It is impossible to start off any article on welder training without stating what everyone already knows. First and foremost, there’s a shortage of welders in the U.S. and there doesn’t seem to be a surefire fix for this any time soon. As the situation exists today, the older welders in the workforce are reaching retirement age at a faster
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When it comes to artificial intelligence (AI) and its subset, machine learning, many in the metal fabrication industry see them being applied only in a distant future. Those methodologies expanded to engineering, biotechnology, marketing, and other fields beyond manufacturing. They ushered in Six Sigma and other tools to improve business processes by reducing the number of defect opportunities, minimizing variation,
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In 2017, William Polacek, president/CEO ofJWF Industriesin Johnstown, Pa., saw opportunity—like so many other metal fabricators at the time—and set forth to grow the company. To do that, the company needed welders, so it ramped up the recruitment efforts. At the time, Polacek stated that he wanted the diversified metal fabricating company (today with locations in four states and with
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Air Products – sponsor of the WorldSkills UK Welding competition – explains how this important initiative is helping to tackle a worrying shortage in UK welding expertise. In the intricate tapestry of the UK’s workforce, a noticeable gap is emerging—one that poses a significant challenge for the future of manufacturing. The shortage of skilled welders has become a pressing concern,
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