MRO Repair & Reliability Specialist

The MRO Repair & Reliability Specialist is responsible for the end-to-end management of repairable MRO materials, vendor repair cycles, warranties, and repair-related cost control. This position ensures high-value components including motors, gearboxes, pumps, valves, and other repairable equipment—are properly identified, evaluated, repaired, tracked, and returned to service in accordance with mill and OEM standards.

The position serves as a key liaison among Maintenance, Engineering, Storeroom, Operations, Procurement, and external repair vendors. The MRO Repair & Reliability Specialist uses technical knowledge, cost analysis, vendor management, and repair history to improve equipment reliability, material availability, repair turnaround time, and overall lifecycle cost.

The role requires the ability to independently manage multiple repair cycles, evaluate repair-versus-replace alternatives, identify recurring equipment and vendor issues, and make recommendations that support maintenance and reliability objectives.

• Own the end-to-end process for identifying, segregating, tracking, and managing repairable MRO materials and components.
• Maintain accurate visibility of repairable inventory, including material condition, location, repair status, cost, and expected return dates.
• Coordinate the movement of repairable materials between the mill and approved repair vendors.
• Ensure completed repairs are properly documented, inspected as appropriate, and returned to the correct inventory or operating location.
• Establish and maintain consistent processes to prevent repairable materials from accumulating in maintenance shops, operating areas, or other uncontrolled locations.
• Prioritize critical repairs based on operational needs, equipment criticality, material availability, and business impact.
• Maintain appropriate documentation and repair history for critical and high-value repairable assets.
• Obtain and evaluate repair quotations and coordinate vendor selection in accordance with Procurement requirements and established approval processes.
• Coordinate repair scope, technical specifications, testing requirements, and disposition decisions with Maintenance and Engineering.
• Manage vendor communications, purchase orders, shipping, repair status, and return logistics.
• Monitor vendor turnaround time, repair quality, cost performance, warranty performance, and recurring repair issues.
• Verify repair documentation, testing results, and applicable warranty coverage before equipment is returned to inventory or service.
• Pursue warranty claims, credits, rework, and other recoveries when appropriate.
• Develop productive relationships with repair vendors and service providers while holding suppliers accountable for quality, cost, service, and delivery expectations.
• Identify and upscale vendor performance issues and recommend alternative repair sources when appropriate.
• Evaluate repair-versus-replace alternatives using repair cost, replacement cost, equipment condition, repair history, expected useful life, lead time, and operational risk.
• Identify opportunities to reduce expedited freight, emergency purchases, premium repair charges, repeat repairs, and other avoidable costs.
• Provide repair cost, lifecycle, and historical information to support Maintenance, Engineering, Procurement, and operational decision-making.
• Analyze repair history, repeat failures, warranty issues, and repair trends to identify root causes and continuous-improvement opportunities.
• Partner with Maintenance, Engineering, Procurement, and other stakeholders to improve equipment reliability and reduce total lifecycle cost.
• Identify opportunities to standardize repair processes,…