The industrial construction industry is an ever changing and ever growing industry, especially in the Gulf Coast region of the United States. The Houston area, which takes on the brunt of the majority of this work, is always looking for the next idea of how to maintain a skilled workforce. Labor shortage in general is not a problem, a skilled labor force, however, is where most companies may agree on a commonality of shortages.Melisa Wynne with Ref-Chem says, “Entry level helpers and laborers are plentiful in the Gulf Coast region. Our (Human Resources – Craft Recruiting) problem is manning a project where we need 100 skilled and certified pipefitters, boilermakers and/or welders. There are simply not enough skilled craftsmen to staff all of the projects in our region.”
With the ever growing need for good combination pipe welders in the industrial construction industry, new ideas and training techniques are always welcome. Consider the fact that a welder needs to not only pass a welding test before he is hired, he will also need to pass a production test once he is onsite. The requirements for a welder compared to other craftsmen are completely different. In most cases, a welder cannot just show a certification and be hired as a journeyman welder. He still has to prove himself by passing multiple welding tests. Some companies have been able to capture the individuals who do not pass the welding tests, but are fairly close and may need just a tad bit more practice.Companies such as Turner Industries, Performance Contractors, Jacobs and KBR have been working closely with the Construction and Maintenance Education Foundation (CMEF), the training affiliate of ABC Greater Houston, to find a way to bring those welders up to a level of a stand-alone combination pipe welder. CMEF’s Craft Training Committee (CTC) has worked diligently to try to solve this problem. With the help of Carla Thompson, Sal Mellado, Joe Laughlin, and Natalie Smith, the CTC was able to develop a program which is not only innovative, but will ensure that the individuals participating in the program will be stand-alone, productive, journeyman combination pipe welders.
March 17, 2016
The ABC National Craft Championships event is the largest of its kind. Craft Competitors from all over the country meet in one place in a two-day rigorous competition to find out who has the best skills and what chapter has the best training programs. Pictured here are five of the eight competitors represented by CMEF, the training affiliate of ABC Greater Houston.CMEF is bringing back a gold medalist from last year’s Structural Welding Competition, who will be competing in the Pipe Welding Competition this year. Brandon Moore, employed by Jacobs, is expected to do great things. Also pictured, are two high school students, cosponsored by Performance Contractors. These two 17-year-old seniors are taking welding courses at local Junior Colleges and training during the day in their high school training program sponsored by CMEF.
February 27, 2016
