MEET THE PRO: Sidney Ball, Industrial Maintenance
By Arkansas NEXT on Friday, September 25, 2020
Sidney Ball
Hometown: Belleville
Age: 26
Where I trained: University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton
What I earned: Technical certificate
Job title: Industrial Maintenance Mechanic
Employer: Tyson Foods in Clarksville
Sidney worked at Nuclear Outages for a few years and always wanted to jump in and help when it came to the industrial mechanics. A few years later, she began an associate degree program in industrial maintenance mechanics but left a couple of semesters early after finding out she was pregnant. She interviewed for a job at Tyson without having some of the required job qualifications. After explaining that she would work hard and prove herself, Sidney was offered a job.
Sidney has always loved to fix things and get hands-on experience anywhere she could. She is in charge of weekly and monthly preventative maintenance and works with conveyor belts, motors, and electric panels.
What does an Industrial maintenance tech do?
Perform preventative maintenance on equipment in a plant or factory; troubleshoot and repair equipment that has failed on the production line or in the shop. Maintenance technicians also give feedback on schedules, parts and supplies to improve accuracy and make things run smoothly.
Responsibilities
► Maintain work equipment or machinery
► Disassemble equipment for maintenance or repair
► Enter work orders for deficiencies found during the project management process
► Troubleshoot and repair equipment
► Attend machine-/OEM-specific training courses
► Be an agent of safety and quality
► Give feedback to ensure the plant or factory runs as smoothly as possible
► Assist with assembly, start-up and shutdown of equipment
Education Needed
As little as on-the-job training, but a technical certificate or associate degree is recommended
Job Outlook
+9%
expected growth from 2018 to 2028 in Arkansas
High-end earners in Arkansas (top 10%) make
$58,030 Annually
Median wages in Arkansas
$37,950 Annually
$18.25 Hourly
This option is for you if:
► You're a natural problem solver.
► You enjoy using power tools.
► You want an active work environment.
► You have good hand-eye coordination.
► You like to think outside of the box.
START YOUR TRAINING
| ABB |
| Arkansas Construction Education Foundation |
| Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation |
| Arkansas Northeastern College |
| Arkansas State University - Beebe |
| Arkansas State University - Mid South |
| Arkansas State University - Newport |
| Arkansas State University Three Rivers |
| Arkansas Tech University - Ozark Campus |
| Black River Technical College |
| East Arkansas Community College |
| Lexicon Inc. |
| National Park College |
| Phillips Community College |
| Southern Arkansas University Tech |
| UA Cossatot |
| University of Arkansas at Monticello College of Technology - Crossett |
| University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville |
| University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton |
READY TO HIRE YOU
| ABB |
| Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation |
| Cargill |
| Central Moloney Inc. |
| Haas Factory Outlet, a Division of Phillips |
| Hytrol |
| Lexicon Inc. |
| McKee Foods Corporation |
| Nabholz Construction |
| Simmons Foods Inc. & Affiliates |
| Tyson Foods |
| Welsco |
"I love to fix things. I always have. I’ve taken what I learned from school and work and even use it at home when something breaks down. I love being able to look at a machine and tell right off the bat what needs to be fixed." –Sidney
Source: CareerOneStop.org
