Bridging skills gap in manufacturing through upskilling in welding

Welding is at the heart of every manufacturing and fabrication process. It is a precise, reliable, cost-effective, and high-tech method for joining materials that are extensively used across various manufacturing industries.

The advancements in welding hold even greater promise as techniques and methods are being improved for joining dissimilar and non-metallic materials. This would create a possibility in creating products of innovative shapes and designs across industries.

Undoubtedly, welding is a critical process in manufacturing and will continue to be so. However, the manufacturing sector in India and across the globe is facing a unique challenge of bridging the welding skills gap currently existing.

The welding skills gap is expanding primarily for the following reasons:

Advancements in technology in welding and other industries
Missing out on technology upgradation
Lack of avenues for welders for continuous learning/upskilling
Availability of rightly skilled workforce, etc.

The solution to this rising concern of the welding skills gap in the manufacturing sector lies in upskilling.

Upskilling – the key to future of work

Upskilling has been the favourite catchword doing rounds over the past few years. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, upskilling means “the process of learning new skills or of teaching workers new skills”.

An individual acquiring new and relevant skills and competencies that are in demand today and in the future is called upskilling. It involves continuous learning required for new and changing jobs and job roles. It is critical to individuals and employers alike and therefore, the key to the future of work.

Upskilling in welding: new skills for a new world

The digital age requires welders to not only master the technical skills but also have the ability to acquire new competencies in a remarkably fast-paced, agile workplace. In the new workplace, the boundaries separating industries is increasingly getting blurred.

The market and user demands are changing rapidly, and the manufacturing industry faces many challenges, such as spatters, penetration, burn troughs, root welding problems, speed and aesthetic problems, efficient and high productivity problems. The industry must find solutions to these challenges and it is pivotal to meet the market and user demands through technology upgradation and upskilling.

In recent years, technology has changed the industry dramatically with the advent of artificial intelligence, virtual reality, data analytics and the Internet of Things (IoT). While not as new, automation in manufacturing has also played a major role in the shift of how goods get made globally and thereby impacting welding.

However, unlike the popular misconception, robots or automation in welding are not going to take away jobs, rather create new ones that require new skillsets. These new job roles require efficient collaboration between humans, machines and technology and this requires upskilling.

For example, in the case of Robotic Welding Operator – using robotics and automation, robots position and weld pieces together and these are controlled by computers. Nevertheless, it is the Robotic Welding Operator, who operates and programs these computers.

This is an opportunity for welders with basic welding training to upskill themselves and climb up the ladder in their careers.

Upskilling initiatives in welding

With ongoing changes in the industry and the growing importance of upskilling, it is indispensable for welders to get upskilled, reskilled and certified.

The Fronius welding technologies help the Indian manufacturing and welding industry to address the welding challenges, by efficient incorporation of new technologies. Some of these technologies are:

Fronius Intelligent Revolution Technology (TPS/I)
Steel Transfer Technology (Trans Steel Series)
High-Performance Robotic Welding Solutions with TWIN Welding Technology
CMT Technology and Industry 4.0 with the iWAVE series

Through training in these technologies, welders can not only carry out everyday tasks quickly and with precision but also be able to future proof their welding careers.

Apart from technology upgradation, Fronius also offers various skill development and upskilling programs for welders, supervisors, engineers, and managers, as well as for product development teams.

How can manufacturing companies upgrade their technology and upskill their welders?

Manufacturing companies and organizations across India can connect with Fronius India Private Limited for addressing their challenges with welding, technology upgradation, upskilling of their employees through Fronius India Innovation and Skill Centres established in various regions. These centres are established in Pune and Ahmedabad in the west, Gurugram in the north, and Bengaluru and Chennai in the south.