V Skill HF-D9.3-002 sector-specific 12 skills
Mechanical maintenance
Carries out preventive and corrective maintenance on machines and tools, adjusts or replaces parts and records the work done.
How hrmforce measures this
- Assessment method
- Work sample test · rho 0.33 (SD 0.09)
- hrmforce instrument
- Work sample test, Knowledge test (client-specific)
- Competency (50-framework)
- Accuracy
- Trainability
- high
- Demand outlook 2026 to 2030
- stable
The candidate performs a representative work sample under standardised conditions.
Behavioural anchors
| Level | Behaviour at this level |
|---|---|
| N1 Guided | Carries out a maintenance round under supervision using a checklist and reports deviations to the maintenance technician. works under supervision and follows instruction · routine, one variable at a time · own task |
| N3 Proficient | Independently diagnoses a machine fault, replaces the defective parts and sets the machine within tolerance. sets own approach and seeks input proactively · several variables, some ambiguity · own team or process |
| N5 Leading | Develops the maintenance concept for the machine park, sets intervals based on failure data and trains technicians. sets the standard and the policy · strategic, under high uncertainty · organisation, value chain or profession |
N2 and N4 are deliberately not anchored. Raters place them between the anchors, following the O*NET convention.
Underlying skills
These skills inherit the assessment route and the behavioural anchors of this construct.
| T | Skill | Definition | Demand outlook 2026 to 2030 |
|---|---|---|---|
| V | Drawing up a preventive maintenance plan Preventive maintenance planning | Determines which maintenance tasks are needed per machine at which interval and records this in a plan. | stable |
| V | Diagnosing a machine fault Fault diagnosis | Finds the cause of a stopped or poorly functioning machine using measurement, diagrams and elimination. | stable |
| V | Replacing bearings and seals Bearing replacement | Removes a bearing or seal, fits the new part to size and sets the correct preload. | stable |
| V | Aligning shafts Shaft alignment | Aligns drive shaft and machine shaft with a dial gauge or laser until deviation stays within the set limit. | stable |
| V | Carrying out a lubrication schedule Lubrication | Lubricates bearings, chains and gearboxes with the correct product and quantity according to schedule. | stable |
| V | Condition monitoring by vibration analysis Vibration analysis | Measures vibration on rotating parts and judges from the pattern whether a bearing or imbalance is deteriorating. | rising |
| T | Using a maintenance management system Maintenance management system | Registers work orders, faults, hours and parts in a maintenance management system such as Ultimo or Maximo. | stable |
| V | Locking out and tagging out a machine Lockout tagout | Isolates a machine electrically and pneumatically, locks the energy sources and verifies the installation is safe. | stable |
| V | Turning on a lathe Lathe turning · Machining | Sets a workpiece on the lathe, chooses cutting tool and speed and turns to size within tolerance. | stable |
| V | Milling a workpiece Milling | Clamps a workpiece on the milling machine, determines the machining order and mills faces and shapes to size. | stable |
| V | MIG and MAG welding MIG welding · GMAW | Welds steel or aluminium with shielding gas, sets current and wire speed and inspects the weld bead. | stable |
| V | TIG welding TIG welding · GTAW | Welds thin sheet or stainless steel with a tungsten electrode and filler wire into a tight, smooth seam. | stable |