What does the Welding Industry have to offer? The plain and simple answer is, Opportunity. Trades are big business and expanding exponentially as technology develops and infrastructure deteriorates… Yet, when looking in things can seem very focused, technical and overwhelming.
However, that can be an indicator of the potential versatility of said career. Similar to many career options, the welding engineering world is not just one dimensional. Yet, from experience many only perceive welding as one thing. I’m reminded of this often when people ask about my career. My credentials say welding technologist, the common response always seems to be….
“You are a welder?”
Or my favourite,
“You arc weld??”…
Describing the job that I do, doesn’t even come close to explaining the possibilities and opportunities available to someone holding a welding technologist title.
Where articles such as this one hope to shine light on breaking stereotypes. This is not about being overly technical. It’s about understanding that the term welding is only the tip of the iceberg. There are so many branches that can stem off of one label. That welding and the welding industry is far more complex than heating up a couple pieces of material and fusing them together. On the contrary, did you know that some welding applications don’t actually melt and fuse parts together. But can still fall under the umbrella of welding and joining.
Take the term welding. It can be categorized into so many processes and applications. Let’s start with multiple welding processes:
GMAW – gas metal arc welding
GTAW – gas tungsten arc welding
SMAW – shielded metal arc welding
FCAW – flux cored arc welding
PAW – plasma arc welding
EBW – Electron Beam welding
FSW – friction stir welding
EXW – explosion welding
The list can go on. What does that all mean?
Well, in those processes alone, there’s a need for skilled people educated in welding and applications for each. Where welding operators, welders and robotic programming job positions are required.
Also, each system could function differently from manual, semi automatic, mechanized or automated. Let’s also point out that the welding equipment and tooling all has to be designed, manufactured, distributed, installed and maintained too. Creating more layers for opportunities that are affiliated within the industry.
But let’s stay on track with having the equipment and a few welding processes for now. What’s next to complete a job? We have the equipment and personnel, what about the materials.
Does the chemical composition of part a and b to be welded together match?
The electrode and or filler material also needs to be considered. There are possibilities to have different compositions for part a and b which would change electrode selection. These considerations are often not left to the welder or operator.
Why?
The science behind the materials is a whole other career path available in industry. There are many materials available. Each is unique and are not all compatible with each other. Where further layering on understanding that every weld is different. Even if the same designated material and parameters are used each weld for example is created from a different section of wire and a different section of said material. Basically leaving an open-ended opportunity for something to happen differently with each weld pass. But with that said, when engineered plans and quality assurance programs are followed these potential unknown variable changes are reduced.
When joining through welding other variables come into play. A common factor is heat. Heat in many processes is necessary or a byproduct. But heating and cooling can change the materials structure, potentially weakening them. This is where research and development is another potential career path that arises. Through R&D an understanding can be or has been discovered. This development creates understanding of the test subject’s ability to perform in different circumstances. How a material will react in different situations is vital, during the design stage. Another fantastic career choice.
Think about this for a second, what types of elements might the product be exposed to.
Say the product is a bridge.
Where is the bridge located?
In Warm Central America weather or the Northern Canadian experience.
Temperature affects materials, we already mentioned how heat and cold affects. There are also other elemental factors to consider. For instance rain, wind, snow. That’s not even mentioning the chemical composition of each one of them. Ie, how does the salt on our winter roads or in the air living coastal affect the materials and their life expectancies.
Where metallurgists study and break down the materials information. So then another engineer or welding technologists can translate information from the engineering department to shop or site floor.
Speaking of metallurgists and materials, have a read https://www.linkedin.com/posts/shane-turcott-3a2ab51b_reliability-maintenance-engineering-activity-6767464072037441536-ILKp
Shane Turcott is an inspiring engineer that has a gift in translating. I find his short articles to be very informative without being too technical. This type of work is vital to help induce understanding the potential severity failure can have but the importance of learning through the failure. [3]
There are technicians who implement and monitor welding equipment. Welding supervisors to monitor qualifications and certifications. To technologists who help translate what the engineered procedures state. As well as, technologists and engineers who write procedures. All making sure that the intricacy of engineering is followed through. Those plans all come together in a coherent set of instructions or recipe, a “procedure” to make said application work.
Now that doesn’t mean costly mistakes don’t happen.
They do.
But engineering or planning down to the last variable drastically reduces the potential margin of error. Intern increasing quality, productivity, repeatability and of course the bottom line.
