Boilermakers are in demand!

Boilermakers work in the heavy engineering industry and make boilers, engines and pressure-vessels.

They work with large sheets of metal to make parts for machines and equipment. If you imagine yourself as a metal worker and practically skilled, then a career in Boiler Making is for you!

Boilermakers build or repair containers made with steel plates and pipes which are used in many industries ranging from boilers for steam engines, vats, tanks and to pressure vessels like the ones used at power stations and petrochemical plants.

Their work can also be quite varied and Boilermakers can work in factories: making containers, doing repairs or work at power stations, on oil rigs, in petrol refineries, on the mines and in the shipbuilding industry.

In some ways they are like specialist welders and must be very skilled and responsible when they work:  reason being – containers they make or repair are used under high pressure or may contain chemicals or poisonous gases, so any fault in the seams and joints can cause accidents and serious injury.

What does a Boilermaker do?

• accurately reading plans
• building to specifications
• cleaning and inspecting boiler for proper functioning
• constructing, assembling, maintaining
• repairing stationary steam boilers
• testing assembled vessels
• straightening or reshaping bent pressure vessels

Are you … ?

• good at working with others?
• detail orientated?
• good with your hands?
• mathematically minded?
• good at technical drawing?
• hard working?
• willing to work in cramped, noisy, hot spaces?

How do I become a Boilermaker?

It’s possible to start studying and training from the age of 16 by applying to a FET college to do a NCV (National Certificate Vocational) course instead of an academic matric.

Otherwise you can start after school at a FET college, Technical training centre or University of Technology.

There are three ways to qualify as a registered Boilermaker:

• an Apprenticeship
• a Learnership
• training at a FET college

They all offer theoretical training and practical experience.

You will need a National Certificate Vocational (NCV) in Engineering and Related Design (3 years) from a Further Education and Training (FET) College, with Engineering Fabrication as one of your subjects.

Part of your training includes practical work experience in order to gain a professional registration. This practical experience is gained through a learnership or an apprenticeship.

Further Education and Training Colleges (FET) offer programmes for specific Trades such as boiler making.

We advise contacting these institutions directly.

Visit the Career Planet Training Institutions page to find your nearest FET College.

Minimum requirements:   Grade 9 Certificate
Recommended subjects:   Mathematics and Physical Science

Certain Further Education and Training (FET) institutions may conduct interviews as part of their admission process.

• TETA:  Transport Education Training Authority offers both learnerships and apprenticeships for artisanal trades.

Minimum requirements:  Grade 10 with Mathematics or Part 1 N1
http://www.teta.org.za/SkillsDev/apprentices.shtml

The duration of the apprenticeship varies according to skills set and previous experience. If you are a fast learner you may be able to skip certain processes and go on to your trade test.

OTHER CAREERS TO CONSIDER:  Pipe Fitter or Automotive Sheet Metal Worker

Is becoming a Boiler Maker the right career choice for me?

See below for more info.

Visit the Career Planet Training Institutions page to find your nearest FET college.

Other names for Aircraft Sheet Metalworker:

CLICK HERE

Youtube clip – All about Sheet Metal Work

For training options in South Africa – scroll down

What is an Aircraft Sheet Metalworker?

Aircraft Sheetmetal Workers are in demand!

An Aircraft Sheet Metalworker may also be known as a Aircraft Structures Worker.

If being part of a team that builds aircraft thrills you, then becoming an Aircraft Sheetmetal Worker or Aircraft Structural Worker may be the job for you!

Job opportunities exist in the aviation industry in South Africa and abroad.

Aircraft Sheetmetal Workers are responsible for designing patterns, cutting, shaping and putting together the metal pieces of an aircraft.  This is done by soldering and welding pieces together. They, therefore, must know about the properties of different metals.

An Aircraft Sheetmetal Worker work indoors in very clean surroundings, under very noisy conditions.

What does an Aircraft Sheetmetal Worker do?

