Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 114,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

Job Title

Mechanical Maintenance Planner

Working at Abbott 

At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and your family, be your true self, and live a full life. You’ll also have access to: 

• Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of. 
• Employees can qualify for free medical coverage in our Health Investment Plan (HIP) PPO medical plan in the next calendar year. 
• An excellent retirement savings plan with a high employer contribution 
• Tuition reimbursement, the Freedom 2 Save student debt program, and FreeU education benefit - an affordable and convenient path to getting a bachelor’s degree. 
• A company recognized as a great place to work in dozens of countries worldwide and named one of the most admired companies in the world by Fortune.  
• A company that is recognized as one of the best big companies to work for as well as the best place to work for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists.  

The Opportunity  

This position works out of our Sturgis, MI location in the Abbott Nutrition division. Our Nutrition business develops science-based nutrition products for people of all ages, from helping babies and children grow to keeping adult bodies strong and active. Millions of people around the world count on our leading brands – including Similac®, PediaSure®, Pedialyte®, Ensure®, and Glucerna® – to help them get the nutrients they need to live their healthiest lives. 

For over 70 years, Abbott’s Sturgis, Mich., has been impacting its community while producing products that provide essential nutrition to millions of families around the world. Working here, you’ll feel part of a family that is dedicated to making a difference and helping others. 

What You’ll Work On

The Mechanical Maintenance Planner supports safe, efficient, and compliant maintenance operations for plant equipment and facilities at the Sturgis Plant. The role plans, schedules, and coordinates maintenance work, manages materials and spare parts, and serves as a key liaison between Maintenance, Manufacturing, and Engineering, occasionally acting as the point of contact for the Maintenance Supervisor when needed.

• Manage and maintain maintenance documentation within the facility work order system, including Preventive Maintenance (PM), Predictive Maintenance (PdM), and demand work orders.
• Review and conduct field checks of work orders prior to planning to define job scope, sequence of operations, labor, materials, equipment, and priorities.
• Estimate labor hours and develop maintenance labor standards; prepare schematics, sketches, material lists, and tool requirements to support safe and efficient job execution.
• Coordinate requisitioning and ordering of non-stock and low-inventory spare parts; work with vendors and the stockroom to ensure timely delivery and proper storage to minimize equipment downtime.
• Monitor and maintain spare parts data and coordination between the Maintenance Department and Plant Stock Room (excluding engineering capital projects).
• Monitor, update, and maintain existing plant maintenance systems, including PM, PdM, and scheduled work orders (excluding capital project PM creation).
• Sort, schedule, distribute, and review maintenance work orders across all maintenance shifts, including planned and unplanned work.
• Communicate work status, scheduling, and equipment availability to internal customers; coordinate execution with the appropriate maintenance shift.
• Provide on-site supervision for maintenance work as required, with approval from Maintenance leadership.
• Support maintenance activities during weekends, holidays, shutdowns, or off-shifts by coordinating contractors, vendors, and plant trades as needed.
• Perform senior trades duties (e.g., electrician, maintenance mechanic, facilities mechanic) during emergency situations or low manpower conditions.
• Verify completed work meets quality, workmanship, safety, and regulatory requirements, including Abbott policies and local government standards; support training and mentoring as needed.
• Serve as a liaison between Maintenance, Manufacturing, Plant Engineering, and Division Engineering regarding parts, maintenance support, and work coordination.
• Maintain maintenance system documentation, prints, and electronic/manual files, including mechanical and electrical schematics and facility modifications.
• Oversee and coordinate outside vendors, engineers, and contractors to ensure compliance with plant safety, environmental regulations, cGMP requirements, and engineering standards.

You’ll be accountable for meeting our compliance standards including FDA, OSHA and Abbott policies and procedures.

Required Qualifications

• High School Diploma/GED
• Understand and use both simple and complex instructions, with a good working ability of “Time Management” skill set.
• Read and write both simple and complex directions, which can be used as training documents for work orders and preventive maintenance procedures.
• Understand routine and complex machine operation.
• Ability to read and use gauges electrical and mechanical tools/instruments.
• Math skills to include:  add, subtract, divide, and multiply decimals, fractions, proportions, shop math, geometry, algebra, and formulas.
• Computer and software literate:  Examples would be Excel Spread Sheet, Power Point, and word processing skills (computer literate).
• Understanding a high technical level of thinking used to plan (i.e. electrical, mechanical, facilities) maintenance activities.  Examples are, reading schematics, understanding technical manuals information, and documenting detailed annual plant shutdowns activities.
• Troubleshooting operational problems, related to the infant formula manufacturing process. 
• Assigning work via electronic email and work order (maintenance) systems.
•  Work and think with the equal knowledge of tradesmen you plan work for on a daily bases.

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate’s degree in mechanics, electrical, or engineering technology
• Understanding the plant utility systems, waste water systems, HVAC systems, powder manufacturing systems knowledge, and total plant functionality to assure product, people, and environment are protected
• 5+ years experience working as an Electrician or Mechanic

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. Pre-Employment Inquiries and Citizenship | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (eeoc.gov) 

Apply Now 

Learn more about our health and wellness benefits, which provide the security to help you and your family live full lives:  www.abbottbenefits.com  

Follow your career aspirations to Abbott for diverse opportunities with a company that can help you build your future and live your best life. Abbott is an Equal Opportunity and Military/Veteran friendly Employer, committed to employee diversity. 

Connect with us at www.abbott.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Abbott, and on Twitter @AbbottNews.

The base pay for this position is $29.55 – $59.05 per hour. In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted.