Page Two: Samuel Colton American Author On Welding Education

Establishing the culture of quality
by Samuel Colton
May 19, 2002

2002

Establishing the culture of quality expectation in welder training
By
Samuel Colton, Sr.

The idea of establishing a culture of quality expectation may seem on the surface a given. However when it comes to welder training it is not. The level of quality that is being demanded of welders today continues to surpass other social expectations of people in other professions. Even a surgeon is allowed more room for error by the mere fact that the human body has tremendous capacity to heal its self. A welder does not have this luxury. If a weld has a defect it will remain so until some combination of events turns it from a defect to a tragedy.

Welding standards are developed to reduce to acceptable levels the possibility of such occurrences. Many students of welding fail to achieve success in their studies because they do not become socialized into the weld quality culture. From the on set of welder training time needs to be spent continuously helping the student to develop the quality mind set of his chosen profession. The teacher and student must spend time examining the history of the technology and the out growth of quality expectations that have resulted from failures of previous quality standards.

The life of a welder is one to be spent disciplining himself to provide quality out comes on a consistent daily bases, to do less than that marks the end of that welders career. Well-developed systems for monitoring weld quality out comes put additional accountability and responsibility on the welder. Students of welding must be exposed early on to this culture of quality so that they can learn how to succeed with in it.

The ongoing requirement to qualify the welding procedures used on jobs in industry also requires that welders develop the ability to respond to the constant testing required for welder qualification. Students need to receive socialization into the culture of quality outcomes early in their training.

The idea that one would teach someone to weld with no quality expectation is a formula for disaster. Welding students must understand the high level of responsibility associated with being a welder. That people will trust their very lives to their work can never be down played. That each weld must be sound and fulfill the expectations of the service conditions it will be subjected to during its life cycle.

Just as people receive socials skills and understanding to be productive members of society so must welding students. Often I use the phrase that "Nothing is too good for our students". Soon the students echo this phrase. This is to instill in them a high expectation that can be part of the over all expectation of their training experience.

Developing progressively higher standards of quality expectation of welding students allows them to progress towards a goal with out being demoralized in the process. Working with each student to achieve ever increasing higher standards of performance is key to maintaining their learning self-esteem. Each student passes the quality performance test as an individual. Each student must be allowed to retest as often as necessary until they have been allowed to demonstrate they have mastered the weld parameters to reach the desired expectation.

Each student will later work in industry as a member of an orchestrated group of individuals striving to achieve an agreed upon level of quality expectation. They will repeatedly be called upon to demonstrate that they can perform to a new set of weld variable with in a given process.

As educators our challenge is to develop the ability to help the student learn to be successful in adjusting the equipment and their technique to achieve the desired weld out come as prescribed by the quality standards being used is critical.

Developing the quality culture in our schools begins with our dress for work, our safety equipment and the appearance and maintenance of our lab facilities. Instructors who are dressed in neat, clean clothes with well-maintained personal weld equipment convey to the student a sense of professionalism. This will translate into their lives as well. Keeping the welder training area neat and clean also contributes to the quality culture.

Personal behavior expectations of respectful conduct and speech are also is part of the process for a quality culture. There is no place for foul language in the welding industry or disrespectful conduct on the job site. This only leads to problems with people that translate itself in to problems with weld quality.

There is a direct correlation between personal professional conduct and weld quality out comes. Personal habits of conduct translate into weld quality or the lack of it. Maintaining an environment of quality expectations requires consistent performance by the key persons in a welders training. Instructors and lab aids must maintain proper professional decorum at all times. In doing so the transition of students to professionals will be much easier and the quality weld outcomes more readily achieve.






Learning activities to be developed with this discussion should focus around quality expectations in our daily lives i.e. our food, housing, transportation, clothing etc…

The development of a personal attitude of being a quality oriented professional in our dress, conduct and how we prepare for and execute our work.

Then develop this discussion to how weld quality is important to the functional results of the pipeline. That no matter what our role is on the job it is important to the success of the team.

Welders have a role as professionals in society every bit as important as a Doctor, Lawyer or Politician. The welder's role has traditionally been key to the development and progress of civilization. For it is by the joining of metals that all other aspects of our modern world depend.    

Its not welder training.
by Samuel Colton
May 19, 2002

2002


Its not welder training its training people to be welders
by Samuel Colton, Sr.


When I started teaching welding 22 years ago the focus was on teaching welding technology with little consideration given to the student as an individual learner. The student presented himself to be instructed in welding. My presentations were focused entirely on the technology and getting the student to grasp it quickly. Some did and some did not. As the years went by I continued my studies in Sociology at Northern Arizona University. It was during this time in my life that I began to examine more intensely the effects of family as the primary source of learning followed by ones community and social culture. Here is when I began to consider that success in teaching welding was in large part determined by the external social factors that shaped my students before they arrived at the college.

Recognizing cultural impact on welder training:

Realizing that different cultures communicate in different ways has helped my delivery. I have lived most of my life as a member of a Hispanic dominated culture. With in that culture I have recognized the need to communicate in small group where problems are worked out and family groups develop strong associations. I have often refereed to this as the pueblo culture. Where communication takes place with in the context of a close nit familiar group setting. On the surface this would seem to be informal yet observe a gathering and you will see that respect and acknowledgement is given to senior family members. There is structure and a division of responsibility. That all are given opportunity to speak in their turn and that the discussion does not end until all opinions have been considered. Like wise bringing this small group discussion and informal learning to my classes has helped us to develop more trust and confidence in each other as learners. Giving students opportunity to speak out and to make input into the direction of the class activity allows them to buy into the course as their own. Respecting their opinion as a consumer of the course subject is critical to sustaining their efforts during difficult times.

To be a Teacher means to teach:

Also people want to be taught by a teacher not shown by a presenter. There is a big difference. I don't show a student a hundred times. I teach that student a hundred times. I teach the student as many times as it takes for that student to learn the lesson for the day. If they have the heart to keep trying then I have the heart to adjust my teaching until they have learned. There are many presenters but few who teach. Only when the other person has learned has teaching and learning occurred. The fact that I am an expert is not enough. As a Teacher my students must learn from me. If not, I am a failure as a Teacher of human beings. I am not the sage on the side. I have come to the classroom because I have something to teach and am capable of teaching it. This is a sacred responsibility, for my relationship with the student is one of trust. My student is depending on me to reach into their mind and help them to gain knowledge in a subject. They may have dreams and goals that are on hold until we both achieve the needed learning for them to go on to other areas of study and employment.