• follows plans
• designs templates/patterns for cutting metal
• measures and calculates
• cuts metal sheets
• bends, shapes and hammers metal into correct shapes
• solders and welds pieces together
• constructs and installs
• files, sands and smooths
• inspects for quality control – pieces must fit together perfectly

Are you … ?

• good with your hands?
• interested in aircraft?
• technical?
• mathematical?  Have a good sense of geometry?
• neat and accurate?
• a person with good eye-hand co-ordination?
• physical fit?

How do I become an Aircraft Sheetmetal Worker?

PATH 1

• Apprenticeship
• Trade Test

PATH 2

• Learnership – Aircraft Composite Structures Technician Level 2, 3 and 4
• Trade Test

PATH 3

• National Certificate: Engineering Studies – N1, N2 and N3
• These can be done at many TVET (FET) colleges
• Workplace experience
• Trade Test

PATH 4

• Artisan Internship
• Trade Test

PATH 5

• RPL (Recognised Prior Learning) for Artisans: CLICK HERE
• If you have already been working a long time as a Aircraft Sheet Metalworker without qualifications, you may be able to get your qualification through RPL
• Trade Test

Here are some other examples:

• DENEL CENTRE FOR LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT (DCLD):  (Kemptonpark)

Offer a 95-208 week apprenticeship as an Aircraft Structural Worker:

Minimum requirements:  Grade 10 (N1) with Mathematics and Science

• TSHWANE SOUTH COLLEGE

Offers an Aircraft Sheet Metal Workshop training programme in partnership with AERO SUD Industries.

The training is presented on two levels

Basic Sheet Metal hand skills (2 weeks)
Aircraft Sheet Metal Technology (6 weeks)

TRAINING:

• CLICK HERE to check for a training institution near you to see what they offer.
• Make sure you understand their entry requirements for each course.
• To avoid scams, make sure your institution is registered with the Department of Higher Education. 
• CLICK HERE to check accredited Private Higher Education Institutions. 

OTHER CAREERS TO CONSIDER: Aerospace Operations Technician … or … Automotive Sheet Metal Worker

Is becoming an Aircraft Sheetmetal Worker the right career choice for me?

Tool, Jig and Die-Maker

CLICK HERE

for more info about this career

Automotive sheet metal workers cut and shape sheet metal components into the correct forms and sizes for the bodywork of vehicles. 

What does a Automotive Sheet Metal Worker do?

• checking the correct measurements of forms and sizes
• setting up and operating fabricating machines to cut and bend
• cutting and shaping sheet metal components over anvils, blocks or shapes into the correct forms and sizes for the bodywork of vehicles
• using electrical and gas-welding techniques to join pieces
• checking that the components fit together perfectly
• filing, sanding and smoothing the sheet metal so it’s completely smooth
• drawing plans

Are you … ?

• interested in metals?
• a person with good eye-hand co-ordination?
• mathematically inclined?
• able to work accurately and neatly?
• willing to work in a noisy environment?
• a person with good hand and finger dexterity?
• healthy?
• a person with good vision and colour discrimination?

How do I become a Automotive Sheet Metal Worker?

Further Education and Training Colleges (FET) offer programmes for specific Trade or Skills set such as sheet metal work.

We advise contacting these institutions directly.

Visit the Career Planet Training Institutions page to find your nearest FET College.

For example:

• EASTCAPE TRAINING CENTRE:

http://www.etc.org.za/Course.aspx?ID=255

• IFT ACADEMY (PTY) LTD:

http://www.ifta.co.za/services/

Apprentice or learnership programmes may be available – look out for them.

OTHER CAREERS TO CONSIDER:  Automotive Trimmer or Earth Moving Equipment Mechanic 

Is becoming an Automotive Sheetmetal Worker the right career choice for me?

See below for more info.

You will find wire coils in electrical motors such as in washing machines, drills, vacuum cleaners, generators, turbine engines, fans etc. The coil is a vital part of any electrical machine; if it breaks the motor will not work.

It is the job of the Armature Winder to locate the broken parts, remove them and either replace them with new ones or completely rewind all the coils.

