A millwright performs installations and repair work on large industrial machines, especially the equipment that is used in manufacturing facilities and machinist shops. He or she usually decides where big equipment will go in a facility, oversees the installation process, assembles parts, conducts test runs, and fine tunes finished jobs. When a machine stops working properly, the factory will call on a millwright to troubleshoot, make repairs, and replaced damaged parts. Professionals occasionally specialize with certain types of machinery, though most have a very broad understanding of many different kinds of equipment, from large electricity generators to wind turbines to assembly line robots.

When a facility needs a new piece of equipment, a millwright is consulted to make recommendations and supervise the entire process. A professional generally visits a facility to conduct a safety inspection and determine the placement of new machines. He or she then obtains the appropriate equipment and oversees its initial installation. The millwright helps to assemble smaller parts and checks blueprints to make sure all pieces are accounted for. Millwrights also perform routine preventative maintenance on older machines and make repairs when necessary.

Millwrights use their expert skills to install and service power generators, turbines, mining devices, assembly line machinery, machinist tools, and other pieces of heavy equipment. They supervise crane operators and other construction workers during the process of setting a machine in place. During the assembly of small or sensitive parts, millwrights typically make careful measurements and use precision tools. Finished projects frequently require millwrights to make fine adjustments and ensure that equipment works properly.

To become a millwright, a person must usually possess a high school diploma, though some employers only hire individuals who have completed two year training programs at vocational school or community college. A new millwright typically works as an apprentice for four to five years, assisting established workers and learning the trade firsthand. Once an apprentice gains enough experience and proves his or her abilities, he or she is allowed to take on large projects.

Most millwrights work for large manufacturing and construction companies. though some find work with private distributors of heavy machinery. An experienced millwright who has gained enough respect in the field may be able to open his or her own contracting business. Professionals in all job settings must take extreme care to ensure that all parts are installed correctly and kept in proper working order to preserve expensive machines and ensure the safety of workers.