Trying to have one-shoe fits all type of welding instruction as I have found in other areas such a math or English does not serve the students of welding. Students of welding demonstrate strong need to be independent. They are willing to make decisions and are prone to experiment with the subject. These are positive traits for welders who by the nature of the work are in control of the success or failure of the weld outcome. However how to best channel these characteristics into a focused and controlled profession is challenging. The best-engineered project can be totally destroyed by a welder who does not follow the procedures established for the project.

Freedom and Flexibility:

Freedom and flexibility of instruction for the students and myself became my best method. I found that using a structured out line with learning out come goals for myself as an Instructor and having specific goals for the student allowed them to learn quickly and effectively. Allowing the students the freedom to be them selves while identifying the learning out comes they had to master made teaching a more friendly activity.

Welding students are smart individuals who don't like to be boxed in or held down. They want to get into the subject both mentally and physically. They are mostly tactile learners who learn best when there is a good mix of hands on activity mixed with lecture time. I have noted that as an Instructor when I keep the pace of the lecture moving with portions that move the students to the lab and then back to the lecture room their attention is better.

Also by handing out early in the course the training outline that will identify where we are going with the course, the students are more supportive of the different lesson activities. Helping students catch the vision of where we are and where we will be in 15 weeks is critical to theirs and my success.

Understanding our role in the process:

These last years I have found that developing a process-centered focus of training/study that incorporates industry standards has helped my teaching of welding. Rather than jump into the welding aspect first I have begun to relate issues of quality expectations, quality control and delivery to the teaching of welding.
That welding is a function of providing a quality out come. That with in that activity there are key considerations to be addressed.

These can be identified as follows:

1.   The customer expectation of the welded project
2.   The engineered standards to achieve the expectation
3.   The adoption of a welding technology to achieve the engineered standard for customer expectation
4.   The application of the technology to achieve the desired outcome
5.   The people (welders) who will master the application of the technology to achieve the engineered standard to fulfill the desired outcome.

The Welder helps deliver the scientific discovery and engineered technology to the greater society:

Helping Welders to understand their role is critical to success in the welding industry. There are countless persons involved in developing the materials and technology to be welded. There are countless persons who benefit from the results of welding technology. But the fact remains that it is the welder who bridges the two. It is the welder who joins together the lives spent in research and development with the lives of those intended to benefit from these discoveries.

By approaching Welder training from this broader social perspective and spending time helping the student of welding visualize their vital role; they can experience greater success in their studies.

The training is a function of applied understanding of a process that achieves desired out comes. The student then must learn to identify what the desired out come is. Also identify what are the choices allowed for achieving the out come and executing the actions necessary to complete the operation.

The Student of Welding becomes a Weld decision maker:

As a student of welding becomes more understanding of the processes that govern the weld out comes he can begin to understand his active relationship in the process. He is not a passive member of the team. He will be called upon to learn the technology, its application to a standard and then deliver consistently results that achieve that standard. The welder will make decisions on a moment-by-moment basis that will be critical to this process.

Our goal as Teachers will be to help the student develop the skill and leadership to fulfill their responsibilities to themselves and others as professional welders.  

 Welders Only Need To Know So Much
by Samuel Colton
May 18, 2002

Welders Only Need To Know So Much. But Every One Is Counting On Them. By Samuel Colton

When you are working to train or hire welders the temptation is to apply engineer level hiring standards to your welders. Welders perform specialized work of a localized nature. They are the eyes and hands upon which all the engineering work depends on. The welder dedicates himself to the application of a particular weld process to a specific set of pre-qualified parameters. The welder needs to know those items of information that will make his welds a success when evaluated by the standard being used.

Demands that distract the welder from his mission of providing code quality welds are unnecessary.

Do welders need to know how to manipulate equations with the same ease as and engineer or metallurgist? Not hardly. No more so than the engineer or metallurgist need to be able to perform weldments with the same ease of a welder.

What the welder must absolutely know to be a success on the pipeline is what the standard being used to evaluate the quality of his weldments is. In this the welder needs to be expert in the welding procedure specifications. Be able to set up the equipment provided to achieve these requirements and know when the equipment is not performing to match his skills to produce satisfactory out comes.

When an industry need arises for welders in large numbers a process focused approach is the best way to generate qualified welders who can produce weldments to meet strict code requirements. When the weld out comes are clear so will the welders vision of what he must do to produce the desired weld.

Welder training can be broken down into a series of activities that will allow the welder to train them selves to recognize and produce quality out comes.

This begins with an understanding of what quality is as defined by a standard. Second understanding that with in the welding standard the parameters of the welders activities have been defined.

Learning the chosen process applications and working to develop appropriate technique until the standards requirements are met. Then produce with a high degree of repetition those acceptable welds over and over and over.

1.   What is the standard being used?
2.   What is the process selected to achieve the results set by the standard?
3.   Set up of equipment and setting of process variable's to provide approved welding results.
4.   Train welders to understand process parameters to produce acceptable welds with in those parameters.
5.   To produce acceptable weldments with consistency.

By focusing on the procedure qualification and the welding procedure specification welder-training can focus on those issue directly related. Though extra knowledge and information may be required it is easier to identify what that information is when working to the standard for the job at hand.

Welders who are trained to recognize that their efforts must be with in the process parameters as established for the job by a set standard will be more capable of adjusting their knowledge and expertise to that standard.

Welder qualification test should be used to teach the welders how to recognize quality expectations and produce quality out comes.  

 Whats in a codebook?
by Samuel Colton
May 19, 2002

2002
What's in a codebook? Assessing student learning out comes for welders
By
Samuel Colton, Sr.


As a Professor of Welding it is easy to become so involved in the delivery of the welding technology lesson materials that one looses sight of just what it is we are doing. Let me explain. What we are doing is teaching our fellow human beings how to understand, interpret and apply welding technology for some derived benefit.


Achieving this in a safe efficient manner with a predetermined level of acceptable quality. How best to assess our students understanding and our teaching can be found in one of the many codebooks used in our industry. Codebooks are an excellent source for tools to assess student-learning outcomes.

Codes and standards are developed to ease communication and define expectations for quality outcomes associated with welding activities. With in these standards are guidelines that establish what is and what is not acceptable. Welding students who learn to master understanding of standards publications will be capable of adapting their skills to other standards associated with their profession. How better to assess how well you have done in your student teacher relation that to go to a welding standard publication and qualify to its requirements using a pre qualified welding procedure specification?



The codebook can be used to assess welding students reading level, their ability to interpret information and translate that information into tangible results. Contained with in a codebook are graphs, data tables and information. Also is information referred to, but not found in the codebook. Material information that will test ones abilities to locate additional information, then evaluate it in relation to the codebook.

This is a brief introduction to this concept that merits full development. Assessment drives the instructional activity. With out learning outcomes assessment tools the curriculum has only the appearance of order, framework and delivery. The measurement of student learning outcomes can be evaluated by their ability to apply the industry standards associated with codebooks.

