Welder Training & Certification

 

1. INTRODUCTION

A. Definition / History

Welding can be defined as a metal - joining - process by the use of heat to cause coalescence between two or more pieces of metal. It may be performed with or without the use of a filler metal and with or without the application of pressure.

Welding is not a trade. Welding is a job skill used within many different trades to manufacture, construct, produce, fabricate and / or repair objects of metal. From its ancient roots until today, the science and art of welding has served well both the artisan who mastered the skill / craft and the culture in which the craftsman practiced and applied this skill.

 Welding is an Ancient Craft (Gen.4:22). Through historical artifacts, the science and art of welding can be traced back a very long way. The tools, techniques the applications and methods have changed tremendously, however, the purposeful function has basically remained the same.

It is believed, by some, that welding was successfully applied by the ancient metallurgist to first craft jewelry and utensils. The applications was later extended to become a major factor in the manufacture, production and repair of tools and weapons. Today, welding is a critical force in our Nations defense Video A, commerce and Industrialization.

B. The welding process

The American Welding Society list over eighty different welding processes, usually catagorized by their shielding medium and heat source. Example: Shielded Metal ARC, Gas Tungsten ARC, Flux Cored ARC. The successful performance of a welding process and/ or welding operation, depends largely on three things, I. SAFETY; II. QUALITY; III. PRODUCTIVITY . In many cases the objective of one of these may overlap with another. Often safety and quality are tied togeather. There are dozens and dozens of cognative and authoritative agencies ranging from municipal to federal, from local to national, that establishes " rules, laws, principals, standards, codes, regulations, specifications, procedures, qualifications, certifications, ethics and so on, in order to affect these three endeavors. An exampe of a few are: NASA * AWS * ASME * ASTM * ANSI * OSHA * AISI * ASM * API * NIOSH * SAE *VICA * NOCTI * NCCER * MAVCC * DOT * OOH * AISC * ABS * ASNT * RWMA

C. Safety

Usually the first consideration in any endeavor. Production, manufacture or use of a product or service will not cause or lead to injury, damage or undesirable consequences.

D. Quality

Usually number two on the list of industrial priorities. The product or service will be infallible, dependable, reliable, useful and desirable.

E. Productivity

The product or service will be economical, affordable and available.

F. Welding Vocabulary

In many areas of industry, trades or specialized skills areas, there exsists a vocabulary, languge or terms & definitions that may be unique to that particular area or field. This language, vocabulary, terminology. or industrial dialect may change from company to company but is usually standardized by the agencies listed in "B" above. (resource)

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TASK LIST I * TASK LIST II * TASK LIST III