Welding coordinator

Welding coordinators supervise the workflow of welding applications. They monitor welding processes performed by other welders, supervise the staff, being sometimes responsible for vocational training. They also weld particularly demanding parts. Welding coordinators ensure that the necessary welding equipment is ready for usage. They mostly coordinate welding applications and related professional activities.

The following job titles also refer to welding coordinator:

welding fabricator supervisor
welding technician
butt welding supervisor
production line welding supervisor
construction welder supervisor
sheet-metal welding supervisor
resistance welding supervisor
electric arc welding co-ordinator
stitch welding supervisor
ultrasonic metal welder supervisor
responsible welding co-ordinator
welding supervisor
tack welding supervisor
sheet metal welding supervisor
electric spot welding supervisor
robotic welding supervisor
welder-fabricator technician

A high school diploma is generally required to work as a welding coordinator.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Welding coordinator is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to welding coordinator.

metal product quality control inspector
brazier
chain making machine operator
solderer
boilermaker

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of welding coordinator. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of welding coordinator with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

metal production supervisor
welding inspector
container equipment assembly supervisor
production supervisor
machine operator supervisor

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of welding coordinator.

• Welding techniques: The different methods of welding together pieces of metal using various equipment, such as oxygen-acetylene welding, gas metal arc welding and tungsten inert gas welding.
• Types of metal: Qualities, specifications, applications and reactions to different fabricating processes of various types of metal, such as steel, aluminium, brass, copper and others.
• Flammable fluids: The behaviour of liquids and gases that represent a serious explosion and fire danger, and their appropriate handling systems and effective storage.

These skills are necessary for the role of welding coordinator.