Codebooks are the out come of decades of industry learning. Codebooks are the agreed synthesis of investigations of what does and does not work. Welding activities are reflexive of this learning found in codebooks.

A student who has the knowledge and understanding to go to the pre qualified processes found in a codebook, inter the welding lab and prepare material for and perform the welds used for welder qualification, is demonstrating a high degree of learning outcomes.

Welder training that does not achieve this ability as a learning out come should be re examined as to its purpose as a method of training welders for industry.


This brief should be used as a basis for discussion amongst professionals of welding instruction as to the merits of developing assessment tools for welder training that reflects the use of industry weld quality outcomes. 

JOM Conference Address 2001
by Samuel Colton
May 20, 2002

JOM Conference Address 2001

Unable to attend and deliver this address in person.

Communication Key to Good Instruction
By Professor Samuel Colton Sr.
Yuma, Arizona
Modified & updated May 21, 2006 Copyright all rights reserved.

My fellow colleagues, through the electronic media of our day it is possible for me to address you at the JOM conference in Denmark. I express my most sincere gratitude to the Secretariat of this conference for allowing the delivery of my address. Though time and resources have not allowed me to be with you personally I will be very much with you in thought during this conference. Most of you will not have had opportunity to know of my work in Yuma teaching students the art and science of welding. It is my distinguished honor to teach welding at a community college in Yuma, Arizona. More so when I realize that such instruction has been on going for more than thirty years. Over 150 students this semester alone have taken courses in welding technology. I follow in a great teaching tradition of welding; having been taught by the late Professor Ernest Lopez Sr. Our School has dedicated many long hours to teaching excellence in the area of Welding Technology. Offering instruction in all major welding processes including electron beam welding as well as material science and metallurgy. It is with some pride to know that our students have consistently represented our school at State and National welding contest. Resulting in many student success stories. Perhaps more importantly is the knowledge that through welding instruction lives have been changed and families supported. That our students have gone on to be productive members of their communities and have possessed the skills necessary to implement the technology so many of you have spent life times developing.

Such a rich history of learning success comes from a sincere love of the subject being taught and learned. Both student and teacher must have a sense of value for the subject being taught. I come to you as an educator; a teacher of the science so many of you will spend your lives to bring forth. It is a privilege to know of your work and have grasp of its meaning in a way that allows for the communication of its principles to others. It is in this vein I would wish to speak to you regarding the value of "communication the key to good instruction". The scientist who works long hours to unlock the door to the secrets of welding heretofore unknown can only partially claim success. The science once developed into a technology must then have a willing audience hungry to learn and apply it. Who will take up such a challenge? Who will dare to comprehend your life's work? Who will make the effort to learn, so that they can teach? To teach what but a moment ago was only a wish for a better way. Who will teach the teachers so that they can teach the student's?

Teaching the Teacher's so that they can teach the students falls to you. So as to complete the cycle of discovery a thousand times. Each of you by reason of your being here at the JOM has announced to the world that you have something worthy of sharing. Each of you also accepts the call to teach. To teach your fellow Scientist, your fellow University & College Professor's the knowledge needed to bring your discovery to the world through the eyes and hands of Welding practitioners the world over. But how do you communicate this? By what means will you bring your ideas to the attention of others who are in a position to learn and teach the knowledge you have to share?

I hope to share some innovative approaches to how we as colleagues can communicate better with students and each other in a more direct way. To tell of some of the adaptations we are using in our school to improve instructional delivery. May you find in this discussion the spark that will give you some new direction? Then share it with other educators of our science.

May I take a moment to speak to you as a student of welding? Every day my life is consumed with a never satisfied hunger to know more of the world of metals. This desire to learn will give cause for me to leave home and family and travel as far as time and resources will allow, meeting with like-minded individuals to participate in the exchange of ideas. Being able to learn more, to understand more, to be able to teach more. Ever on the look out for that spark of brilliance that you're Professors saw in you. But now I look to you to feed my hunger with knowledge of your discovery. I need it conveyed in a manner that will allow my understanding to grow. To learn of your discovery in a way that allows me to bring your message to other students of welding in a straight line of progression from concept to application. The way we communicate as an Industry can still be improved. Trade journals electronic and traditional print offer a limited avenue of communication to students and their teachers. With the advent of electronic mail and web based courses we have an opportunity as never before to speak directly to students and their teachers. Consider if you will that it is possible for you to write to every student in my welding school. Share your thoughts, experience and education. Motivating students to continue in the path of learning. It is possible to support such a web-based platform from which to network with students. I invite you to participate in this exercise and have provided information at the conclusion of this communiqué. If time is money, then time well spent is time invested well. I would ask the question, how many visits to the Schools of Welding where ever your work has taken you have you made this year?

With the terrible health plagues of our age as well as the aging of our workforce in the welding industry, recruitment and retention of students to our fields of endeavor is everyone's responsibility. Think what the impact your personal touch can make in the life of a student struggling to make it through their educational experience at college or university. Be it an electronic communication broadcast through a college web page or a brief visit to a school. How about making the effort to invite student groups to visit your facility. Such contact gives greatly and takes very little. Communication is key to good instruction. To take time to communicate with the teachers of our Science so that they in turn can communicate better the discoveries that brought you here to the JOM.

We embark on the path of a new millennium, uncharted, fresh, full of promise of a better tomorrow. We have in our possession technology that our fathers could only dream of. But like all new things we struggle to learn how these new technologies can serve us. We fly far from our homes to convene in retreat to share our discoveries. We hope that our audience will somehow propagate our thoughts and grow even more powerful ones. Yet like migrating birds we fly past the very people who will be key to the development of the forces that will hold in their hands our reason for being. What methods are we developing for the dissemination of knowledge to students and teachers? What journal for students of welding do we have? If communication is the key to good instruction how will you communicate yourself to those who will teach? Will you use some outdated method of textbook publication that will be five years old before it gets in the hands of students or teachers. Or will you make use of the technological juggernaut that weaves a web of knowledge the globe over? I ask you to consider this. I ask you to consider how you operate. I ask you to better avail yourself to reach and inspire the students of today for the discoveries of our tomorrows. Use of new communication technology will allow your ideas to reach the teachers of ideas.


Teachers must strive for better means of delivery methods for instruction in welding. The nature of our work requires that safety equipment be worn. But who of you has ever participated in a good lecture series where the speaker wears a mask that covers their entire face. Who not only covers their face but ask you to do likewise. So now you're both there with you full-face mask on with a machine or two humming loudly and now you're going to speak to each other. Better yet you're going to teach someone else about your great discoveries. Shouting to each other hoping your message somehow is being received and your student is learning. Now after some period of shouting you give up lifting your helmet and explain the best you can what you're trying to communicate. Then send your student off to be by their self to practice what you so miserably tried to explain during the demonstration. It would be a comedy except for the tragedy of truth this scenario holds.

