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Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters Occupation Detailed Description

Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters

The main tasks and work activities of Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters are to operate welding equipment, align parts or workpieces to ensure proper assembly, measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications, lay out parts to prepare for assembly. In general, for the Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters, reading Comprehension, critical Thinking, speaking, active Listening and other 1 skills are required.
Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters Job Description
EducationMost occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Related ExperiencePrevious work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
ExampleThese occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, travel guides, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters, and medical assistants.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters jobs. 47.14% of Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 29.03% of Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters have Post-Secondary Certificate.
Less than a High School Diploma
3.82%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
47.14%
Post-Secondary Certificate
29.03%
Some College Courses
16.58%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
0.12%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
3.31%

Tasks and Work Activities of Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters

  • Position, align, fit, and weld parts to form complete units or subunits, following blueprints and layout specifications, and using jigs, welding torches, and hand tools.
  • Verify conformance of workpieces to specifications, using squares, rulers, and measuring tapes.
  • Tack-weld fitted parts together.
  • Lay out and examine metal stock or workpieces to be processed to ensure that specifications are met.
  • Align and fit parts according to specifications, using jacks, turnbuckles, wedges, drift pins, pry bars, and hammers.
  • Locate and mark workpiece bending and cutting lines, allowing for stock thickness, machine and welding shrinkage, and other component specifications.
  • Position or tighten braces, jacks, clamps, ropes, or bolt straps, or bolt parts in position for welding or riveting.
  • Study engineering drawings and blueprints to determine materials requirements and task sequences.
  • Move parts into position, manually or with hoists or cranes.
  • Set up and operate fabricating machines, such as brakes, rolls, shears, flame cutters, grinders, and drill presses, to bend, cut, form, punch, drill, or otherwise form and assemble metal components.
  • Hammer, chip, and grind workpieces to cut, bend, and straighten metal.
  • Smooth workpiece edges and fix taps, tubes, and valves.
  • Design and construct templates and fixtures, using hand tools.
  • Straighten warped or bent parts, using sledges, hand torches, straightening presses, or bulldozers.
  • Mark reference points onto floors or face blocks and transpose them to workpieces, using measuring devices, squares, chalk, and soapstone.
  • Set up face blocks, jigs, and fixtures.
  • Remove high spots and cut bevels, using hand files, portable grinders, and cutting torches.
  • Direct welders to build up low spots or short pieces with weld.
  • Lift or move materials and finished products, using large cranes.
  • Heat-treat parts, using acetylene torches.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Controlling Machines and ProcessesUsing either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
  • Handling and Moving ObjectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentRunning, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialInspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Monitor Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsMonitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Performing General Physical ActivitiesPerforming physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
  • Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentProviding documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Operate welding equipment.
  • Align parts or workpieces to ensure proper assembly.
  • Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications.
  • Lay out parts to prepare for assembly.
  • Inspect metal, plastic, or composite products.
  • Draw guide lines or markings on materials or workpieces using patterns or other references.
  • Mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment.
  • Review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences.
  • Read work orders or other instructions to determine product specifications or materials requirements.
  • Lift materials or workpieces using cranes or other lifting equipment.
  • Operate cutting equipment.
  • Operate grinding equipment.
  • Shape metal workpieces with hammers or other small hand tools.
  • Smooth metal surfaces or edges.
  • Construct patterns, templates, or other work aids.
  • Design templates or patterns.
  • Reshape metal workpieces to established specifications.
  • Mount attachments or tools onto production equipment.
  • Direct operational or production activities.
  • Heat material or workpieces to prepare for or complete production.

Skills and Abilities for Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters

  • Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Arm-Hand SteadinessThe ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Multilimb CoordinationThe ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
  • Control PrecisionThe ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Manual DexterityThe ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • VisualizationThe ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Finger DexterityThe ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
  • Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
  • Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Trunk StrengthThe ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Static StrengthThe ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Adjustable wrenchese.g. Adjustable wrenches
  • Belt sandere.g. Belt sanders
  • Bench visese.g. Bench vises
  • Shearse.g. Beverly shears
  • Manual press brakee.g. Brakes
  • Punches or nail sets or driftse.g. Center punches
  • Power chipperse.g. Chipping tools
  • Power sawse.g. Circular saws
  • Claw hammere.g. Claw hammers
  • Milling machinese.g. Computerized numerical control CNC metal-cutting machines
  • Hydraulic press brakee.g. Computerized numerical control CNC press brakes
  • Power sawse.g. Cutoff saws
  • Desktop computerse.g. Desktop computers
  • Dial indicator or dial gaugee.g. Dial indicators
  • Compassese.g. Dividers
  • Punches or nail sets or driftse.g. Drift pins
  • Drill press or radial drille.g. Drill presses
  • Power planese.g. Edge planers
  • Machine end mille.g. End milling machines
  • Plasma arc welding machinee.g. Flame cutters
  • MechanicalKnowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
  • MathematicsKnowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • Building and ConstructionKnowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
  • DesignKnowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
  • English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Production and ProcessingKnowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.