Page 13 - HIWT Spring 2013 World of Welding

hiwt@welding.org HOBART INSTITUTE OF WELDING TECHNOLOGY

CRITICAl ROlES FOR WElDING TRADE SCHOOlS

By Scott A. Mazzulla
Vice President, Planning & The industry will also grant welders greater recognition and
Development status for their work. In addition, the industry must “upgrade”
Hobart Institute of Welding the existing workforce through better basic training and
Technology
effective apprentice programs. Today’s welders will be with
the industry for a long time, and they need to continually
Based on a presentation improve their skills and their flexibility.
with audience participation
at FABTECH, November
13, 2012, Las Vegas, NV. So why is there a shortage of welders?
pERCEpTION OF WElDING
“People issues” are
paramount to the future of the What is the real perception of welding?
welding industry, according to Is it the dark, hot, sweaty, smoky, unhealthy industry that our
the American Welding Society fathers and grandfathers recall?
and others. The unfortunate Is it perceived as being too “blue collar”?
public image of manufacturing as an endeavor in decline is Is the pay too low?
actually pushing many talented and energetic people into other Is it high-tech?
fields. In academia, students and faculty are discouraged from
pursuing studies in the primary production industries and What do you think?
expertise in these fields is rapidly being depleted.
INTEREST IN WElDING
Industry -- from welding and manufacturing engineers to
Celebrating 50 years of service to
business entrepreneurs and field welders -- recognizes the How do we increase interest in the welding industry as a
Industry providing Tooling, Machining
critical need to attract top-quality personnel to the welding whole?
and Special Systems.
community. To ensure a continuous supply of talented and
trained personnel, industry plans to proactively nurture the How do we generate interest among youth and other potential
1040 S. Dorset, Troy Ohio 45373 Ph: 937-440-2500 Fax: 937-440-2551
growth of educational opportunities for people choosing future welders?
welding, metallurgy, and related fields as careers.
What brought you to your welding career?
Until recently, welding itself was a skill that craft people (Continued on page 15)
could learn without a real
understanding of the science
behind it. The scientific
and engineering principles
behind welding must
replace the art of welding
for it to achieve its potential
as a preferred state-of-the-art
manufacturing process.

Another part of the solution
may be more effective
apprentice programs for
welders and technicians.
Welding as a vocation will
take on a higher level of
prestige as apprenticeship
and certification programs Celebrating 50 years of service to Industry
become more rigorous. providing Tooling, Machining and Special Systems.
1040 S. Dorset, Troy, Ohio 45373 Ph: 937-440-2500 Fax: 937-440-2551

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