But we need not continue in this tragic comedy. New technology has arrived. In fact it has been here for some time but we haven't recognized it for our use. May I offer some ideas for your consideration? Picture if you will a cordless microphone that the Welding Instructor wears on His lapel. Much like the ones you have worn at this conference. The microphones broadcast to a sound pick up and amplification system, this allowing the Instructor to speak to a group of welding students clearly while His helmet is down. The Students gather around to view the welding demonstration able to hear clearly their teacher's voice. The demonstration proceeds flawlessly. The student's visual learning enhanced by the voice of an experienced instructor. The hours of reading combined with classroom lecture come together in this moment of enlightenment as the students mind explodes in a revelation of newfound understanding.

Cordless phones have been with us for some time. Ear piece and boom microphones also. The welding teacher is fitted with one, also the student. Using phone lines installed in the welding school or lab facility the student and teacher call each other on the phone. While speaking normally they begin to weld (helmets down of course) and discuss the marvels of the electric arc column before them. The student is instructed with out shouting going on. Questions are answered and improved weld technique developed. Communication is the key to good instruction. Old teaching techniques of instruction become just that in light of such delivery methods. Hand held radios are now easily available and can be used in similar fashion.

Where available data projectors can be fitted to Video cameras or data cameras for live action feed of welding demonstrations. Students can remain seated in an adjoining classroom area to view close up demonstrations of weld procedures. Telephoto, zoom action focal features allow close up viewing. Two-way communication is easily set up and questions can be asked and answered during such activity. By keeping our minds open to the possibilities we can incorporate other technologies into our welding technology development and delivery. Why should students who are learning to master new metals joining technology be instructed with outdated modes of instructional delivery?

Sometimes it's not the complexity of the solution but the simplicity of it. Each of you will return from the JOM having had the opportunity to share your knowledge and ideas in a way that allowed the delivery of your message to be received and considered fully. Should we as an industry be satisfied knowing that we are still delivering instruction with our faces covered, shouting? Hoping that somehow our students will learn from our efforts. Let Us leave the JOM determined to visit Schools of Welding. To enrich the lives of Faculty members who are striving to teach welding technology. To communicate to them in a linear point to point way new ideas and concepts that will allow them to accelerate the transference of new ideas to students. These are the Students who will then discover for us that which would have been left unlearned. May we contribute resources to the improved delivery and availability of technology for the teaching of welding technology the world over is my hope I leave with you today. Thank you.


To receive information on how you and your students can participate in a world wide, web base student driven information exchanges please e-mail me personally.

Professor Samuel Colton Sr.

Mr. Coltons address to national conference of Peru
by Samuel Colton
June 10, 2002

6/9/2002
Colton address to Peruvian welders

Thank you for that introduction. Before I begin I would like to take a moment to thank the EXSA Corporation for inviting me to Peru. Special thanks to Mr. Jorge Mertzal Toranzo and his team who have made it possible for me to meet with welders in many places in Peru. Also I would like to thank the members of the teaching staff at the EXSA Welding Institute who have made me feel at home in their school since my arrival. Also I would like to thank the many welders and engineers at each stop these last couple of weeks who have welcomed our visits to their work places. Thanks also for the support of the faculty of the SENATI schools in the different places I have traveled. My spirits have been uplifted by your dedication to your students.

I will give this address in Spanish and hope that you will not suffer too much for my having chosen to do so. Please accept my comments in the spirit of admiration and respect they are given. I come before you today not as a Professor from the United States, I stand before you today as a professional welder. For many years of my life I have worked as a welder to support my family while attending College and University at night and weekends. I am grateful to those teachers who gave up their nights at home so that I could continue to learn and grow. I am someone who knows the hard days spent as a welder. Someone who knows the feeling of hot metal as it burns his skin. My hands show the signs of a life time of hard work.

I have left my home and family to travel to Peru to be with you. I have come to see the fine work your hands have made and to be one with you during these five weeks in Peru. I have admired the work many of you do in conditions that are less than ideal. I know for many of you life is not easy. I know that for many of your countrymen life is hard. Your spirit and dignity have made me humble to be here with you. I am proud to know you and to know your generosity and your kindness. It has been cause for me to desire to be one with you.

A few months ago while attending the American Welding Society Conference in Chicago USA I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Jorge Mertzal, a person of high character who has a vision for welders in Peru. His vision is of a future when qualified Peruvian welders will be demanded by contractors in all parts of South American and beyond. During the program we discussed a number of topics related to EXSA ´s efforts to provide world class training for Peruvian welders. This is a goal we both share for our students. We felt that much could be gained by developing a relationship between my college and EXSA. I have learned so much during these few weeks and look forward to sharing my experiences here with my students at home. The need for qualified professional welders in Peru is as important here as in other places in the world. In the spirit of our mutual goals for welders I am here with you today.

As Professor of Welding at our college in Arizona our program has more than 25 years experience in training qualified welders and technicians. Two years ago I began a program called Welders With Out Borders. Our goal for this program has been to bring welders from around the world to our community to demonstrate the portability of welding skills in the global economy. Also another goal of the program was to build relationships with welders from other counties and to share training information. Our first program included welders from Mexico and we are grateful to the Hobart Institute for coverage of our efforts in their publication. Our programs goal is to develop the total person. We want our students to develop excellent welding skills and understanding of the industry. Equally important is an attitude of professionalism and pride in their chosen work. We hope to continue our relationship with EXSA for many years and to organize scholarships through EXSA that will allow Peruvian students to come to the US and for US students to study in Peru. Soon my students will use electrodes made in Peru and see first hand the quality of work your Peruvian industry produces. We do this to promote our profession, and to build a better future for us all.

The Welding Industry of the new millennium demands welders with a high degree of skill and professionalism. Through organizations such as the American Welding Society which has a section here in Peru, welders and engineers work side by side to bring the benefits of welding technology to the world. As engineering practices evolve into more and more sophisticated applications so must the skills of the welding work force. As more and more codes and standards are adopted around the world the need for welders with the skills to weld to these high expectations will continue. Welders who will work to educate themselves to these new standards and codes will have a bright future in the years ahead. Welders who do not, will find that there ability to obtain employment will be limited. Great rewards await those who are able to qualify to the standards being adopted all over the world. A welder who can qualify in Peru can qualify in another country. A qualified welder will have more opportunity in Peru in the years to come. It is with great pride to be associated with the efforts of EXSA and the dedicated teachers at SENATI as they work to meet the challenges ahead. But they are not alone. Each of us here today has a roll to play. Those of you who are qualified welders can volunteer time with younger welders just beginning their careers. Our young people have a lot to gain from your experience. Many times it's not the money one has to give, but the greatest gift is of themselves and their time.


