Engineering and manufacturing
Engineering operative - Maintenance operative
Carrying out a range of engineering operations.
Summary
This occupation is found in a wide range of engineering and manufacturing environments. Engineering operatives typically work in sectors such as mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, aerospace, automotive, rail, construction, energy, and general manufacturing. You’ll often find them in workshops, production floors, maintenance departments, fabrication facilities, and assembly plants.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to provide support that enables engineering operations to run safely, efficiently, and to the required quality standards. Engineering Operatives contribute to the creation, assembly, installation, repair, and testing of engineered products and systems, working with tools, equipment, and materials to meet precise specifications. Their role helps ensure that machinery is reliable, production workflows are maintained, and engineering projects progress as planned. In essence, they form the practical workforce that turns engineering instructions, plans, and designs into real, functioning components and equipment used across industry.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with a wide range of colleagues and stakeholders across engineering and manufacturing environments. On a daily basis, they may work closely with engineers, technicians, team leaders, production supervisors, and quality inspectors to ensure tasks are completed to specification and deadlines are met. Depending on the setting, they may also interact with warehouse staff, logistics teams, and sometimes external contractors or suppliers when materials, tools, or components are required. These interactions are essential for coordinating workflow, solving problems, and supporting smooth operational performance.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for carrying out supervised, practical engineering tasks that support the wider engineering or manufacturing operation. Their responsibilities focus on following established procedures, using tools and equipment correctly, preparing materials or components, carrying out basic assembly, fabrication, or maintenance tasks, and ensuring work meets required quality and safety standards.
Typical job titles include
- Electrical engineering operative | Electrical maintenance operative | Electronic engineering operative | Fabrication operative | Machining operative | Manufacturing production operative | Mechanical engineering operative | Mechanical maintenance operative | Multi skilled maintenance operative
Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)
K1:
The engineering and manufacturing function and role of the Engineering Operative. Responsibilities, limits of role and escalation procedures.
K2:
Awareness of health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance and impact on role. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (CoSHH). Fire safety. Hazards and risks. Health and Safety at Work Act (HASAWA), Isolation and emergency stop procedures, Manual handling operations regulations, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Safety equipment: guards, signage, fire extinguishers. Safety signage. Situational awareness. Slips, trips, and falls. Working at height, Working in confined spaces.
K3:
Awareness of environment and sustainability regulations, standards and guidance and impact on role. Recycling, reuse, and safe disposal of waste.
K4:
Preparation and maintenance of the work area.
K5:
Workplace operating procedures. What they are and why they are important.
K6:
Methods of interpreting relevant information from engineering and manufacturing specifications, drawings and technical information.
K7:
Planning, prioritisation, organisation, and time management techniques.
K8:
Consumables, tools, equipment and machinery used during engineering and manufacturing activities.
K9:
Storage environment and requirements for consumables, tools, equipment and machinery used during engineering and manufacturing activities..
K10:
First line maintenance principles for tools, equipment and machinery.
K11:
Principles and methods of measuring and marking out materials.
K12:
Quality assurance requirements and monitoring processes.
K13:
Documentation requirements for engineering and manufacturing activities.
K14:
Continuous improvement (CI) techniques.
K15:
Verbal communication techniques.
K16:
Written communication techniques.
K17:
Information and digital technology: email, word processing, work sharing platforms, General data protection regulation (GDPR), cyber security.
K18:
Maintenance. Maintenance based safe working practices and procedures.
K19:
Maintenance. Maintenance planning techniques.
K20:
Maintenance. Maintenance strategies: Preventive maintenance, corrective maintenance, condition-based maintenance, planned maintenance, risk-based maintenance.
K21:
Maintenance. Principles of maintenance testing schedules.
K22:
Maintenance. Maintenance diagnostic and fault-finding techniques.
K23:
Maintenance. Principles of mechanical systems, including gears, bearings, pumps and motors.
K24:
Maintenance. Principles of electrical systems, including wiring, circuits, motors and control panels.
K25:
Maintenance. Principles of fluid power systems, including pneumatic and hydraulic components and their function.
K26:
Maintenance. Electrical and electronic circuit analysis and troubleshooting.
K27:
Maintenance. Corrective action procedures.
Technical Educational Products
- ST0537: Engineering operative - Maintenance operative (Level 2) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0537G
- Status:
Approved occupation
- SOC 2020 code:
- 8139 Plant and machine operatives n.e.c.
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
S1:
Apply escalation procedures in relation to faults or issues.
S2:
Follow procedures in compliance with health and safety regulations, standards, and guidance.
S3:
Follow procedures in compliance with environmental and sustainability regulations, standards, and guidance. Identify and segregate resources for reuse, recycling and disposal.
S4:
Prepare and maintain the work area before, during and after the engineering and manufacturing activity.
S5:
Follow workplace operating procedures.
S6:
Read and interpret engineering and manufacturing specifications, drawings and technical information.
S7:
Use planning, prioritising, organising, and time management techniques to plan engineering and manufacturing activities.
S8:
Select and use consumables, tools, equipment and machinery for engineering and manufacturing activities.
S9:
Store consumables, tools, equipment and machinery in line with requirements.
S10:
Apply first line maintenance principles to tools, equipment and machinery. For example, checking tool condition, cleaning, lubrication, visual inspection, tool calibration.
S11:
Measure and mark out materials as part of engineering and manufacturing activities.
S12:
Comply with quality assurance requirements and follow monitoring processes.
S13:
Record information relating to engineering and manufacturing activities, paper based or electronic.
S14:
Apply continuous improvement (CI) techniques, for example, contribute to the business by identifying possible opportunities for improving working practices, processes or procedures.
S15:
Communicate verbally with colleagues and supervisors.
S16:
Communicate in writing (electronically or paper based) with colleagues and supervisors.
S17:
Use information technology and digital systems. Comply with GDPR and cyber security.
S18:
Maintenance. Complete maintenance operations in line with maintenance based safe working practices and procedures.
S19:
Maintenance. Support maintenance operations in line with maintenance plans.
S20:
Maintenance. Support maintenance operations in line with maintenance strategies.
S21:
Maintenance. Conduct maintenance testing in line with testing schedules.
S22:
Maintenance. Use maintenance diagnostic techniques to identify faults.
S23:
Maintenance. Support maintenance operations related to engineering systems, for example, mechanical systems, electrical systems, fluid power systems.
S24:
Maintenance. Carry out corrective actions, including assembling and dismantling components, ensuring alignment and tolerance specifications are adhered to.
Technical Educational Products
- ST0537: Engineering operative - Maintenance operative (Level 2) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0537G
- Status:
- Approved occupation
- SOC 2020 code:
- 8139 Plant and machine operatives n.e.c.
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
B1:
Put health and safety first.
B2:
Take ownership of given work.
B3:
Demonstrate resilience in the workplace identifying challenges with opportunities.
B4:
Committed to continuous improvement and makes suggestions for improvements.
B5:
Support an inclusive workplace for example respectful of different views.
B6:
Seek learning and development opportunities.
B7:
Adhere to company values and principles.
Technical Educational Products
- ST0537: Engineering operative - Maintenance operative (Level 2) Approved for delivery
- Reference:
- OCC0537G
- Status:
- Approved occupation
- SOC 2020 code:
- 8139 Plant and machine operatives n.e.c.
- SOC 2020 sub unit groups:
