Recently returned to industrial maintenance work and I was curious to know what you all thought about ear plugs. Are there any specific recommendations beyond the orange sponges that you would recommend?

That's right, 2 broken drill bits.

This seems to be a common occurrence in a lot of different fields that I've worked in, but I figured I'd throw this on this sub anyway. This is barely a maintenance job, it's mostly an operator position but we also do the maintenance on the machines and need to know how they work. It's not really a job where past experience would help, everything is pretty specific to the machines and all their sensors, but they let other guys who've been here longer, which usually isn't that much longer train us and they usually don't know everything and it's just kind of like an oral tradition of people training each other with no formality.

They also don't allow us to really noodle with the machine, we kind of just are supposed to get off of it as quick as humanly possible. I brought this up like as soon as I started working here cuz I could kind of see a pattern going, and now I'm just kind of dismissed as the moron.

I always try to like write training manuals and stuff but usually ended up getting fired for being the black sheep, usually the guy who says there's no training and tries to learn a bunch but tells my supervisor how we fall short and what corrects it. It's just usually seems like nobody in management wants to take responsibility for it and that the other guys I work with just kind of play the game and say they don't know what they're talking about and say they understand it and it's just this giant cycle of everybody playing keep away from a problem except me.

Just kind of curious on your thoughts on this. I figure a lot of places are like this. For the guys who don't like to just keep their mouth shut and kind of hide in the corner what are you guys do?

I currently work in a CNC and sheet metal shop, maintaining and repairing all the equipment. I like it but i want to move to working on large machinery/ equipment.

But i cant really find anything besides being like a millwright and working on stuff like turbines, generators, boilers or working in a mine or a steel or paper mill etc. im definitely interested in turbine and boiler work, but i just want to know what else is out there

I work in the stamping department and we are tasked with maintaining some +40 year old 3000 ton + stamping presses that leak hydraulic fluid. Walking on, around and under the presses is like walking on black ice with my current Ariat boots that are supposedly non slip and oil resistant. Has anyone found some boots that maintain at least a little traction on steel that has hydraulic fluid on it?

If manufacturers had an easy way to build inventory, production scheduling, quality, or maintenance apps tailored to their unique needs, would they invest the time to build them? Let’s assume deployment and ongoing maintenance aren’t barriers for now. I’m struggling to sell my app builder, and I’m trying to understand whether customers actually want to build their own apps.

I’m 21 and live in the Dallas–Fort Worth area. I may be starting an Electrical Technician job. I’m coming in with no experience and want to use the opportunity to build a stable long-term career.
According to the posting, the duties include:
Installing, repairing, and maintaining electrical parts of industrial equipment
Reading schematics and technical documents
Performing quality inspections
Completing torque sheets and tracking tools
Following electrical codes and safety procedures
I haven’t started yet, so I’m still confirming how much is assembly versus actual troubleshooting and repair.
If I get the job, I’d like to attend school while working and finish a useful certificate or program in roughly 8–16 months. I need a schedule that works around full-time employment, preferably through an affordable school with financial aid options.
What would you recommend studying to build on this experience: industrial maintenance, mechatronics, electrical/electronics technology, automation/PLC controls, or something else?
More specifically:
Which training do employers actually value?
What job titles could I realistically target after completing it with about a year of this experience?
Are there specific schools or programs around DFW you recommend?
What should I make sure the program teaches before spending money on it?
I’m looking for a practical path toward steady employment, benefits, and room to advance. I’d appreciate hearing from people who have taken a similar route.

I have been working in industrial maintenance for 34 years. My wife is a WFH person. Over the years I have asked her to limit the noise in the house when I’m home. Whether it’s vacuuming, hair dryer, washer/dryer etc. It’s seems after hearing industrial noise all day w/earplugs, I prefer not hearing noise at home. It’s not a hard rule but if it can be done while I’m at work it is preferred. Does this happen to anyone else?