Please let me explain how important and precious each of you here today is. In the history of the world each major advance in science and medicine has been made possible first by a discovery in the art and science of metals and their joining. As I have visited the ruins of the great cultures at Chan Chan and viewed the treasure of the Lord of Sipan it becomes obvious that Peru has been a leader in metals technology for thousands of years. Pause for a moment and think. Every thing in our modern society is made possible by the forming and joining of metals. The many types of machines that make our lives possible come from the welding and manufacturing industry. The clothes we wear the food we eat, the transportation we depend on. All are a result of the complex relationship of engineers and welders. What bridge is built in Peru, what ship sails from your ports without being touched by your hands? With out your skills all that we know cannot be.

You are a precious treasure to your people. With out you your family would suffer. With out you the welds are not made and the productivity of your industry is weakened. With out you the economy of Peru cannot grow and be strengthened. You are the shoulders upon which all the hopes of the future rest. The need for more qualified welders impacts all the rest of the Peruvian economy. Bankers and International financers can hold all the meeting's they want. They can make all the plans they want. But who will build the new factories, which will make the products flow into the global economy? With out sufficient numbers of professional qualified welders their plans and their money are like seeds that cannot be planted. You and many more like you will make the difference in the new millennium. Many ask, what is the difference between the economy in Peru and the USA?

Both of our countries are rich in natural resources. Both of our countries have talented people. My response is that Peru does not yet have sufficient supply of qualified welders to build the Peruvian economy into one that will rival those of any country in the world. There is a direct relationship between the number of qualified welders and the ability of the economy to experience growth. Remember that we are the ones who will build the factories and keep them going. Nothing stays running for long with out welding. And where you find a need for welding you must have welders.

Each welder is precious and there is a need world wide for more. No country is exempt. No country is un affected. While EXSA and SENATI work to train more qualified welders it will be years before they have the level of experience of many of you.

It is for this reason I would like to speak to you about the principle of safety in the work place. As I have traveled to the shops and factories of Lima, Chimbote, Chiclayo, Trujillo, Talara and soon to travel to places in the south I cannot help but notice how many of you, my fellow human being's take risk with your health for no good reason. What welder can be a qualified welder with out his eyes? Yet many of you here today refuse to protect this important asset by wearing a pair of safety glasses during your work day. You are too valuable, too important not to practice personal safety. You cannot leave it up to others to guard your safety. You must develop a personal safety plan for yourself.

Ask yourself the question, who will suffer the most if you are injured and cannot continue to work as a welder? What will the impact be on you and your family?
I have seen so many welders with out protection I was beginning to wonder if there is some prize for risking your career. Perhaps there is a place where injured welders retire and are paid large sums of money for not caring for their eyes? We know this is not true.

So I ask you to think about the cost to you and your family an injury can make. Also as an important member of your work team you are too valuable not to wear your eye protection at all times during the work day. Also damage to your eyes will be cause for the quality of your welding to go down. You may not be able to continue to qualify as a welder and then the terrible prospect of unemployment will be yours. Ask yourself, if you do not work as a welder what work will you do?

To be a professional qualified welder means that you have respect for your self. To be a professional welder means that you value yourself and understand the importance of your work to your family, your work team and your country. A welder, who is a professional, understands that this concept of safety has an impact on all other aspects of his life as a professional. As a welding professional you are critical to society just as much as any doctor, lawyer, politician or engineer. All of these other professionals depend upon you the welder to make their world possible. We depend upon them also for their sacrifices in their studies to serve us. Together we can build a future that our children will thanks us for. Let us begin today to strive to be the professionals we are. Let us today begin to raise the level of prestige that our profession deserves. Let us begin today to say with confidence and pride in our profession;
I am a professional qualified welder.

Let us begin today to work with our friends at EXSA and SENATI to learn more and be more. We are the promise of a better tomorrow.

The people of Peru are counting on us to make their dreams come true. The people of Peru are counting on us to have a better tomorrow. Let us go forward from here no longer as workers and laborers but as the professional work force that we are.
I am grateful to the generosity of the people and welders of Peru and hope to come again. Please join me in three hurrahs for Peru.

Peru, Peru, Peru.

Thank you.

Mr. Coltons Conference Address Spanish Version
by Samuel Colton
June 12, 2002

Conference Address Friday June 14th 2002
Antes de empezar me gustaría tomar un momento para agradecer a la Compañía EXSA por invitarme a Perú. Quiero dar mis agradecimientos especiales al señor Jorge Merzthal Toranzo y a su equipo, quienes han hecho posible que yo me reúna con muchos soldadores de todo el Perú. También me gustaría agradecer a los miembros del área de capacitación del Centro Tecnológico de Soldaduras EXSA quienes me han hecho sentir como en casa en su escuela desde mi llegada.

También me gustaría agradecer a los muchos soldadores e ingenieros en cada lugar que visité las últimas dos semanas, quienes me recibieron en sus centros de trabajo. Agradezco también a los maestros de SENATI por su colaboración en los diferentes lugares que visité. Mi vocación de maestro se fortalece al ver su dedicación a sus alumnos.


Les voy a dirigir estas palabras en Español y espero que no sufran mucho con mi decisión de hacerlo de esta manera. Por favor acepten mis comentarios en el espíritu de admiración y respeto con el que los hago.



Yo me presento ante ustedes hoy, no como un Profesor de Estados Unidos, sino como un soldador profesional. Por muchos años de mi vida yo he trabajado como soldador para sostener a mi familia mientras asistía al colegio y a la universidad en las noches y en los fines de semana. Yo estoy muy agradecido a aquellos profesores quienes sacrificaron sus noches en casa para que yo pudiera continuar aprendiendo y creciendo. Yo conozco los días difíciles como soldador. Yo conozco la sensación del metal caliente cuando quema la piel. Mis manos muestran las señales de una vida de mucho trabajo.



Yo he dejado mi casa y mi familia para viajar a Perú y estar con ustedes. He venido a ver el fino trabajo que sus manos han hecho y para unirme a ustedes durante estas cinco semanas en Perú. Yo he admirado el trabajo que muchos de ustedes hacen en condiciones que son menos que ideales. Yo se que para muchos de ustedes la vida no es fácil. Yo se que para muchos de sus compatriotas la vida es dura. Su espíritu y dignidad me hacen sentir humilde al estar aquí con ustedes. Estoy orgulloso de conocerlos y conocer su generosidad y amabilidad. Esta es una causa que me hace desear ser uno con ustedes.



