
New Hire Onboarding Plan
Maintenance Technician Onboarding Plan
Looking to accomplish the following:
Summary
Supplementing your onboarding plan with Interplay Learning’s immersive, simulation-based training means your new hires can practice hands-on in a virtual environment starting day one. This type of blended learning provides several benefits, such as:

About Bell Partners
“Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit commitment to creating communities that residents are proud to call home. The company’s values of care, service, integrity, and excellence guide its training and development initiatives for its 1,600+ associates nationwide.
Training
Goals
Build personalized development plans with skill assessments for 750+ team members.
Accelerate certification with digital content and hands-on validation.
Boost retention and drive internal promotions.
Unify training topics and terms across all locations.
Hire for attitude and upskill through targeted training.
Challenges
- Inconsistent skills inventory and onboarding process across properties.
- Limited tools to personalize training and monitor progress.
- High turnover among maintenance teams, particularly among new hires.
- Difficulty aligning training focus across departments and regions.
Here is what an onboarding plan can look like when you have Interplay Learning as a resource for your team.
Week 1: Foundations in Safety and Company Culture
This initial week establishes the foundation for a safe, productive employee by combining cultural integration with critical safety awareness. The HR onboarding, facility tours, and team introductions build connection and belonging while basic safety courses (PPE, fire safety, hazard communication) create the safety mindset that is essential before any hands-on work. Finally, introducing hand tools and maintenance department structure provides context for their future role.
Company Orientation:
- Complete all HR paperwork and benefits enrollment.
- Receive company ID, access badges, and necessary IT equipment.
- Introduction to company mission, vision, and core values.
- Tour of the facility, including key departments and emergency exits.
- Meet the immediate team and key stakeholders.
- Understand daily schedule, break times, and communication channels.
Safety Training – Part 1 (General Industrial Safety)
- SAF215: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- SAF218: Intro to Fire Safety and Portable Fire Extinguishers
- SAF212: Hazard Communications
- SAF210: Bloodborne Pathogens Awareness
Introduction to the Maintenance Department:
- Overview of the maintenance department’s role and structure within the facility.
- Go over the importance of preventive maintenance.
- FM119: Essential Hand Tools for Facilities Maintenance
Week 2: Deep Dive into Industrial Safety and Basic Operations
Additional safety training addresses the high-risk scenarios your team faces daily. The goal is for things like lockout/tagout, electrical safety, and confined space procedures to become second nature for your new hires. The OSHA 10 credential covers key safety skills and ensures your facility remains compliant. Foundational electrical and mechanical concepts paired with observational learning create the theoretical framework needed for new hires to understand what they’re observing, turning passive shadowing into active learning opportunities.
Safety Training – Part 2 (Specialized Industrial Safety):
- SAF213: Lockout/Tagout Awareness
- IM109: Machine Guarding
- HVAC053: Ladder and Fall Safety
- ELEC252: Electrically Safe to Work Procedures
- SAF227: Confined Space Awareness
- SAF200: Scissor Lift Safety
Safety Credentialing (OSHA 10):
Introduction to Industrial Fundamentals:
Observational Learning:
- Shadow an experienced technician to observe routine maintenance tasks and safety procedures in action.
- Focus on observing equipment operation and technician interaction with machinery.
Weeks 3-4: Core Industrial Fundamentals and Mechanical Systems Introduction
This period of training builds the core technical vocabulary and system understanding that any tech needs to diagnose problems effectively. Pneumatics, hydraulics, and mechanical systems training help trainees understand how these systems interact. Work order management and troubleshooting methodology provide the structured approach that prevents random trial-and-error repairs, setting up new hires to have a systematic approach to problem-solving from the beginning of their career.
Industrial Fundamentals – Continued:
- IM102: Pneumatics Introduction
- IM101: Introduction to Hydraulics
- IM115: Industrial Materials Introduction
- IM105: Metals Introduction
- IM107: Industrial Lubricants and Lubrication Introduction
Mechanical Systems – Introduction:
- IM103: Power Transmission Introduction
- IM104: Bearings Introduction
- IM114: Industrial Pumps Introduction
- IM120: Conveyor Systems Introduction
Work Order Management and Troubleshooting Basics:

Weeks 5-6: Developing Troubleshooting Skills and Deeper Mechanical Knowledge
Troubleshooting-focused training transforms theoretical knowledge into practical diagnostic skills. Hydraulic and pneumatic troubleshooting builds on the systems knowledge from previous weeks, while supervised hands-on mechanical work allows safe skill development. Learning about seals, gaskets, and rigging also provides the detailed component knowledge needed for quality repairs. Cross-training observations expose them to the variety of equipment they’ll eventually maintain independently, building pattern recognition across different machine types.
Troubleshooting Focus:
Mechanical Systems – Continued:
- Hands-on exercises with basic mechanical components (disassembly/assembly of simple machines under supervision).
- Understanding the purpose and function of various seals and gaskets.
- Introduction to basic rigging and lifting principles.
Cross-Training Observation:
- Observe technicians performing maintenance on different types of mechanical equipment (e.g., motors, pumps, conveyors).
Weeks 7-8: Electrical Systems and Initial Credential Preparation
- ELEC108: AC Power
- ELEC113: How to Use a Multimeter
- ELEC115: Reading Schematics and Drawings
- ELEC117: Building DC Circuits
- ELEC118: Building DC Combination Circuits
- Shadowing technicians performing basic electrical checks and troubleshooting (e.g., verifying power, continuity checks).
Weeks 9-10: Advanced Industrial Fundamentals and Continued Credential Focus
HMI and PLC training addresses the reality that modern industrial maintenance involves computerized control systems, not just mechanical repairs. These advanced topics build on previous electrical knowledge while introducing the digital interfaces your team uses daily for diagnostics and system monitoring. Control room observations show how individual system knowledge integrates into facility-wide operations, preparing technicians to understand their role in broader production processes.
Industrial Fundamentals – Advanced Topics:
- IM125: Human Machine Interface (HMI) Introduction
- IM200: Introduction to PLCs
- IM300: Basic PLC Troubleshooting
Operational Shadowing:
- Spend time observing control room operations and how HMIs are used to monitor and control equipment.
Weeks 11-12: Applied Skills, Credential Completion, and Future Planning
This final phase of onboarding validates learning through supervised real-world application, ensuring new hires can safely transition from training to productive work. Performing actual preventive maintenance and minor repairs under supervision builds confidence while applying learned troubleshooting techniques in real scenarios. The 90-day review and personalized development planning ensures continued growth momentum, preventing the common post-onboarding skill development plateau while aligning individual career goals with organizational maintenance needs.
Applied Skills and Supervised Tasks:
- Perform supervised preventive maintenance tasks (e.g., lubrication routes, basic inspections).
- Assist in minor repairs under direct supervision, applying troubleshooting techniques.
- Participate in team discussions on maintenance issues and problem-solving.
Credential Completion:
- Take and pass the OSHA 10 credential exam.
- Complete any other identified foundational certification exams.
Performance Review and Future Planning:
- Complete the Industrial Maintenance Welcome Assessment to identify areas of mastery and areas that should be prioritized for additional training.
- Participate in a 90-day performance review with the immediate supervisor.
- Discuss strengths, areas for improvement, and career aspirations.
- Set goals for ongoing skill enhancement and next-level training.
Discover How Interplay Learning Helps Industrial Maintenance Teams Get New Hires Hands-On and Productive from Day One