They use various kinds of testing instruments to trace burnt out coils.  They work from diagrams that supply details of the arrangement of the coils, the number of turns required for each, and so on.  In order to wind coils to the correct numer of turns and shape, armature winders make use of coil-winding machines. 

They then check the coils, fit them into motor and generator slots and connect them according to circuit requirements. 

Finally, they assemble the motor, taking care not to damage the insultation around the wires, after which the motors and generators are ready for use.

What does an Armature Winder do?

• discussing problem with client
• locating, checking machines and testing coils
• replacing or fix coils
• dismantling machines and cleaning before fixing
• re-assembling motors
• ordering stock

Are you … ?

• mechanically minded?
• good with your hands?
• problem solver?
• reliable?
• technical?
• logical?
• a person who can work on their own?

How do I become an Armature Winder?

There are a couple of ways to approach this:

• Apprenticeship: 
  4 year contracts between you and the company are signed. These include theoretical training and exams. 
• Learnership:
  Usually a 1 year leanership which includes on-site training both theoretical and practical. 

• FET colleges:

Education and Training Colleges (FET) may offer programmes for specific Trade or Skills: eg. Armature Winding.

We advise contacting these institutions directly.

Visit the Career Planet Training Institutions page to find your nearest FET College.

At some FET colleges –  3 year National Certificate Vocational (NCV) which includes completing high school.

Minimum requirements:

• 16 years old
• Grade 9 Certificate but employers prefer higher educational qualifications

Compulsory Subjects:  None
Recommended Subjects:  Mathematics

OTHER CAREERS TO CONSIDER: Aircraft Maintenance Mechanic or Boilermaker

Is becoming an Armature Winder the right career choice for me?

See below for more info.

OFO No: 21402

Other names for Industrial Engineering Technologist:

• Agri Produce Process Technologist
• Automation and Control Technologist
• Clothing Production Technologist
• Fabrication Technologist
• Footwear Production Technologist
• Industrial Machinery Technologist
• Leather Production Technologist
• Manufacturing Logistics Technologist
• Operations Research Technologist
• Process Design Technologist
• Process Technologist
• Quality Management Technologist
• Robotics and Production Automation Technologist
• Rubber Production Technologist
• Safety Engineerinf Technologist
• Supply Chain Technologist
• Textile Production Technologist
• Value Engineering Technologist

What is an Industrial Engineering Technologist?

An Industrial Engineering Technologist could work in many industries, factories, manufacturing and processing plants as well as warehouses. The may even work alongside Industrial Engineers or on their own in a company.

Their main job is to research and make sure the company’s ‘systems’ are working as efficiently and as cost effectively as possible.

These systems may include:

• manufacturing equipment/machines
• warehouse receiving / shipping
• customer relations
• time management
• staff ‘traffic’ through offices and buildings
• medical systems and so many more, etc

What does an Industrial Engineering Technologist do?

• reviews manufacturing systems and equipment
• analyses data
• recommends upgrades or new equipment
• makes production lines more efficient and cost effective
• liaises with other specialised professionals
• follows strict safety standards
• reviews efficiency of receiving / shipping transactions (in a warehouse)
• designs new, improved systems

Are you . . . ?

• observant?
• good with people?
• diplomatic?
• a problem solver?
• analytical?
• a creative thinker?
• good at mathematics?

How do I become an Industrial Engineering Technologist?

PATH 1

National Diploma of Industrial Engineering

Bachelor of Technology of Industrial Engineering (BTech)

• Cape Peninsula University of Technology
• Durban University of Technology
• Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
• Tshwane University of Technology
• University of Johannesburg
• UNISA
• Vaal University of Technology

PATH 2

National Diploma of Industrial Engineering

Bachelor of Technology of Industrial Engineering (BTech)

• 3 years workplace experience (registered as a Candidate Engineering Technologist with ECSA)
• Professional Review by ECSA
• Designation: Only engineers registered with ECSA may use the title Professional Engineering Technologist.

TRAINING:

• CLICK HERE to check for a training institution near you to see what they offer.
• Make sure you understand their entry requirements for each course.
• To avoid scams, make sure your institution is registered with the Department of Higher Education. CLICK HERE to check accredited Private Higher Education Institutions.   

