Millwrights install, repair, replace, and dismantle the machinery and heavy equipment used in almost every industry. These responsibilities require a wide range of skills from blueprint reading and pouring concrete to diagnosing and solving mechanical problems.
The millwright's responsibilities begin when machinery arrives at the job site. The new equipment must be unloaded, inspected, and then moved into position. To lift and move light machinery, millwrights may use rigging and hoisting devices such as pulleys and cables. In other cases, they require the assistance of hydraulic lift-truck or crane operators to position the machinery. Because millwrights often decide what device to use for moving machinery, they must know the load-bearing properties of ropes, cables, hoists, and cranes.
New machinery sometimes requires a new foundation. Millwrights either personally prepare the foundation or supervise its construction, so they must know how to read blueprints and work with building materials such as concrete, wood, and steel.
When assembling machinery, millwrights fit bearings, align gears and wheels, attach motors, and connect belts according to the manufacturer's blueprints and drawings. Precision leveling and alignment are important in the assembly process; millwrights must have good mathematical skills so that they can measure angles, material thickness, and small distances with tools such as squares, calipers, and micrometers. When a high level of precision is required, devices such as lasers may be used. Millwrights also use hand and power tools, cutting torches, welding machines, and soldering guns. Some millwrights use metalworking equipment such as lathes or grinders to modify parts to specifications.
The increasing level of automation found in most industries means that there are more sophisticated machines for millwrights to install and maintain. This machinery often requires special care and knowledge, so millwrights often work closely with computer or electronic experts, electricians, and manufacturer's representatives to install it. (Additional information about commercial and industrial electronic equipment repairers and electricians appears elsewhere in the Handbook.)
In addition to installing and dismantling machinery, many millwrights repair and maintain equipment. This includes preventive maintenance, such as lubrication, and fixing or replacing worn parts. (For further information on machinery maintenance, see the statement on industrial machinery repairers elsewhere in the Handbook.)
Millwrights align new equipment.
Working conditions of millwrights depend upon the industries in which they are employed. Millwrights employed in manufacturing often work in a typical shop setting and use protective equipment to avoid common hazards. For example, injuries from falling objects or machinery are avoided by protective devices such as safety belts, protective glasses, and hard hats.
Millwrights work independently as well as part of a team. They must work quickly and precisely because non-functioning machinery costs a company time and money. Millwrights generally work 40 hours per week but overtime is common during peak periods of production.
Millwrights held about 73,000 jobs in 1992. Seven of every 10 worked in manufacturing, primarily in durable goods industries such as motor vehicles and equipment and basic steel products. Most of the rest were employed by construction firms and machining and equipment wholesalers.
Although millwrights work in every State, employment is concentrated in heavily industrialized areas.
Millwrights receive their training from a formal apprenticeship program or informally on the job. Apprenticeship programs normally last 4 years and combine on-the-job training with a minimum of 144 hours of classroom instruction each year. Apprenticeship programs include training in dismantling, moving, erecting, and repairing machinery. Apprentices may also work with concrete and receive instruction in related skills such as carpentry, welding, and sheet-metal work. Classroom instruction is given in mathematics, blueprint reading, hydraulics, electricity, and increasingly, computers or electronics.
Most employers prefer applicants with a high school diploma and some vocational training or experience. Courses in science, mathematics, mechanical drawing, and machine shop practice are useful. Because millwrights assemble and dissassemble complicated machinery, mechanical aptitude is very important.
Strength and agility also are important because the work can require a considerable amount of lifting and climbing. Millwrights need good interpersonal and communication abilities in order to work as part of a team and give detailed instructions to others.
Advancement for millwrights usually takes the form of higher wages. Some advance to supervisor.
Employment of millwrights is expected to increase more slowly than the average for all occupations through the year 2005. Millwrights will continue to be needed to maintain and repair existing machinery, to dismantle old machinery, and to install and maintain new equipment. In addition to the small number of jobs that will be created each year by rising demand for the services of millwrights, several thousand openings will arise annually as experienced millwrights transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force.
Employment of millwrights is somewhat sensitive to changes in economic conditions. In the construction industry, for example, employment fluctuates with the level of commercial and industrial building activity. When construction activity falls, jobs are scarce, and even experienced millwrights may face layoffs or shortened workweeks.
However, in capital intensive industries such as manufacturing, the need to replace, maintain, and repair machinery should give most millwrights a relative degree of job stability. In addition, a trend towards replacing rather than repairing machinery may cause some employers to hire more millwrights and fewer industrial repairers because millwrights are trained in the installation and alignment of machinery as well as its repair.
Median weekly earnings of full-time millwrights were $596 in 1992; the middle 50 percent earned between $479 and $724. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $335, and the top 10 percent earned more than $849. However, earnings vary by industry and geographic location. Many millwrights belong to labor unions.
To set up machinery for use in a plant, millwrights must know how to use hoisting devices and how to assemble, disassemble, and in some cases repair machinery. Other workers with similar job duties are industrial machinery repairers, mobile heavy equipment mechanics, aircraft mechanics and engine specialists, diesel mechanics, farm equipment mechanics, ironworkers, and machine assemblers.
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Reprinted with Permission of U. S. Department of Labor