A CHALLENGE THAT AFFECTS THE ENTIRE CATALAN INDUSTRY
In recent years, the lack of qualified maintenance technicians has become one of the major challenges facing the industrial sector. Catalunya.
According to a recent report, 81% of industrial companies nationwide are having difficulty finding suitable technical profiles, especially in areas such as maintenance.
Workshops, production plants, and large industrial groups experience this reality every day. There’s a shortage of qualified professionals, and those who are available are spread across various sectors competing for the same talent.
The consequences are overloaded equipment, increased pressure to maintain pace, and a greater risk of unplanned downtime. At the same time, technical and safety requirements continue to grow.
Therefore, more and more companies are opting for outsourcing to specialized companies to ensure the continuity of their industrial maintenance.
As Borja Romo, Commercial Technician at Gurpea, explains:
“In Catalonia, the lack of qualified industrial maintenance technicians is a challenge many companies face daily, and at Gurpea we can provide them with agility in management, availability, and experience. The trust of companies like Celsa and Starglass demonstrates that outsourcing maintenance is not only an effective solution, but also a strategic decision to guarantee the continuity of their production.”
If you too are finding it difficult to find technicians for your industrial maintenance in Catalonia, at Gurpea we have qualified, trained professionals available in Catalonia.
WHY IS IT SO DIFFICULT TO FIND QUALIFIED INDUSTRIAL TECHNICIANS IN CATALONIA
The shortage of qualified maintenance technicians is not new, but it has worsened in recent years.
The trend towards automation and the exponential growth of the industrial sector over the last decade is compounded by the objective fact that fewer and fewer young people are choosing technical training. According to various reports, 60% of industrial companies acknowledge having difficulty finding qualified workers, and 44% of managers cite the lack of suitable candidates as the main cause of the talent shortage.
La demanda de personal técnico especializado se ha intensificado, especialmente en perfiles de mantenimiento y automatización industrial. Sectores estratégicos como el energético, el automotriz o el alimentario requieren competencias similares, lo que provoca una fuerte competencia por el mismo talento y una escasez de profesionales cualificados a nivel nacional.
CÓMO ESTÁN RESPONDIENDO LAS EMPRESAS ANTE LA ESCASEZ DE TÉCNICOS
Faced with the lack of technicians, not all companies are opting for the same path. Each one is finding their own way of adapting to this new scenario. Depending on which model is chosen, the key is being planned in advance. With our free spreadsheet you can calculate the hours and resources you need throughout the year.
Internal training: investing in your own technical talent
Some have decided to invest in their own talent, training industrial maintenance teams internally. This is a task that requires time, but allows you to consolidate knowledge within the organization.
Maintenance outsourcing: flexibility and immediate response
Furthermore, they are opting to collaborate with specialized companies that provide qualified technicians capable of integrating into the plant from the very first day. This model, known as outsourcing, offers flexibility and agility to adjust resources according to workload, something key in times of high demand or projects with very concrete profiles.
Mixed model: internal stability and external strength
There are also those who choose a mixed model, combining their own staff with external support on an ongoing basis. This way they can maintain the stability of the internal equipment, but with the capacity to reinforce it when the situation requires it.
BENEFITS OF EXTERNALIZING INDUSTRIAL MAINTENANCE WITH SPECIALISTS
Collaborating with a company that specializes in industrial maintenance alone helps to cover the lack of technicians. It also brings a series of benefits that make it different from day to day of production.
Operational flexibility during workload peaks
It allows you to adapt technical resources according to the workload, making structures and quotas more flexible. The equipment retreats when there are production peaks and adjusts when activity is low, always maintaining efficiency.
Continuity and stability in the plant
The maintenance of production lines no longer depends on the availability of internal personnel. Relying on external experts guarantees constant presence at the plant, avoiding stoppages and ensuring the continuity of production even in critical periods.
In-house training and prevention: agility in incorporating technicians
Technicians from specialized companies arrive trained in risk prevention and industrial safety protocols, reducing incidents and complying with regulations from day one.
Another key advantage of working with specialists is responsiveness. At Gurpea, we have our own prevention service and internal training department, which allows us to quickly train and qualify technicians in specific technical areas whenever a client needs it.
This ensures that each new hire meets occupational risk prevention and the specific requirements of the industrial sector, without depending on third parties.
Multi-sector experience that adds value
Working with professionals who have experience in diverse industrial environments provides a broader and more effective perspective. They identify problems earlier, propose improvements, and adapt quickly to each process.
Focus on what matters: production and continuous improvement
Delegating part of the maintenance allows internal teams to focus on their core activities: production, quality, and continuous improvement. Maintenance ceases to be a constant worry and becomes a controlled and predictable process.
THE IMPORTANCE OF ONGOING MAINTENANCE PLANNING AND HOW TO DO IT
In maintenance, it’s not just about reacting when something fails, but about keeping equipment and people aligned to prevent failures from happening.
La planificación continuada permite distribuir las tareas a lo largo del año, optimizar los recursos y mantener un equilibrio entre mantenimiento preventivo y correctivo . This is how load peaks, unexpected shutdowns, and the feeling of always “putting out fires” are controlled.
As Álvaro Zozaya, Commercial Technician at Gurpea, explains:
“The key to continuous production lies in planning. With a well-structured annual maintenance program, we reduce errors and downtime by up to 30% and improve plant efficiency by more than 20%. In Catalonia, our Gurpea team works every day to make this possible.”
To make it even easier, we’ve prepared a downloadable template that helps you calculate, month by month, the hours and personnel for preventive, corrective, and external support maintenance.
FROM SCARCITY TO OPPORTUNITY: NEW MODELS FOR MORE EFFICIENT MAINTENANCE
The lack of qualified technicians is a real challenge, but also an opportunity to rethink how we manage maintenance.
There’s no single solution: some companies are training their own teams, others are opting for outsourcing, and many are combining both models. The important thing is to find the balance that allows the plant to operate safely, efficiently, and with peace of mind.
At Gurpea, we see it every day: when maintenance is managed holistically and comprehensively, by skilled professionals within a robust organization, everything runs more smoothly. Teams work under less pressure, production becomes more stable, and incidents are minimized.
If you’re having trouble finding technicians or need to strengthen your maintenance, we can help.
