I work for a factory where the maintenance department is made up of electricians, pipefitters, machinists, millwrights, welders, laborers, carpenters, blacksmiths, and tinners. I must say it's nice just do your own job without having to learn somebody elses. But we always help out other crafts in little ways.

We are pretty strict about not doing other people's jobs too especially when it involves the management. A job security type thing. We really don't have too much pressure from the company to do other craft's work. The pressure is from outsourcing(contractors)(did I say that in here! [Linked Image] ). My company is slowly going towards hiring contractors for short term jobs. Good and bad, just a shifting of the job market. I would love to start my own maintenance electrician business. Doing only troubleshooting, lighting, calibrations, and safety checks. As an everyday troubleshooter, I'm swamped with calls that I will never get time to do. But we used to have twice the number of guys too. So they want us to do more with less.

I could not see a multi-craft maintenance shop doing the style of work we do. But on the other hand, we probably cost three times as much. I think we can afford it because we're a defense contractor.

I used to work multi-craft in a locomotive crane yard. I was the electrician but from time to time I was welding or beating out bushings. I learned alot from that job about other crafts that I think one day will benefit me. I also question my fellow maintenance people every chance I get. Wether it is air-logic, fluid flow, or what the size of chain links are. History repeats itself and I grew up in an economic boom, I'm not taking anything for granted! I'm learning as much as I can within reason. I've had the benefit of traveling around the world when I was in the Navy and seeing how rosy things are in the U.S.

One more thing then I'll shut up [Linked Image]

I think our(United States) job market is turning towards all multi-craft. I see ads all the time for:

Building Maintenance Engineering/Electronic/Electrical Technician/Superhero

1)must know 34KV and all associated power levels (CPR trained preferred)
2)troubleshoot/maintain/install/calibrate any piece of gear from any country--efficiently
3)troubleshoot and program PLC's, VFD's, ABT's, ABC's, and XYZ's.(in no particular order)
4)maintain building HVAC
5)bring donuts everyday
6)supply own truck and tools
$12.50/hour

I make $24.00 an hour just to be an electrician. That's why I worry about my job everday, if I lost it I would have to take up superhero status.

I'll step down now. [Linked Image]