Welding as a career
Published on: Monday, September 30, 2019
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What is welding? A weld is a permanent bond formed between two or more metal parts. A proper weld uses an exact and predetermined degree of heat to properly melt and fuse a particular type of metal.
An accomplished welder is one who knows how to use different welding techniques for different purposes, or who is highly specialised in one type of welding. Experienced welders are sought after by many manufacturing industries.
What Does a Welder Do?
- Welders understand blueprints and calculate dimensions.
- Welders inspect materials and structures for quality of welds.
- High-performing welders know it is important to keep their machinery and welding equipment in excellent working condition.
- Welders are able to use hand-held metal joining tools to permanently join parts, as well as fill holes, seams and indentations.
- Welders need to understand metallurgy, some specialized math like trigonometry and some basic engineering.
How to Become a Welder
To become a certified welder, start by investigating welding schools to determine which program to enroll in. There are many programs offered by welding schools:
- Professional Welder
- Professional Welder with Pipefitting
- Associate of Occupational Studies in Welding Technology
- Welding Specialist
Welding Specialist with Pipefitting For instance, the Professional Welder Program can lead to a career in:
- Structural welding
- Pipe welding
- Aircraft welding
- Thin alloy welding
- Pipeline welding
Where Do Welders Work?
Different types of welding jobs are used during all phases of industrial operations, so the need for welders is steady across various industries.
Welding career paths may include working for contracting and construction companies, building permanent and temporary infrastructures, repairing military equipment or working various pipeline jobs.
Many of the welding jobs in Malaysia are in the manufacturing industry.
Some careers in welding can be possibly exciting for the person who wants to travel or work in non-traditional environments.
For example, welders who specialise in metal fabrication may find themselves travelling with racing pit crews to repair and construct customised racing equipment.
Pipe welding jobs may take welders to distant regions where pipeline systems need to be installed or repaired.
They may live in remote areas during the length of the project.
Welders can be hired to live on working cruise ships, where they travel the world to replace pipe systems, make reparations and conduct preventative maintenance.
Shipyards hire welders as independent contractors to assist in building everything from research vessels to aircraft carriers.
Welding Careers
Is welding a good career? Welding offers many career advantages for people who like working with their hands, who are mechanically inclined and who enjoy contributing their skills to the tangible creation of a building, project or structure.
Types of Welding Career Opportunities
Many industries need career welders, including the fields of:
- Inspection
- Engineering
- Robotics
- Sales
- Project management
- Education
How much do welders make?
Entry-level positions may offer about RM 1500 per month. But senior welders may easily earn RM10,000 per month.
The Future of Welding Jobs
In addition to traditional welding, industries that employ high-tech, automated equipment to bond metals need professional welders to oversee and manage production.
Robotics and welding that combine high-powered lasers and electron beams are increasingly common in some manufacturing processes.
The future of welding is an exciting and unmapped territory for those willing to adapt to emerging technologies.
Considering a career in welding?
There are many welding schools in Malaysia offering a wide range of welding courses. One such school is the Welding Institute of Malaysia, a non-profit membership organisation and society formed to raise awareness on the science and practice of welding, joining, cutting and related technologies, and quality in welding workmanship. WIM is :
- The only membership organization in Malaysia that is dedicated to welding, joining and allied technologies.
- Affiliated to the Professional Division of The Welding Institute (TWI), United Kingdom.
- The only representative of Malaysia in the International Institute of Welding (IIW).
- A Full Member of the Asian Welding Federation (AWF).
For further information on welding courses offered by WIM contact:
Welding Institute (Malaysia) Bhd
No 1 Jalan Utarid U5/13
Section U5
Bandar Pinggiran Subang
40150 Shah Alam
Selangor Darul Ehsan
Malaysia
Email: [email protected]
Tel:+603 7848 1018/1028
Fax: +603 7848 1010
Q and A
If you have a career related question write to: [email protected]
