A fabrication apprenticeship is a type of engineering apprenticeship that helps you to develop the knowledge and skills that you can apply in the engineering industry. It generally teaches you how to work with metals. You can take up a course meant for a general fabrication tradesperson or choose specific programs in traditional trade areas like sheet metal working, boiler making, surface finishing, pattern making, welding, casting, structural steel erection as well as modelling.
A fabrication apprenticeship is good for you because it provides you with knowledge and skills that you can readily apply at your workplace. It also provides you with an opportunity to train under expert staff that will help you develop current industry skills that you will find necessary in your job. With a fabrication apprenticeship you will learn how to apply safe work processes that are necessary for the safe use and maintenance of various tools and equipment used on the job.
Some of the common tools and equipment that you are likely to use are:
- Angle grinders
- Gas metal arc welders (GMAW)
- Oxyacetylene welders
- Manual metal arc welders (MMAW)
- Gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW)
Other tasks that you may be required to perform as you undertake a fabrication apprenticeship include:
- Performing routine arc welding
- Carrying out mechanical cutting
- Applying fabrication, forming as well as shaping techniques
- Assembling fabricated components
- Using hand and power tools
- Planning to undertake routine tasks in your workplace
- Repairing/replacing as well as modifying fabrications
- Interpreting technical drawings
- Performing general machining
- Applying quality system procedures
- Organising and communicating information
- Performing engineering measurements
Once you complete your fabrication apprenticeship you will find your way into different metal and engineering sectors. Some of the jobs you can take up include engineering production worker, boiler maker (heavy fabrication) or sheet metal worker (light fabrication) among others.
Clearly, a day in the life of a fabrication apprenticeship comes with various responsibilities. However with hard work and determination, you are bound to be successful.
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