They supervise, inspect, and help develop applications for a wide variety of welding processes. As a form of a blue collar job, some welding technicians work in research facilities and assist engineers in testing and evaluating newly developed welding equipment, metals, and alloys. These technicians conduct experiments and evaluate data concerning applications of new equipment or improved techniques and make recommendations to engineering personnel regarding their findings. Other welding technicians, working in the field, inspect welded joints and conduct tests to ensure that welds meet company standards, national code requirements, and customer job specifications. These technicians perform the following duties: recording inspection and test results, preparing and submitting reports to welding engineers, and conducting certification tests for the qualification of welding personnel according to national code requirements.
The origins of worker jobs in welding reach back thousands of years. Archaeological evidence suggests that primitive forms of welding were known even in prehistoric times. Ancient Egyptians practiced a form of welding similar to our gas welding in which they employed a blowpipe and a flame from burning alcohol to heat the metal surfaces to be welded. During the nineteenth century, new methods for joining two pieces of metal were developed and existing methods were refined. Resistance welding was developed in the laboratory of James Prescott Joule in 1857. In this method, the metal parts to be joined are pressed together, and a surge of electrical current is sent through the metal at the point of contact. The combination of pressure and heat formed by electrical resistance results in the formation of a solid welded nugget that holds together the pieces of metal securely. This method was not perfected until 1886 because of the lack of sufficient electrical power. Being part of the labor jobs, the welding technician is the link between the welder and the engineer or production manager. As welding inspectors, welding technicians evaluate the quality of incoming materials, such as electrodes, and of welding work being done. They accept or reject pieces of work according to required standards set forth in codes and specifications. A welding inspector must be able to read blueprints, interpret requirements, and have knowledge of testing equipment and methods. Closely related to this work is that of a welding qualification technician. This person keeps records of certified welders and supervises tests for qualification of welding operators. Other welding technicians work as welding process-control technicians. These technicians set up the procedures for welders to follow in various production jobs. They specify welding techniques, types of filler wire to be used, ranges for welding electrodes, and time estimates. Welding technicians also provide instructions concerning welding-control symbols on blueprints, use of jigs and fixtures, and inspection of products.
Equipment maintenance and sales technicians work out of welding supply houses. They troubleshoot equipment for customers, set up equipment sold by their companies, and train welding operators to use the new equipment for assembly jobs. Surprisingly, welding technicians also work as technical writers. In this position, they work closely with professional staff members to prepare reports and to develop articles for the technical or professional press. They may also work for house organs for technical or professional magazines.
After more years of experience, welding technicians may be employed as welding analysts, estimators, welding engineering assistants, welding equipment or product salespeople, and other general labor jobs. Welding analysts and estimators analyze all of the factors involved in a job such as labor, material, and overhead to determine the cost of the job. Welding engineering assistants test welded metal parts, analyze differences in designs for a variety of welded structures, and determine the effect of welding on a variety of metals. Welding equipment or product salespeople are responsible for selling and servicing welded products, for distributing welding materials or equipment, and for all phases of customer relations. Some senior welding technicians may eventually advance to positions as welding supervisors, welding instructors, and welding production managers.
Welding technicians should enjoy their labor careers, working with their hands, and other construction worker jobs. Besides, they can be assigned to do research work. They must be able to use drawing instruments and gauges, perform laboratory tests, and supervise and control machinery and test equipment. Additionally, they are required to collect data and assemble it into written reports. Because welding technicians work with management as well as with production personnel, they must have a sense of responsibility and the ability to get along with people.
Finally, you will find lots of job opportunities at BlueCollarCrossing.com. From there, you will be surprised to find hundreds of related listings which may suit your interest. Hurry, sign up now for free!
