Instrument Technicians and Dual Trade Electricians – The Backbone of Industrial Companies

Industrial companies rely on a team of skilled tradespeople, often working together to keep their machines running. Instrument technicians and dual trade electricians are two such pros that deserve recognition.

Electrical systems are the backbone of any industry, and this holds especially true for industrial companies. Without electrical power, these businesses cannot function at all! And instrument technicians are the people who make sure everything stays running smoothly – constantly taking readings and monitoring gauges, they're a critical part of every company's workforce.

"It's like a chess game and we are the chess players," says Paul Charette, an instrument technician and dual trade electrician who works for Mandeville Mechanical in Toronto. "We put all the pieces together and make sure everything relates properly."

Paul is part of his company's six-person team; their daily duties encompass everything from disconnecting a machine from its power supply to testing the voltage of electrical currents to ensuring that the company's PLCs (programmable logic controllers) are running at optimal levels. This job also involves troubleshooting any recent problems, and solving them before they become a big issue.

"We check everything from the plant room to the motors to the machines," Paul explains. "Just about everything is computerized these days, and if there is a problem we can usually locate it in the PLCs."

Of course, such technological wonders require equally advanced knowledge and skills to use them properly. "There are so many rules and regulations nowadays," says Paul. "You have to go through all kinds of training before you can start work." He notes that instrument technicians receive no less than three years' training while dual trade electricians train as apprentice electricians for four years prior to their certification.

"I was working as an electrician before starting my apprenticeship," Paul relates. "I have a technical background and I know about computers and PLCs, but I had never done the testing for voltage or current. This is what dual trade electricians do."

Once their training is complete, dual trade electricians are then required to complete further training in order to receive their certification. "It's up to the company whether they want you to be certified or not," Paul explains. "The most important thing is that we learn our job, understand it, know how to troubleshoot it and what our responsibilities are. That's what separates us from the regular electrician."

The job carries a certain amount of risk and responsibility, and it's not for everyone. "You have to love what you do," Paul says when asked why he became an instrument technician. "It's a very stressful job, but you also get to enjoy it because that same stress goes away once everything is back to normal."

And it's this passion and desire to learn as much as they can that keeps Paul and his colleagues on top of their game. Today, they still learn new things each day; the alternative is stagnation and eventually obsolescence in a field where technology is advancing at such a rapid pace. "We can never stop learning," Paul says. "We always have to be on top of our game because we never know what the future holds."

So there you have it – the backbone of industrial companies. Whether you're an instrument technician or a dual trade electrician, you can put your passion and knowledge to work for you with this career.

For more information on instrument technicians or dual trade electricians, visit the following websites:

Instrument Technicians Association: www.iata.org/main/index.asp?cat=13&id=227&lmID=2373 Dual Trade Electricians Association: www.dualtrade-ea-eo.com/Main_Page Canadian Electrical Code: www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cbec-ccips/PDFs/code_canadian_e.pdf

Title: Electrotechnicians and Communications Network Engineers – The Power Behind the Digital World

Industrial companies rely on a team of skilled tradespeople, often working together to keep their machines running. Electrotechnicians and communications network engineers are two such pros that deserve recognition.

Electrical systems are the backbone of any industry, and this holds especially true for industrial companies. Without electrical power, these businesses cannot function at all! And electrotechnicians are the people who make sure everything stays running smoothly – constantly taking readings and monitoring gauges, they're a critical part of every company's workforce.

"Electrotechnicians do a lot of testing and troubleshooting," says Martin Dallaire, an electrotechnician who works in the Montreal area for Bionix Electrotechnology. "They can work on any equipment, from 120 volts to 1,500 volts."

"We deal with electricity, so it's very dangerous," Martin continues. "But you can always find ways to work safely." He suggests always being aware of any nearby sources of water or flammable liquids when working with electrical systems in industrial settings – especially if you're working outdoors!

In addition to providing electricity, electrotechnicians also make sure that it's the right voltage and frequency. "They make sure that the frequency of the electricity matches with the equipment, and in some cases they balance these frequencies," says Martin. "They also work on transmitting and receiving pieces of equipment."

Martin joined his company's four-person team after obtaining his electrical apprenticeship certificate. He learned valuable skills that are useful even a year later when he still works alongside his fellow team members. "I was trained to diagnose problems, but I was also taught about other aspects like how to maintain networks properly," he explains. "You have to learn to keep everything up and running for the electrician who is actually doing the work. In a busy electrical shop, there is always a lot of different pieces of equipment, and this knowledge helps us to know which piece to connect to which piece."

Electrotechnicians usually work in industrial settings where they are required to do testing for electrical systems and equipment. Outside of the workplace, electrotechnicians must be aware of health regulations that dictate what they are allowed to work on. "We have to know the right frequencies for every type of job," Martin adds. "We also have to make sure we follow safety procedures during installation so we can safely install air handling equipment or other parts."

Electrical systems are vital for any industry, and electrical engineers tend to spend their days working on them.

Conclusion: For electrotechnicians and communications network engineers, it's all about the electrical system

Electrotechnicians and communications network engineers are two trades that work with electrical systems. Electrotechnicians have to make sure that their company's electricity is running at the right voltage and frequency. Communications network engineers take the electrotechnician one step further by figuring out how to transmit and receive signals over an electrical system!

When you're ready to make the jump into a trade, be sure to get your training through a government-recognized program. This will unlock opportunities across Canada, earning you valuable credentials and a quality education that you'll use for years to come! Find out more at www.labourmarketinformation.