The Facility Repairs and Maintenance Technician is the primary custodian of operational uptime within a cannabis production and extraction facility. This individual directly manages the health and performance of the physical infrastructure that makes cultivation and manufacturing possible. The role operates at the intersection of advanced horticulture and industrial processing, requiring a unique blend of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing expertise. The technician's work ensures that multi-million-dollar biological assets—the cannabis plants—are protected through the precise management of environmental control systems. They are responsible for the sophisticated equipment used in extraction and product manufacturing, where equipment failure leads to immediate production halts and significant revenue loss. This position is fundamental to maintaining a compliant, efficient, and safe environment, directly impacting product quality, yield, and the organization's financial performance.
The day begins by reviewing the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) for scheduled preventative maintenance tasks and any overnight work orders. The first priority is a daily walk-through of critical infrastructure zones. This includes inspecting the main mechanical room to check the status of chillers, boilers, and air handling units that supply the precise climate for cultivation rooms. The technician verifies that HVAC system pressures and temperatures are within the narrow specifications required for the current growth stage of the plants, such as the high-humidity environment needed for clones versus the controlled, dry conditions for flowering.
Mid-morning, a high-priority alert is received from the Building Management System (BMS). A variable frequency drive (VFD) controlling an irrigation pump for a flowering room shows a fault code. Immediate diagnostics are required. The technician uses a multimeter to test electrical inputs and outputs on the VFD and inspects the motor for signs of overheating. Clear communication with the Head of Cultivation is essential to understand the immediate impact on the watering schedule. The repair technique involves isolating the power source following lockout/tagout procedures, replacing a faulty drive controller, and reprogramming the parameters to match the pump's specifications. The system is then tested to confirm the issue is resolved, preventing any plant stress due to dehydration.
After lunch, the focus shifts to planned facility upkeep. This could involve replacing high-intensity discharge (HID) light bulbs in a cultivation room between harvest cycles. This task requires careful resource allocation, ensuring the correct bulb type and quantity are available from inventory. The technician works on a scissor lift, following fall protection protocols, to access lighting grids. Each replaced bulb is logged in the asset management system to track its lifespan for future maintenance planning. Following the lighting work, a deep cleaning of the room's HVAC components, including filters and coils, is performed to maintain air quality and prevent contamination before the next crop cycle begins.
The afternoon concludes with tasks supporting the extraction lab. The technician might be called to troubleshoot a vacuum oven that is not reaching the required temperature for purging residual solvents from concentrates. The diagnostic process involves checking the heating element, thermostat calibration, and door seals. Later, attention may turn to exterior facility upkeep. This includes basic landscaping tasks like clearing vegetation and debris from around external HVAC condenser units and air intakes to ensure unrestricted airflow and operational efficiency. The day ends with a detailed entry of all completed work orders into the CMMS and a clear, concise handover to the next shift or facility manager, outlining the status of all systems.
The Facility Repairs and Maintenance Technician's duties are structured across three key operational areas:
The Facility Repairs and Maintenance Technician has a direct and measurable effect on the organization's bottom line:
| Impact Area | Strategic Influence |
|---|---|
| Cash | Reduces operational expenses by performing in-house repairs and preventative maintenance, avoiding costly emergency contractor fees and premature equipment replacement. |
| Profits | Maximizes revenue by ensuring near-100% uptime for all production-critical systems, from cultivation lighting and irrigation to extraction and packaging machinery. |
| Assets | Protects and extends the life of high-value capital assets, including sophisticated HVAC systems, CO2 extraction skids, and automated fertigation units, through diligent asset management. |
| Growth | Enables facility scaling and production increases by maintaining a reliable infrastructure that can support higher operational demands without failure. |
| People | Creates a safer work environment by maintaining safety systems, ensuring proper machine guarding, and addressing facility-related hazards promptly. |
| Products | Directly ensures product quality and consistency by maintaining the precise environmental conditions required for optimal plant health, terpene preservation, and cannabinoid development. |
| Legal Exposure | Mitigates liability from workplace accidents by ensuring all equipment is in safe working order and that safety protocols like lockout/tagout are strictly followed. |
| Compliance | Maintains detailed maintenance and repair logs that are critical for passing state cannabis board, fire department, and OSHA inspections. |
| Regulatory | Ensures the physical plant adheres to building codes and regulations specific to cannabis facilities, such as ventilation requirements for solvent-based extraction areas. |
Reports To: This position typically reports to the Facility Manager, Director of Engineering, or Director of Operations.
Similar Roles: This role shares core competencies with titles like Industrial Maintenance Mechanic, Building Engineer, HVAC Technician, Automation Technician, and Plant Operator. Professionals in these roles possess the foundational mechanical and electrical skills that are directly applicable to the specialized equipment found in cannabis facilities. The key difference is the application of these skills to support a living biological product and navigate a highly regulated environment.
Works Closely With: This position requires constant communication and collaboration with the Head of Cultivation to maintain ideal growing environments, the Extraction Manager to ensure processing equipment is operational, and the Quality Assurance Manager to uphold facility cleanliness and compliance standards.
Proficiency with a specific set of technologies is essential for success:
Candidates from several regulated and industrial sectors are uniquely positioned for success:
The role demands a specific set of professional attributes:
These organizations provide the standards and codes that govern the work of a cannabis facility technician:
| Acronym/Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| BAS/BMS | Building Automation System / Building Management System. A centralized network of hardware and software that controls and monitors a building's mechanical and electrical systems, such as HVAC and lighting. |
| CMMS | Computerized Maintenance Management System. Software that centralizes maintenance information, facilitating processes for work orders, asset management, and preventative maintenance scheduling. |
| GMP | Good Manufacturing Practices. A system for ensuring that products are consistently produced and controlled according to quality standards. Involves facility cleanliness and process documentation. |
| HVAC | Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. The technology of indoor environmental comfort, critical for controlling temperature, humidity, and air quality in cultivation and processing areas. |
| LOTO | Lockout/Tagout. A safety procedure used to ensure that dangerous machines are properly shut off and not able to be started up again prior to the completion of maintenance or repair work. |
| PLC | Programmable Logic Controller. An industrial computer adapted for the control of manufacturing processes, such as automated fertigation cycles or extraction sequences. |
| PM | Preventative Maintenance. Routine maintenance of equipment and facilities to keep them running and prevent costly unplanned downtime from unexpected equipment failure. |
| RO/DI | Reverse Osmosis / Deionization. A water purification process used to create pure water, which is a critical starting ingredient for precise nutrient solutions in cultivation. |
| SOP | Standard Operating Procedure. A set of step-by-step instructions compiled by an organization to help workers carry out complex routine operations safely and consistently. |
| VFD | Variable Frequency Drive. A type of motor controller that drives an electric motor by varying the frequency and voltage supplied to it. Used for precise speed control of pumps and fans. |
This article and the content within this knowledge base are provided for informational and educational purposes only. They do not constitute business, financial, legal, or other professional advice. Regulations and business circumstances vary widely. You should consult with a qualified professional (e.g., attorney, accountant, specialized consultant) who is familiar with your specific situation and jurisdiction before making business decisions or taking action based on this content. The site, platform, and authors accept no liability for any actions taken or not taken based on the information provided herein.