Algunos meses atrás mientras asistía al la Feria Técnica de la Asociación Americana de Soldadura en Chicago tuve la oportunidad de conocer a Jorge Merzthal, una persona de ideales elevados quien tiene una visión de los soldadores peruanos. Su visión es la de un futuro en el cual los soldadores peruanos sean solicitados en todas partes de Sudamérica y el mundo. Durante la Feria discutimos una serie de aspectos relacionados a los esfuerzos de EXSA para proveer entrenamiento de nivel internacional a los soldadores peruanos. Este es un objetivo que ambos compartimos. Nosotros pensamos que podríamos ganar mucho si desarrollamos una relación entre mi Colegio y EXSA.


Yo he aprendido mucho durante estas pocas semanas y espero compartir mis experiencias aquí con mis estudiantes en casa. La necesidad de soldadores profesionales calificados es tan importante en Perú como en otras partes del mundo. En el espíritu de conseguir nuestros objetivos es que yo me encuentro con ustedes hoy.

Nuestro Colegio en Arizona tiene más de 25 años de experiencia en el entrenamiento de soldadores y técnicos calificados. Hace dos años yo inicié un programa llamado “Soldadores sin Fronteras”. Nuestro objetivo para este programa ha sido traer soldadores de todo el mundo a nuestra comunidad para demostrar la posibilidad de que los soldadores Peruanos puedan trabajar en cualquier país dentro de la economía global. Otro objetivo de nuestro programa ha sido también establecer relaciones con soldadores de otros países y compartir información acerca de su entrenamiento. Nuestro primer programa incluyó soldadores de Méjico y nosotros estamos agradecidos al Hobart Institute por dar a conocer nuestros esfuerzos en su publicación. El objetivo de nuestro programa es desarrollar a la persona en su totalidad. Queremos que nuestros soldadores desarrollen excelentes habilidades en soldadura y que conozcan la industria. Igualmente importantes son una actitud profesional y orgullo por su profesión.


Nosotros esperamos continuar nuestra relación con EXSA por muchos años y organizar becas a través de EXSA que permitirán a estudiantes peruanos ir a Estados Unidos y a estudiantes de Estados Unidos estudiar en Perú. Pronto mis estudiantes usarán electrodos hechos en Perú y verán la calidad de trabajo que la industria Peruana produce. Hacemos esto para promover nuestra profesión y para construir un futuro mejor para todos nosotros.

La Industria de la Soldadura del nuevo milenio requiere soldadores con un alto nivel de habilidad y profesionalismo.


A través de organizaciones como la Asociación Americana de Soldadura la cual tiene una Sección aquí en Perú, los soldadores e ingenieros trabajan uno al lado del otro para traer los beneficios de la tecnología de la soldadura al mundo. Conforme las actividades de Ingeniería generan aplicaciones mas y mas sofisticadas , las habilidades de soldadura de la fuerza de trabajo también lo debe hacer. Conforme más y más códigos y estándares son adoptados alrededor del mundo, la necesidad de soldadores con las habilidades para cumplir estas altas expectativas continuará. Los soldadores que se propongan así mismos cumplir con los requerimientos de estos estándares y códigos tendrán un brillante futuro en los años venideros.

Los soldadores que no lo hagan, encontrarán que su habilidad para encontrar trabajo se verá limitada. Grandes recompensas esperan a aquellos que son capaces de calificar de acuerdo a los estándares que están siendo adoptados en todo el mundo. Un soldador que puede calificar en Perú puede calificar en otro país. Un soldador calificado tendrá más oportunidades en Perú en los años venideros. Es un gran orgullo estar asociado con los esfuerzos de EXSA y de los maestros dedicados de SENATI para cumplir con los retos del futuro. Pero ellos no están solos. Cada uno de nosotros tiene hoy un rol que jugar.



Aquellos de ustedes que son soldadores calificados pueden dar parte de su tiempo de forma voluntaria para ser dedicado a los soldadores jóvenes que empiezan su carrera. Nuestra gente joven tiene mucho que aprender de su experiencia. Muchas veces no es el dinero que uno puede dar, sino el tiempo y la dedicación que ustedes pueden entregar a los demás.

Por favor déjenme explicarles cuan importante es que ustedes se encuentren aquí ahora. En la historia del mundo, cada avance en la ciencia y la medicina ha sido posible gracias a un primer descubrimiento en la ciencia de los metales y la unión de ellos entre sí. Luego de haber visitado las ruinas y monumentos de las grandes culturas en Chan Chan y visto el tesoro del señor de Sipan, resulta evidente que el Perú ha sido un líder en la tecnología de los metales por miles de años. Ahora hagan una pausa por un momento y piensen. Cada cosa existente en nuestra sociedad moderna es posible gracias a la conformación y unión de los metales. Los muchos tipos de máquinas que hacen que nuestra vida sea posible provienen de la industria de la manufactura y de la soldadura. La ropa que vestimos, la comida que comemos, el transporte del cual dependemos. Todo esto resulta de una compleja relación de ingenieros y soldadores. ¿Qué puente es construido en Perú, qué barco sale de sus puertos, sin haber sido tocado por sus manos? Sin su habilidad, todo lo que conocemos no existiría.

Ustedes son un precioso tesoro para su país. Sin ustedes su familia sufriría. Sin ustedes las soldaduras no serían hechas y la productividad de su industria sería débil. Sin ustedes la economía de Perú no podría crecer ni robustecerse. Ustedes son los hombros sobre los cuales todas las esperanzas del futuro descansan. La necesidad de más soldadores calificados tienen un impacto directo en toda la economía peruana. Los banqueros y financistas internacionales pueden tener todas las reuniones que quieran. Pueden hacer todos los planes que quieran. Pero ¿quien construirá las nuevas plantas, quién hará que los productos fluyan dentro de la economía global? Sin suficiente número de soldadores profesionales calificados, sus planes y su dinero serán como plantas que no pueden ser sembradas. Ustedes y muchos más como ustedes harán la diferencia en el nuevo milenio. Muchos preguntan: ¿Cuál es la diferencia en la economía de Perú y la de Estados Unidos?

Ambos países son ricos en recursos naturales. Ambos países tienen gente talentosa. Mi respuesta es que el Perú no tiene aún suficiente suministro de soldadores calificados para construir una economía peruana que pueda ser rival a cualquier economía del mundo. Existe una relación directa entre el número de soldadores calificados y la capacidad que tiene una economía para crecer. Recuerden que somos nosotros los que construiremos las fábricas y las mantendremos produciendo. Nada permanece trabajando por mucho tiempo sin la soldadura. Y dónde haya necesidad de soldadura deben haber soldadores.

