Developing Effective Welding Manpower: Learn from a Successful Model (Part 3)

How to push up an effective welding workforce that excellently achieves production goals and specifications and becomes dedicated to the company? Let’s take lessons from a successful model and get the satisfying answer!

It will be a success if you manage to bring talents into the fold. And it will be a hit if you can develop an effective welding manpower. You can avail tips generously given by companies successful in building a talented welding team that work out their heart. Among them is Shapiro & Duncan Inc. – the third generation mechanical contractor with services in the mid Atlantic region. Its current manpower of 40 workers includes pipe cutters and fitters, plumbers, warehousing workers, truck drivers, and 6 pipe welders. 3 of them are the experienced with at least 4-year dedication to the company. The other 3 are newcomers with on the job for at most 90 days. Until 6 months ago, this company ran a three-welder shift, but as a matter of a work surge, it added another three-welder shift.

Let’s see how Shapiro & Duncan Inc. developed its welding team.

3. Give motivated candidates ample opportunities to become a welder

Will motivated young welders be worth a chance?

It is worth giving motivated candidates chances of being part of your company. This holds for many companies, including Shapiro & Duncan Inc. Some of this company best outcomes have been with the young without knowing what they wanted to do from scratch, but with enthusiasm and enjoying a kinaesthetic style of learning. Once they establish themselves in the trade, their outlook becomes bright. It is not overstating that pipe welding workers will always be able to land a job. Employment security and high wage are guaranteed if novice welders have good attitude and flame will to complete their training.

4. Don’t just stop with technical training

It is critical to develop your welders' soft skills!

Technical training is important though, it is not enough to make a powerful welding team. It just as important for new welders to develop behavioural skills and learn about the company culture.

However good you are, or how many times you have been around the block, everyone coming into this company has to live the company values, and work towards achieving the company goal. That is why Shapiro & Duncan partners every new welders with a veteran supervisor in the field.

Overall, while technical skills are critical to posses, especially in welding, work ethic, soft skills are just as important when it comes to employee advancement and company’s effective operation.

See also:
Developing Effective Welding Manpower: Learn from a Successful Model (Part 1)
Developing Effective Welding Manpower: Learn from a Successful Model (Part 2)