So who does the background R&D to find those recipes? Research and development personnel are often Engineers, technologists, technicians and more, they all have a part. What about qualifying procedures? Qualifying is another part of the process in procedures development. At this point the R&D personnel would have done all the background on codes and standards first. Making sure the procedures they’re looking to qualify comply with the standard.
Another important mention is Understanding that the standard followed, changes depending on multiple variables. With one of the largest ones being the country the work is being manufactured for. It’s about making the most economical yet safest product. In many cases it’s about making it work first and foremost. All of the planning, qualifying and certifying builds in both that safety factor as well as the economical factor. Plainly stated, failing to meet acceptance criteria can instantly triple the cost of the project. That is a massive blanket statement but the idea is to instill the importance of the process in welding and manufacturing engineering.
Bringing it back, where else can the welding technology trade lead. Education is a big part. In all of the processing we’ve discussed above each level absorbed information through one form of education or another. Some go to a traditional sense of education like a vocational facility. Which has been deemed necessary as we have created a society that requires pieces of paper to prove a level of knowledge on certain topics. Yet on the other hand, learning through work, is how apprenticeships came about.
Teaching others how to utilize and share knowledge is in my opinion where many learn the most. That’s actually one of the things that drew me to a career in the welding industry. As well as, the versatility. A welder or operator has hundreds of variations to pick from. To an inspector, technical writer, salesperson, technician, technologist, engineer and so on. Where those are only headings to the potential under each.
Skilled trades people, the people who put the stuff together are in high demand. Realistically skilled people on every trade and technology level are in high demand. Let’s stress that if we don’t have skilled trades people it doesn’t matter;
How much planning
How much engineering
How much technology that’s behind it.
If we don’t have personnel or tools to actually produce, nothing will be complete.
No new builds
No rebuilds
No retrofits
No products
No repairs
Can you imagine a world without those things?
Sharing skills and knowledge is so important to pass on the tools of the trade to the next generation. Whether you are a journeyperson teaching an apprentice or a teacher in a classroom, a parent, Influencer, someone who feels that they have no impact,
know, that YOU DO.
Your words can influence deeply.
SO, please be patient with your learners.
But, share, guide and encourage everyone to follow their interests…
NOT
other individuals preconceived ideas of what should be a good path to walk…
People will find fulfilling careers through topics they love. If they nurture interests while trying and learning new things. They then will make their own conclusions on what path to take.
I have experienced situations with others describing trades as a less than opportunity compared to university. It is ignorant yet extremely influential. An unnecessary obstacle that can potentially be instilled into others through one off comments. In turn, directing somebody who potentially would have excelled in a trade, down another path. To find themselves years later picking up a trade after realizing the BS that stuck with them through that one off comment.
The most frustrating issue with the above is that a lot of the times the people spouting off these comments only have the perception of one side. Where judgment is being placed on trades because of a stereotype. Or if it was based on an experience, it is only one sliver of perspective within the larger spectrum that a trade offers.
With that, it’s about making statements that are true and if you don’t have experience don’t lead through stereotypes. Read, research, learn. Find an expert who can share another perspective.
I could sit here and talk about how getting older your body is less forgiving. That a career in skilled trades can be tough and physically demanding. Yet it’s not my place to try to convince somebody not to do it because of that. With that let’s note that people are also struggling with physical pain from the repetitivity of sitting in an office at a computer all the time….
Personally, I love the fluidity a trades career can offer. My position directly consists of shop and computer work creating a balance. With some positions, rotations are built in to alleviate the potential for repetitive injuries. Health, safety and ergonomics is another area and career path available.
All of these opportunities can be interchangeable. That’s not without training. But if a position is undesirable, transitioning to other potential options within the industry is available.
Specifically welding related, a parallel move is always an option.
What does that mean?
Possibly a transition from one welding process to another. Maybe a process that is less physically demanding on the body.
How is it parallel?
Are we comparing job similarity?
Rate of pay?
Or the stereotypes society places on career titles. With that pulling back to some of what was discussed in the previous article “Misconstrued – Trades” found at the link below. https://jemsmind.com/misconstrued-trades/
Additionally, this can lead to using terminology like upgrading.