Cada soldador es valioso y hay una necesidad a nivel mundial por más de ellos. Ningún país es ajeno a esta necesidad. Ningún país no es afectado por la falta de ellos. EXSA y SENATI trabajarán duro para entrenar más soldadores calificados, pero pasarán años para que esos soldadores tengan el nivel de experiencia de muchos de ustedes.

Es por esta razón que me gustaría ahora hablar con ustedes acerca del principio de seguridad en el lugar de trabajo.

Luego de haber visitado talleres y empresas en Lima, Chimbote, Chiclayo, Trujillo, Talara y próximamente otros lugares del sur de Perú, me he percatado de que muchos de ustedes arriesgan su salud sin ningún motivo. ¿Qué soldador podría ser calificado sin sus ojos? Sin embargo muchos de ustedes no protegen esa parte tan importante de su cuerpo usando un par de lentes de seguridad durante su trabajo. Ustedes son muy valiosos, muy importantes para no seguir prácticas seguras en su trabajo. Ustedes no pueden dejar que otras personas se encarguen de su cuidar su seguridad. Ustedes deben desarrollar un plan personal de seguridad por ustedes mismos.

Háganse ustedes una pregunta: ¿Quién sufrirá más si ustedes sufren un accidente y no pueden continuar su trabajo como soldadores? ¿Cuál será el impacto en ustedes y en su familia?

He visto muchos soldadores sin protección y yo me pregunto si existe algún precio por el cual ustedes arriesguen sus carreras. Talvez haya un lugar donde los soldadores accidentados se puedan retirar y dónde les paguen grandes sumas de dinero por no tener ojos. Todos sabemos que esto no es cierto.

Es por esto que les pido que piensen en el costo para ustedes y su familia que un accidente o problema con su salud puede causar.

Adicionalmente, un daño a sus ojos provocará que la calidad de su trabajo disminuya. Puede ser que ustedes no puedan seguir siendo soldadores calificados y esto hará que el desempleo sea una realidad para ustedes. Pregúntense a ustedes mismos que trabajo harían si ustedes no pueden trabajar como soldadores.

Ser un soldador calificado profesional significa que ustedes se respetan así mismos. Ser un soldador profesional significa que ustedes se valoran a sí mismos y que entienden la importancia de su trabajo para su familia, su equipo de trabajo y su país.


Un soldador que es un profesional, entiende que el concepto de seguridad tiene un impacto en todos los demás aspectos de su vida como profesionales. Como profesionales de la soldadura ustedes son tan necesarios para la sociedad como lo son los doctores, abogados, políticos o ingenieros. Todos estos profesionales dependen del soldador para poder hacer su trabajo. Nosotros también dependemos de ellos y de sus estudios. Juntos podemos construir un futuro por el que nuestros hijos estén agradecidos. Comencemos hoy día por esforzarnos en ser más y más profesionales. Comencemos hoy día a elevar el nivel y el prestigio que nuestra profesión merece. Comencemos hoy día a decir con confianza y orgullo: “Yo soy un soldador profesional calificado”.

Comencemos hoy día a trabajar con nuestros amigos de EXSA y SENATI para aprender más y más. Nosotros somos la promesa de un mañana mejor. La gente de Perú cuenta con nosotros para hacer sus sueños realidad. La gente de Perú cuenta con nosotros para tener un mañana mejor. Convirtámonos en la fuerza de trabajo profesional que Perú necesita.

Yo estoy muy agradecido por la generosidad de la gente y los soldadores del Perú y espero estar en Perú nuevamente. Por favor únanse a mí para dar tres hurras por Perú.
Perú, Perú, Perú.
Gracias

Three Parts In Harmony
by Samuel Colton
June 23, 2003

Three Parts In Harmony
A Process Applications Approach To Welding
By Samuel Colton, Professor of Welding Arizona Western College

6/23/2003

It is exciting to be here today with so many welding professionals from so many different places. I would like to express my thanks to SENATI and your national director Ing Guillermo Salas Donohue. Also Ing Jorge Merzthal of EXSA for making it possible to be here today and special thanks to the many welders and Professors of welding who have written so many kind words since my visit last year.

The world is experiencing many changes since the events of September 11th. Events in the Middle East will have their effect everywhere. The full impact on the world's economy is still to be felt. When I read the news at home it is full of stories of companies putting off more workers. Thousands of Americans have lost their jobs. With no income many will loose their homes, some will be forced to move to other cities in search of work. Many are returning to school in search of new skills to help them rebuild their lives. Many are turning to welding for a new career and hopefully a more secure life.

As a Professor of welding I see the hunger in their faces. These students want to learn about our world of welding. They have dreams of something better. It is a big responsibility knowing that many of these students have families counting on them to learn quickly and learn well their new skills so they can look for jobs. As I have worked with these students and as I have lived my life as a welding professional I realize that welding is about more than having a job to go to. For many of us welding is a way of life, we live our work, we love our work. Welding gives us our identity in society. We are not just engineers, teachers and workers of metals we are builders of dreams. Through welding we create the possibilities for others to dream with us.

From ancient society to the present the working of metal has been a sacred knowledge preserved by a class of artisans in every society for thousands of years. The preservation and use of this knowledge has defined every society that has possessed it. If civilization is made of governments, books of learning, universities and commerce then metals and the joining of metals are responsible for them. What nation today could last without the hands and minds of its welders?

Nothing in our world moves or is made possible without metals joining technology. Look about the world we live in and you will see a world made possible by the knowledge of metals and how to join them.

We are all here to celebrate our lives in welding today. We have come to hear a message and to gain in our knowledge and to grow strong in the sacred trust society places in us as builders of dreams. I have given much thought as to what to say today in such a small amount of time. When I traveled here before I was a stranger in your land. No more. I have friends here and a love of your country and your people. My son travels with me on this journey and I realize that we have so much in common our two peoples. We dream of better days for ourselves and our children and I know that we come to the world of welding to make those dreams come true.

I have chosen for my topic what I have begun calling “Three Parts In Harmony, A Process Applications Approach To Welding” As I have traveled in my country, Mexico and Peru I have realized that there is still much confusion about solving welding applications problems, also that many welders are struggling with the different relationships that must be in harmony to achieve a quality weld out come. For this reason I wish to lay before you a systematic approach to welding applications. Welding is a series of relationships that when placed in harmony with each other will produce the desired weld out come. Because welding is based on the fundamental laws of nature and our physical world when the weld process is in harmony with the metals to be joined the out come will always be positive.

We can break down a welding application into three major components, Materials, Machines, and Men. Each one of these areas must be addressed and all must act in harmony with each other for successful welding out comes. When ever you are having trouble look to one of these three areas for a solution. There will be harmony of the three or trouble with one.