• Inspect quality of products: Use various techniques to ensure the product quality is respecting the quality standards and specifications. Oversee defects, packaging and sendbacks of products to different production departments.
• Apply arc welding techniques: Apply and work with a variety of techniques in the process of arc welding, such as shielded metal arc welding, gas metal arc welding, submerged arc welding and flux-cored arc welding.
• Record production data for quality control: Keep records of the machine’s faults, interventions and irregularities for quality control.
• Operate welding equipment: Use welding equipment to melt and join together pieces of metal or steel; wear protective eyewear during the working process.
• Perform welding inspection: Inspect and assure the quality of welded metals using diverse testing techniques.
• Spot metal imperfections: Observe and identify various kinds of imperfections in metal workpieces or finished products. Recognise the best fitted manner of fixing the problem, which could be caused by corrosion, rust, fractures, leaks, and other signs of wear.
• Perform demanding weldments: Perform difficult welding processes by applying specialised welding techniques in order to join pieces of metal together in particularly challenging cases.
• Identify hazards in the workplace: Perform safety audits and inspections on workplaces and workplace equipment. Ensure that they meet safety regulations and identify hazards and risks.
• Ensure quality of final product: Ensure that finished products meet or exceed company specifications.
• Ensure equipment availability: Ensure that the necessary equipment is provided, ready and available for use before start of procedures.
• Evaluate employees work: Evaluate the need for labour for the work ahead. Evaluate the performance of the team of workers and inform superiors. Encourage and support the employees in learning, teach them techniques and check the application to ensure product quality and labour productivity.
• Supervise staff: Oversee the selection, training, performance and motivation of staff.
• Create a work atmosphere of continuous improvement: Work with management practices such as continuous improvement, preventive maintenance. Pay attention to problem solving and teamwork principles.
• Adhere to organisational guidelines: Adhere to organisational or department specific standards and guidelines. Understand the motives of the organisation and the common agreements and act accordingly.
• Coordinate communication within a team: Collect contact info for all team members and decide on modes of communication.
• Analyse staff capacity: Evaluate and identify staffing gaps in quantity, skills, performance revenue and surpluses.
• Liaise with managers: Liaise with managers of other departments ensuring effective service and communication, i.e. sales, planning, purchasing, trading, distribution and technical.
• Operate soldering equipment: Use soldering equipment, such as a soldering gun, a soldering torch or a gas-powered iron, to melt and join together pieces of metal or steel.
• Select filler metal: Select optimal metal used for metal joining purposes, such as zinc, lead or copper metals, specifically for welding, soldering or brazing practices.
• Follow company standards: Lead and manage according to the organisation’s code of conduct.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of welding coordinator. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Ferrous metal processing: Various processing methods on iron and iron-containing alloys such as steel, stainless steel and pig iron.
• Types of metal manufacturing processes: Metal processes linked to the different types of metal, such as casting processes, heat treatment processes, repair processes and other metal manufacturing processes.
• First aid: The emergency treatment given to a sick or injured person in the case of circulatory and/or respiratory failure, unconsciousness, wounds, bleeding, shock or poisoning.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of welding coordinator. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Manage supplies: Monitor and control the flow of supplies that includes the purchase, storage and movement of the required quality of raw materials, and also work-in-progress inventory. Manage supply chain activities and synchronise supply with demand of production and customer.
• Operate brazing equipment: Use equipment designed for brazing processes in order to melt and join together pieces of metal or steel.
• Show responsibility: Accept responsibility and be accountable for professional decisions of yourself or others as part of a job or one’s role.
• Monitor manufacturing quality standards: Monitor quality standards in manufacturing and finishing process.
• Apply brazing techniques: Apply and work with a variety of techniques in the process of brazing, such as torch brazing, braze welding and dip brazing.
• Manage emergency procedures: React quickly in case of emergency and set planned emergency procedures in motion.
• Monitor stock level: Evaluate how much stock is used and determine what should be ordered.
• Perform test run: Perform tests putting a system, machine, tool or other equipment through a series of actions under actual operating conditions in order to assess its reliability and suitability to realise its tasks, and adjust settings accordingly.
• Recruit employees: Hire new employees by scoping the job role, advertising, performing interviews and selecting staff in line with company policy and legislation.
• Oversee pre-assembly operations: Organise and oversee the arrangements preceding the assembly of manufactured products, mostly taking place in factories, including their installation in assembling locations such as construction sites.
• Perform metal active gas welding: Weld metal, mostly steel, workpieces together using active gas mixtures such as concoctions of argon, carbon dioxide and oxygen.
• Identify customer’s needs: Use appropriate questions and active listening in order to identify customer expectations, desires and requirements according to product and services.
• Plan shifts of employees: Plans shifts of employees to ensure completion of all customer orders and satisfactory completion of the production plan.
• Ensure correct gas pressure: Ensure the necessary, usually constant, pressure of gas which is part of a machine or tool, such as torching equipment, used to process metal workpieces during metal fabrication processes.
• Monitor production developments: Monitor parameters to keep an eye on the production, developments and costs within your area of control.
• Liaise with quality assurance: Work closely with the relevant quality assurance or grading party involved.
• Consult technical resources: Read and interpret such technical resources such as digital or paper drawings and adjustment data in order to properly set up a machine or working tool, or to assemble mechanical equipment.
• Ensure fulfillment of legal requirements: Ensure that all legal requirements are met.
• Perform tungsten inert gas welding: Weld metal workpieces together by tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding. This arc welding process welds metal workpieces using the heat generated between an arc of electricity struck between a non-consumable tungsten metal electrode. Use an argon or helium inert gas to shield the weld from atmospheric contamination.
• Manage discarded products: Manage production stops due to insufficient product quality and manage associated waste issues within the scope of good manufacturing practices.
• Keep records of work progress: Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.
• Communicate schedules to the people concerned: Convey relevant scheduling information. Present the schedule to the persons concerned, and inform them of any schedule changes. Approve the schedules and verify that everyone has understood the information sent to them.
• Train employees: Lead and guide employees through a process in which they are taught the necessary skills for the perspective job. Organise activities aimed at introducing the work and systems or improving the performance of individuals and groups in organisational settings.
• Perform metal inert gas welding: Weld metal workpieces together using inert gasses or gas mixtures such as argon and helium. This technique is usually used for welding aluminium and other non-ferrous metals.
• Write records for repairs: Write records of the repairs and maintenance interventions undertaken, of parts and materials used, and other repair facts.
• Draw design sketches: Create rough pictures to assist in creating and communicating design concepts.

7212 – Welders and flamecutters

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References

1. Welding coordinator – ESCO