For some reason the term upgrading is often perceived to be leaving something in the past that isn’t as good. But really we should be looking at it as,
Adding to…
Improving on…
Growing…
It’s about expanding knowledge base and potential. Where everything that you’ve learned in the past is a building block to where you are and are going.
That alone could be related to a career in inspection. I speak from experience as an educator visually inspecting welds often. But also through the knowledge I have learned about an inspection career. From my understanding it can be a gruelling career path. Obviously, knowing your stuff is the foundation. But there is a level of confidence, sure-footedness required with inspection interpretation. Sometimes, perception on the other side may feel like they’re being attacked when something comes back as non-conformance to the acceptance criteria. Where, that’s not the inspectors fault. The inspectors job is to point out that it’s not conforming to the acceptance criteria.
It goes back to the old saying “don’t shoot the messenger”. Unfortunately, it seems to be in our human nature that we show aggression towards that messenger.
With that, a level of integrity and ethical fibres in inspectors and all engineering and technology careers needs to be great. There are all kinds of Temptation that will be thrown at people in power positions. Money is often used for gifts or something of value put out there. All in the hopes to sway, some reason or another. Where these seemingly innocent gestures can get people in trouble.
So leave the gifts and do the job…
The career can often be thankless.
So here to say, a reminder of the important role you play.
Thank you.
Engineers, technologists, inspectors and more, need to know that they are valued.
That they are making a difference in this world.
That they are keeping people safe.
That they are doing a good job even when people berate.
That it’s a “their” problem not a “you” problem.
That engineers, technologists, inspectors and more are doing what is right.
Making plans, following procedures, crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s…
While, holding all the contributing groups responsible.
…
The diversity in the welding industry is vast. Where, the beginning of an amazing career could start with a short introduction on a farm, a workshop, night course or all the way across to University degrees. Where it doesn’t have to start through traditional education models.
There’s so much value and opportunity in trades, engineering and technology.
It’s not something that people should be afraid of.
Whatever education path you choose to walk down, it is completed through hard work and dedication.
Where I highly recommend taking up a topic that you enjoy.
In my experience I have seen many take a subject because somebody else pressured. Sometimes random interests initiate taking a workshop or just try something out. Taking recommendations is always great to learn something new. Learning through others passions can help spark interest within you. But, if the topic doesn’t excite, less success will come from that endeavor.
With that, has anything above sparked an interest?
Even with the vague insight on a few terms and titles we discussed within the welding industry the potential is limitless. Furthermore, the hope that a broader perspective is seen when somebody talks of a career in welding…
JEMI
Edit by WDI
For some further reading if you are interested checkout the articles below.
Why welding ⬇️
https://www.careersinwelding.com/why-welding/
If you are interested in a potential career and don’t know where to start.⬇️
Learning something new that may be applicable for the do it yourselfer…⬇️
Great article on failure modes ⬇️
Sources
[1] B. Eccles, “Why should someone Consider welding as a career and How would one become a welder if they have no experience?,” Why should someone consider welding as a career and how would one become a welder if they have no experience? | CWB Group. [Online]. Available: https://www.cwbgroup.org/association/how-it-works/why-should-someone-consider-welding-career-and-how-would-one-become-welder. [Accessed: 02-Aug-2021].
[2] J. Galloway, “When MIG (GMAW) or Stick (SMAW) welding on a VEHICLE, do you have to disconnect the battery?,” When Mig (GMAW) or Stick (SMAW) welding on a vehicle, do you have to disconnect the battery? | CWB Group. [Online]. Available: https://www.cwbgroup.org/association/how-it-works/when-mig-gmaw-or-stick-smaw-welding-vehicle-do-you-have-disconnect-battery. [Accessed: 02-Aug-2021].
[3] S. Turcott, “Learning from failure – wrong material type,” LinkedIn. [Online]. Available: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/learning-from-failure-wrong-material-type-shane-turcott/?trackingId=eOfBGXfMQaiUvEfJNYFk%2BQ%3D%3D. [Accessed: 02-Aug-2021].
[4] S. Turcott, “Member services,” SMRP. [Online]. Available: https://smrp.org/Member-Services/Solutions-Monthly-Newsletter/Bolt-Failures-Why-Learn-to-Recognize-Mechanical-Failure-Modes. [Accessed: 02-Aug-2021].
[5] “Why welding,” Careers in Welding. [Online]. Available: https://www.careersinwelding.com/why-welding/. [Accessed: 02-Aug-2021].