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Welding As An Occupation
Since welding has become the principal and
most effective means of fabricating, bonding and repairing most metal
products, the demand for professional welders have also increased in
major industries like shipbuilding, aerospace, automobile
manufacturing, machinery manufacturing, bridges, Pipefitting, power
plants etc.
In 1994, there were 416,000 jobs in the United States held by people
engaged in the welding occupation. This number had increased to 452,000
jobs in 2002. Majority of these welders were employed in manufacturing,
services, construction, or wholesale trade.
Main Activities Involved in Welding Jobs:
Many welding jobs are manual, but some jobs may necessitate the use
of machinery to perform some tasks. Welders may also use arc, gas, and
flame torches, and other types of welding equipment to perform welding
tasks, depending on the type, size and amount of work.
After gathering information, drawing plans and reading blueprints,
welders use hoists or cranes to move and secure workpieces, which may
also be done manually if the size of the workpieces is smaller. After
that, welds are created in a variety of positions, such as flat,
vertical, or overhead, depending on the position the workpiece. Once
the workpieces are positioned and cleaned, they use the welding
equipment to carry out their work of repairing, fabricating and bonding
metal parts.
What does it take to become a welder?
Since there is no room for errors in this occupation, before taking up a welding job, a person must first have:
1. Good eyesight;
2. Good hand-eye coordination;
3. Manual dexterity;
4. Ability to concentrate on detailed work for long periods;
5. Ability to bend, stoop, and work in awkward positions; and
6. Willingness to undergo training and perform tasks in other production jobs
Most welding jobs require a candidate to have a high school diploma
or GED (General Educational Development), and complete a formal
training program or an on-the-job training. There are a number of
training schools and institutions for welders. Course durations may
range from a few weeks to several years depending on if it’s a
low-skilled or a high-skilled position. Subjects in a welder’s training
course may include blueprint reading, shop mathematics, mechanical
drawing, physics, chemistry, metallurgy and computers. Certain
employers also provide on-the-job trainings. There is also a
certification process in which a worker has to go through a number of
tests and examinations to become a certified welder.
The welding occupation also demands certain basic knowledge in areas like:
1. Mechanics
2. Building and Construction
3. Production and Processing
4. Engineering and Technology
Employment Opportunities for Welders:
Since almost every industry, big or small, uses welding at some
stage of production and manufacturing, including the repair and
maintenance of equipments, the demand for professional welders is
expected to grow. However, with the increase in the number of automated
welding systems, job openings for welders may not be as broad as it
used to be. But some maintenance, repair and other works in
manufacturing cannot be performed solely by automated machines. Most of
them have to be operated by man too. In this respect, skilled and
certified welders seem to have better employment opportunities,
stressing more on the importance of undergoing certification process
and skilled technical training.
Tags: Welder Jobs Welder Job Types Welding As An Occupation Activities reading blueprints
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