• ENGINEERING COUNCIL OF SOUTH AFRICA (ECSA)

ECSA is the national body that regulates professional engineers.

https://www.ecsa.co.za/default.aspx

OTHER CAREERS TO CONSIDER: Telecommunications Engineering Technologist or Gas Practitioner

Is becoming an Industrial Engineering Technologist the right career choice for me?

OFO No: 652206

Other name for Die Sinker:

• Die Sinker and Engraver

What is a Die Sinker?

A Die Sinker works with metal. They use special equipment and hand tools to make or create a specific hole or shape in steel blocks. The ‘holes’ or cavities are used as moulds for plastic manufacturing, coin making, or die casting.

Die Sinking can also be seen as ‘engraving’ – by placing text or logos into metal, word, or other materials.

What does a Die Sinker do?

• sources various metal sheets
• marks off and cuts metal using specialised equipment
• files edges
• sinks numbers and text if needed
• uses hammers and chisels
• creates ‘holes’ or cavities to order

Are you . . . ?

• good with your hands?
• interested in working in metal?
• accurate?
• a person with good sight?
• observant?
• safety conscious?

How do I become a Die Sinker?

PATH 1

• Apprenticeship
• Trade Test

PATH 2

• Learnership
• Trade Test

PATH 3

• RPL (Recognised Prior Learning) for Artisans: CLICK HERE
• If you have already been working a long time as a Die Sinker without qualifications, you may be able to get your qualification through RPL
• Trade Test

TRAINING:

• CLICK HERE to check for a training institution near you to see what they offer.
• Make sure you understand their entry requirements for each course.
• To avoid scams, make sure your institution is registered with the Department of Higher Education. 
• CLICK HERE to check accredited Private Higher Education Institutions. 

OTHER CAREERS TO CONSIDER: Armature Winder … or … Diesel Mechanic

Is becoming a Die Sinker the right career choice for me?

OFO No: 214101

Other names for an Industrial Engineer:

• Agri Produce Process Engineer
• Automation and Control Engineer
• Clinical Engineer
• Enterprise Resource Management Engineer
• Fabrication Engineer
• Industrial Efficiency Engineer
• Industrial Machinery Engineer
• Manufacturing Logistics Engineer
• Manufacturing Technology Engineer
• Operations Research Engineer
• Plant Engineer
• Process Design Engineer
• Process Engineer
• Production Engineer
• Quality Management Engineer
• Robotics and Production Automation Engineer
• Safety Engineer
• Supply Chain Management Engineer
• Value Engineering

CLICK HERE

Youtube clip – SA’s Merseta’s description of an Industrial Designer

CLICK HERE

Youtube clip – My Cool Job: Industrial Engineer

For training options in South Africa – scroll down

What is an Industrial Engineer?

An Industrial Engineer mixes engineering with business. They may work in many fields but their main job is to focus on increasing efficiency and saving the business money.

Often, Industrial Engineers find themselves in managerial positions.

The can work in sectors like:

• Healthcare
• Logistics
• Transport
• Entertainment etc

What does an Industrial Engineer do?

• meets with company executives
• collects information, statistics and interviews
• analyses and evaluates business systems
• works out better, cost effective systems
• eliminates time wastage
• improves customer services skills
• makes workplace safer
• improves the design of products

Are you . . . ?

• intelligent?
• observant?
• good with people?
• diplomatic?
• a problem solver?
• analytical?
• a creative thinker?
• good at mathematics and science?
  

How do I become an Industrial Engineer?

PATH 1

Bachelor of Industrial Engineering degree:

• University of Pretoria
• University of Stellenbosch
• University of Witwatersrand

PATH 2

Bachelor of Industrial Engineering

• 3 years workplace experience (registered as a Candidate Engineer with ECSA)
• Professional Review by ECSA
• Designation: Only engineers registered with ECSA may use the title Professional Engineer.

