibilities include the operation, maintenance, and repair of CNC lathes; these lathes are vitally important pieces of equipment found in virtually all manufacturing facilities and are used to shape and turn raw materials such as wood, metal, and plastic with an extreme degree of precision.
Those interested in pursuing employment opportunities for CNC lathe machine operators may once again benefit from the guidance and insight offered by the industry specialists from a professional placement agency like Winters Technical Staffing.
Contact Winters Today
To help focus your search efforts for millwright jobs or apprenticeship placements, call Winters Technical Staffing today at 1-877-495-7422 to discuss your options with one of our staffing consultants.