Welders and Related Machine Operators (NOC 7265)
Description
Welders operate welding equipment to weld ferrous and non-ferrous metals. This unit group also includes machine operators who operate previously set up production welding, brazing and soldering equipment. They are employed by companies that manufacture structural steel and platework, boilers, heavy machinery, aircraft and ships and other metal products, and by welding contractors and welding shops, or they may be self-employed.
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Example Titles
- aviation welding technician
- brazing machine operator
- brazing machine setter
- electric arc welder
- journeyman/woman welder
- laser welding operator
- pressure vessel welder
- production welder
- soldering machine operator
- spot welder
- welder
- welder apprentice
- welder-fitter
>> View all titles
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Classified Elsewhere
- Supervisors of welders in this unit group (in 7214 Contractors and Supervisors, Metal Forming, Shaping and Erecting Trades)
- Underwater welders (in 7382 Commercial Divers)
- Wave soldering machine operators (in 9483 Electronics Assemblers, Fabricators, Inspectors and Testers)
- Welding inspectors (in 2261 Nondestructive Testers and Inspectors)
- Welding technologists (in 2212 Geological and Mineral Technologists and Technicians)
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Duties
Welders perform some or all of the following duties:
- Read and interpret blueprints or welding process specifications
- Operate manual or semi-automatic welding equipment to fuse metal segments using processes such as gas tungsten arc (TIG or GTAW), gas metal arc (MIG or GMAW), flux-cored arc (FAW), plasma arc (PAW), shielded metal arc (SMAW), oxy-acetylene (OAW), resistance welding and submerged arc welding (SAW)
- Operate manual or semi-automatic flame-cutting equipment
- Operate brazing and soldering equipment
- Operate metal shaping machines such as brakes, shears and other metal straightening and bending machines
- Repair worn parts of metal products by welding on extra layers.
- Welders may specialize in certain types of welding such as custom fabrication, ship building and repair, aerospace precision welding, pressure vessel welding, pipeline construction welding, structural construction welding, or machinery and equipment repair welding.
Welding, brazing and soldering machine operators perform some or all of the following duties:
- Operate previously set up welding machines such as spot, butt and seam resistance or gas and arc welding machines to fabricate or repair metal parts
- Operate previously set up brazing or soldering machines to bond metal parts or to fill holes, indentations and seams of metal articles with solder
- Start up, shut down, adjust and monitor robotic welding production line
- Assist with the maintenance and repair of welding, brazing and soldering equipment
- May adjust welding heads and tooling according to work specifications.
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Skills
Production welders and related machine operators require the following skills and abilities:
Essential Skills:
- good oral communication skills
- good physical strength and stamina,
- good vision, eye-hand coordination, manual dexterity
- ability to focus on precision
- good problem-solving skills
- ability to work independently or as part of a team.
Technical Skills:
- general mechanical ability
- ability to read blueprints and technical specifications
- ability to operate power tools and equipment
- knowledge of safe operating procedures
- knowledge of computerized machinery
- Journeyperson welders should also have a general knowledge of metallurgy and relevant product codes, regulations and laws.
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Employment Requirements
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Completion of a four- year apprenticeship program or a combination of several years of work experience in the trade and some high school, college or industry courses in sheet metal working is usually required for jobs in the construction sector.
- Interprovincial trade certification (Red Seal) is also available to qualified sheet metal workers.
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Terms & Conditions
Welders and related machine operators work both indoors and outdoors depending on the project. They may work in confined spaces or at significant heights on scaffolds or platforms. The work can be physically demanding. They may be required to lift heavy objects and work in a variety of awkward positions, while bending, stooping, or standing to perform work overhead. Welders wear safety equipment such as steel-toed boots, goggles, gloves, and hoods with protective lenses. They may be required to supply their own safety boots and masks. They may be exposed to noxious fumes, blinding light and hot materials.
Welding can be seasonal. There is more work, and overtime, for construction welders in the summer when construction is strongest. Shop welders are not affected by seasonal factors and usually work about 40 hours per week. Working overtime and weekends may be required during busy times and when deadlines are approaching. Production welders and machine operators working for manufacturing companies may be required to work shifts.
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Earnings
$29,100 per annum - starting
$38,200 per annum - average
$58,200 per annum - high
Earnings are reviewed annually or more frequently if new information becomes available.
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Education / Training
- To become a certified Industrial Welder in Manitoba, apprenticeship training that combines on-the-job (practical) experience with in-school (technical) training must be completed. Contact the Apprenticeship Branch for more information and program requirements. http://www.apprenticemanitoba.ca/
The following post-secondary institutions offer related training in this field:
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Career Paths
Welders are typically employed in industrial manufacturing settings.
Production welder may be an entry position. Welders with basic skills can advance to higher level welding jobs with additional training and experience. They may become welding technicians, supervisors, inspectors, or instructors. Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience. Some experienced welders open their own repair shops.
Welders with Red Seal trade certification are qualified to work in other provinces.
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Outlook
Employment prospects for welders and related machine operators are expected to be good in the 2010 to 2014 period. Employment in 2010 is estimated at 3,565
Employment demand for welders fluctuates with changing economic conditions, particularly in the manufacturing and to a lesser extent in construction industries. The economic downturn in 2009 resulted in job losses in this occupation. As the economy improves, manufacturing activity is resuming, and firms are reinvesting in operations and recruiting welders. The manufacturing sector in Manitoba is very diverse, with many of these firms, particularly those that produce aerospace components, buses, and agricultural equipment, employing welders. A significant number of major construction projects are planned in Manitoba over the outlook period that will also require welders.
The labour supply of welders may vary considerably depending on the requirements for the job. There is a ready supply of labour for positions that require a lower level of skill. There is a limited supply of qualified welders for more highly skilled jobs requiring fitting skills, and a knowledge of various welding techniques (FCAW, GMAW, SMAW, GTAW ). That explains why this occupation has high unemployment and recruitment difficulties simultaneously.
This occupation has a very young age profile, so there will be few opportunities created as a result of retirements compared to other occupations.
In manufacturing, technological advances such as computer-controlled and robotically-controlled welding machinery are replacing many of the routine welding jobs. At the same time, new technologies are generating more uses for welding, creating more opportunities for those with skills in advanced technological applications and an understanding of computerized machinery. Welders working on construction projects or in equipment repair will not be affected by technology change to the same extent, because their jobs are not as easily automated.
The majority of welders and related machine operators work in Manufacturing (59%), Other Services (except Public Administration) (19%), Construction (7%) and Wholesale Trade (5%).
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Employment by Age Group
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Employment by Industry
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Employment by Region
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Employment by Gender
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Employment by Aboriginal Self-Identification
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Employment by Visible Minority
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Please Note - The source for above charts is the 2006 Census.
Professional Associations, Unions, and Regulatory Bodies...
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Other Related Information...
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