TRAINING:

• CLICK HERE to check for a training institution near you to see what they offer.
• Make sure you understand their entry requirements for each course.
• To avoid scams, make sure your institution is registered with the Department of Higher Education. CLICK HERE to check accredited Private Higher Education Institutions.   

• ENGINEERING COUNCIL OF SOUTH AFRICA (ECSA)

ECSA is the national body that regulates professional engineers.

https://www.ecsa.co.za/default.aspx

OTHER CAREERS TO CONSIDER: Civil Engineer or Mechatronics Engineer

Is becoming an Industrial Engineer the right career choice for me?

OFO No: 311905

What is an Industrial Engineering Technician?

An Industrial Engineering Technician often works in a factory, manufacturing plant or in a warehouse. Their job is to make production etc more efficient and safe.

Most Industrial Engineering Technician work alongside industrial engineers or other specialised professionals.

What does an Industrial Engineering Technician do?

• reviews manufacturing systems and equipment
• analyses data
• recommends upgrades or new equipment
• makes production lines more efficient and cost effective
• liaises with other specialised professionals
• follows strict safety standards
• reviews efficiency of receiving / shipping transactions (in a warehouse)
• designs new, improved systems

Are you . . . ?

• observant?
• good with people?
• diplomatic?
• a problem solver?
• analytical?
• a creative thinker?
• good at mathematics?

How do I become an Industrial Engineering Technician?

PATH 1

National Diploma of Industrial Engineering

• Cape Peninsula University of Technology
• Durban University of Technology
• Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
• Tshwane University of Technology
• University of Johannesburg
• UNISA
• Vaal University of Technology

PATH 2

National Diploma of Industrial Engineering

• 2 years workplace experience (registered as a Candidate Engineering Technician with ECSA)
• Professional Review by ECSA
• Designation: Only engineers registered with ECSA may use the title Engineering Technician.

TRAINING:

• CLICK HERE to check for a training institution near you to see what they offer.
• Make sure you understand their entry requirements for each course.
• To avoid scams, make sure your institution is registered with the Department of Higher Education. CLICK HERE to check accredited Private Higher Education Institutions.   

• ENGINEERING COUNCIL OF SOUTH AFRICA (ECSA)

ECSA is the national body that regulates professional engineers.

https://www.ecsa.co.za/default.aspx

OTHER CAREERS TO CONSIDER: Chemical Engineering Technician or Environmental Engineering Technician

Is becoming an Industrial Engineering Technician the right career choice for me?

OFO No: 651401

Other names for Metal Fabricator:

CLICK HERE

Youtube clip – Meet a Precision Metal Fabricator

For training options in South Africa – scroll down

What is a Metal Fabricator?

A Metal Fabricator usually works with steel or other ferrous (iron-containing) metals. 

They cut and shape metal pieces for:

• Large pieces:  for bridges, ships, industrial machinery etc
• Small pieces:  for bicycles, furniture, household items etc

What does a Metal Fabricator do?

• reads engineering drawings and blueprints
• uses computers as part of the fabrication process
• cuts and bends and shapes metal pieces
• uses various tools to complete piece:  saws, torches etc

Are you … ?

• good with your hands?
• a person who likes making things?
• able to think and work in 3D?
• computer literate?
• safety conscious?
• a person with good eyesight?

How do I become a Metal Fabricator?

PATH 1

• Apprenticeship
• Trade Test

PATH 2

• A series of Learnerships
• Trade Test

PATH 3

• Internship

PATH 4

• RPL (Recognised Prior Learning) for Artisans: CLICK HERE
• If you have already been working a long time as a Metal Fabricator without qualifications, you may be able to get your qualification through RPL
• Trade Test

TRAINING:

• CLICK HERE to check for a training institution near you to see what they offer.
• Make sure you understand their entry requirements for each course.
• To avoid scams, make sure your institution is registered with the Department of Higher Education. 
• CLICK HERE to check accredited Private Higher Education Institutions. 

OTHER CAREERS TO CONSIDER:  Boilermaker … or … Automotive Sheet Metal Worker

Is becoming a Metal Fabricator the right career choice for me?