African Fusion November 2020

SAIW bulletin board

Quality welding skills to relaunch SA’s economy

W elding is a scarce skill in South Africa with a resultant shortage of suitably qualified welders equipped to meet the required skill level for new and existing projects. The current situation follows decades of non-regulated welder training, resulting inmanywelders, but very fewwho are adequately qualified or competent. In fact, in2017, welding rankedat number two on the SouthAfricanGovernment’s list of 13 scarce skills, highlighting the critical need for qualified artisans in this field. The Southern African Institute of Weld- ing (SAIW) executive director, John Tarbo- ton comments: “The current constrained COVID-19 environment, which restricts cross border movement, means that local skills are urgently required tomaintain and produce products for key South African sectors. These include power generation, mining, petrochemical, motoring and structural steel manufacturing,” he says. “With skilled welding artisans at hand, South African fabricators have an unprec- edented opportunity to thrive, especially within the manufacturing sector where as much as 80% of manufactured prod- ucts and maintenance requires highly trained welders. However, until there is an adequately trained workforce available, many South African companies and weld- ers won’t be able to take advantage of this huge opportunity,” Tarboton adds. Artisan appreciation As an internationally recognised body for thewelding industry in southern Africa, the SAIW believes it can assist the situation by providing the necessary industry facilities and accredited training levels. “Interna- tionally, the role of the apprentice starts at an early age as part of the education curriculum where school leavers already carry artisanal value for future employ- ment. Unfortunately, there is a stigma in South Africa around being an artisan and a real lack of appreciation for the value this role holds as a potential career. “Ultimately, the demand for work in current times lies in the blue-collar sector and we welcome industry co-operation and alliances for career upliftment, which promotes our student welders to levels where they can add real value. This will provide better employment opportunities and provide skilled local welding services at a lower cost,” he argues. In line with this, the SAIW is looking at the establishment of a national register of trained welders. The plan is to launch an

year, former SAIW executive director, Jim Guild received the IIW Chris Small- bone Award. This award is made in recognition of contributions made in the key area of IIW regional activities and liaison with developing countries. It recognises an outstanding individual who has made a significant contribution in his or her region or internationally. Sponsored by the IIW Members from Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, and Serbia, online portal where SAIWmembers can log in and source the required skilled employee within their industry sector. The strength of this offering is the trust that prospective employers can place in this offering, given its endorsement by the SAIW. Internationally recognised local proficiency The SAIW is also seeking to better serve industry by providing a far more flexible, customised approach to the courses that it offers. This will see it developing specific skills programmes tailormade for individual students and specific sectors. “Overall, our training courses will continue to emphasise the role of the welder within an inter- nationally recognised playing field via our associationwith the International Institute of Welding (IIW). But we are also focused on training students for what is locally required on the ground. “Ultimately, we aim to provide the required building blocks for a long-term career inwelding, in linewith international standards and to give our students the ability to work in local manufacturing and

The SAIW aims to provide the building blocks for long-term careers in welding, in line with international standards and to give students the skills needed to quickly enter careers in the local fabrication sector. fabrication industries within a reasonable period of time.” Looking ahead, Tarboton says: “With this new streamlined strategy, we aim to boost welding skills through our interna- tionally accredited training facilities, and firmly believe that the skills we create within the local sector, will be significant contributors to the relaunch of the South African economy.”

Jim Guild wins IIW Chris Smallbone Award A t the 2020 IIW virtual assembly and international conference earlier this

Jim Guild has received the IIW Chris Smallbone Award in recognition of the significant contribution he has made in the African region and internationally.

the Award consists of a commemorative plaque, whichwould normally be presented by the IIW President during the Opening Ceremony of the IIW Annual Assembly. The Award reads ‘For his outstanding contribution to improving global quality of life through optimum use and innovation of welding and joining technologies interna- tionally’. Current SAIW executive director, John Tarboton says: “This honour is as a result of SAIW welding and NDT work initiated by Jim Guild throughout Africa, and for his IIW input through the Regional Affairs Working Group and the IAB. There are many examples we could quote, including Nigeria, the IAEA NDT projects and many more. “The SAIW is very grateful for the part Jimhas played in these initiatives throughout the continent – past and present. The effort he has put in, along with that of all SAIW employees with the full support of the SAIW board has made SAIW a success story across Africa. We remain determined to continue this legacy by growing our busi- ness north of our borders and becoming a significant contributor to the continent’s prosperity,” Tarboton says.

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November 2020

AFRICAN FUSION