Typical duration to gateway: 42 months
Delivery: Weekly day release and off-the-job training
Delivery Location: East Coast College – Lowestoft Campus
Metal Fabricators: Turning Raw Steel into Precision-Made Power
The purpose of this occupation is to carry out metal fabrication work using resources such as rolled steel joists, columns, channels, steel plates and metal sheets. This includes work carried out to manufacture or repair bridges, oil rigs, ships, submarines, petro-chemical installations, cranes, platforms, aircraft, automotive and machinery parts, sheet metal enclosures and equipment supports. Metal fabricators can work in factories or operational sites, using a wide range of metals including steel, aluminium and titanium at a range of thicknesses from 0.5mm up to over 20mm.
In the working environment, an employee in this occupation may interact with planners, supervisors, inspectors, designers, other welders, pipefitters, fitters, machinists, riggers, steel erectors, stores personnel, painters and many others involved in manufacturing, production, maintenance and repair.
Course Content:
- Check materials conform to the specified grades, dimensions and thicknesses identified on detailed engineering drawings
- Interpret technical drawings, patterns, templates and specifications to mark out, produce and assemble complex fabricated products to meet the required specification and quality requirements
- Use appropriate tools, equipment and techniques to shape and form metal materials, demonstrating and applying knowledge of material properties and characteristics
- Operate joining equipment to join metal parts using a range of appropriate techniques to the standards required by the specifications for the fabrication activity
- Operate appropriate tools and equipment to join metal parts using a range of mechanical fasteners and fixing techniques required by the specifications in accordance with approved joining procedures and quality requirements
Entry Requirements:
- GCSE grade 4 or Level 2 Functional Skills in English and Maths
If you do not possess these grades, you will need to achieve this level prior to taking the End Point Assessment.
Progression Opportunities:
- Advanced welding techniques: Focus on complex welding processes like TIG or robotic welding.
- Team leader: Oversee a team of fabricators on a project basis.
- Quality control inspector: Ensure fabricated components meet quality standards.
- Project manager: Take responsibility for the overall planning and execution of fabrication projects
Contact Us:
Contact our Apprenticeships Team to find out when our next course start date is.
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