We must begin every weld application with the understanding that the material we are working with is no accident. Modern metal alloys are not found they are created. They are the result of countless hours of research and engineering. From the mines that produced the ore to the smelters that made the finished materials we must never forget that we are partners with the steel producing industry. They make the material that we cut and weld. These makers of steel combined a variety of ingredients or alloys to produce a material that will have the characteristics needed for a variety of applications. These materials have been designed and engineered. They come to us not as an experiment but as the result of experiments.

With the metals available today comes the next challenge. That is for the welding metallurgist to match a weld filler metal that is compatible with the base materials and that can also be applied using one of the welding processes available today. The welding metallurgist works to eliminate the guesswork for the welder. We have only to understand his work and properly apply his recommendations. At this point I want to impress on welders we are not making magic. Our job is to match the welding process and filler to the base metal to be welded. We are fortunate to have a domestic Peruvian company with a high level of expertise in this field to turn to for advice.

Materials will be one of three groups for most applications. Steel of varying carbon content, Stainless Steels and non-ferrous materials primarily Aluminum with charts and reference books available from the welding consumables manufacture with recommended use and applications. Our responsibility is clear. Learn to look up and read the information associated with the materials to be used. Fortunately much of this information can be found on the Internet for free. We select the filler metal to match the base metal. We apply the filler metal with in the parameters established by the manufacture. This is no time to experiment. The materials engineers and metallurgist have already done that for us. We only want to understand and harmonize our efforts with theirs.

Our choice of a welding consumable for the weld application will be based on the material and our equipment choices. Welding is about efficiency. We want to make the best possible weld in the least amount of time. It's not about saving as it is about producing. The more we produce the more wealth we can generate from our labors. This is as true for the big company as it is for the one man welding shop. If we only have power sources for SMAW welding then we will select an electrode for this process that is compatible with the material we are about to weld and a power source capable of making the weld.

Once we have established the correct filler to base metal relationship and have selected the process for application of this filler to the base metal we are now in the second category of the process applications approach. The machines.

Welders we are not battling alone against the metals and machines, we are their masters. They have been created for us to govern and control. The machines produced today such as the ones from Miller Electric and Air Liquid is designed for the application of the filler metals we discussed earlier. These companies work with the materials industry and the welding consumables industry in concert each with the other. Just like the base metals and filler metals the welding machines are designed for specific outcomes. We must remember we can only get out of the welding equipment what it was designed to give. If a weld application calls for more current than the equipment is capable of giving then it is time for another piece of equipment.

Many is the time that I have gone into a big company at the invitation of the manager because they are having problems. The welders are angry, the supervisors are angry, the general manager is angry because they are not getting good welds. To many rejects, too much spatter, too much clean up. Spending too much time dealing with other issues instead of welding. The general manager blames the Engineer. The Engineer blames the supervisor, the supervisor blames the welders and the welders blame the machines. No one is happy. Their wives and children are unhappy because daddy is unhappy. Many times they call me and offer me money if I can help them solve their problem, which I am happy to accept on behalf of my wife so she will be happy.

I begin the process evaluation. What's the base metal, what are the filler metals? Are they correctly matched? Have the electrode manufactures recommendation been followed? If the answer is yes then I move on to the machines. What is the Weld Procedure Specification? Are the machines and the filler metals being used correctly matched? Are the machines set up correctly for the procedure? Can this welding machine deliver the current and voltage needed? Here is where I find many of the answers to the weld problems. The Miller Electric Company for example spends a lot of effort making its machines to work reliably for years giving good welding current and voltage. Then the distributor carefully delivers the new welder to the customer. The welders are so happy with their new welding machine. They take such good care of it at first but in time they let the paint get scratched and the cables in bad condition. They forget to blow the dirt out of the machine and they never read the owners manual. After a while they treat the machine poorly like a donkey that is treated badly and feed poorly but they still want a full days work from it.

When you leave here today to go back to your businesses inspect your equipment from the welding machine to the hand tools. You cannot get a full days work from a starving donkey and your welding machine cannot give you full current and voltage to make a quality weld if the cables are cut and frayed, the switches broken, the cooling fan broken, the gas meters leaking. No matter how good the welder is he cannot overcome equipment in poor condition. No matter how good the engineer is he cannot overcome welders or their machines working in poor conditions. No matter how good the welder is he cannot make a good weld with a machine that is not rated for the job being attempted. Harmony must exist between the base material, the filler material and the welding equipment being used.

Having established harmony between materials and machines comes the harmony of man with the materials and machines. Often the temptation is to blame the welders for poor weld quality. My experience has found that not to be true in most cases. Welders want to do good work. Welders are willing to endure heat and bad conditions to achieve quality. But many times welders do not have sufficient knowledge or understanding of the materials and machines. Every welder should own and read as many books and magazines about welding as he can possess. Knowledge will set you free to pursue your dreams. I like to compare welding to football. Welding is a team sport. Every one on the team is important to the final welding outcome. The people in the office, the managers, the engineers, the vendors, the suppliers and stars of the team the welders. When you go to the sports stadium here in Lima it is amazing to see so many people come together to cheer their team on. There are people jumping up and down and shouting instructions from the sidelines. The players take to the field. This is game day and now all the preparations and practice will pay off. If it can go wrong it will. The winning team is the one who over comes the obstacles presented by the other team to win. In welding the relationship of men with each other is critical. Of all the areas and the one where more things can go wrong this is it. The human aspect of the welding process application must be in harmony with the machines and the materials for the team to succeed. Welders can feel like football players sometimes, with everyone telling them what to do. It helps if others on the team will listen to the welders; sometimes they know what is wrong and how to fix it

Here each team member must appreciate the work of the others. It begins with the schooling and education of each member. The skills being learned at SENATI, the calculus studies at UNI and Pontifica. The research of dedicated professionals such as Dr. Fosco or the research and work by your fellow Peruvians at EXSA all combine to bring together men, machines and materials. The team is the national Peruvian welding industries competing as a whole in the global economy.

The welders are in charge of the final weld outcome. The best education, the best engineering, the best machines can all be undone by a welder who doesn't play for the team. The welders have the heavy responsibility to understand the relationships of the welding application and to harmonize their efforts for the final outcome. The rest of the weld team has the obligation to help them succeed at this. The best run companies understand this and their management and engineers spend time coaching and educating their welders. The welders are in charge of correctly cutting and preparing of the base materials according to the specifications. This means maintaining the welding equipment and other tools. This means using the correct welding techniques. This means taking care of their minds and their bodies because welders are the Jedi Knights of our industry. We seek to understand the forces that when in harmony will produce good welds. Welders are the defenders of welding quality. They will not tolerate a welder who makes the team look bad with poor work.

We can use this process applications approach of three parts in harmony every day. Any time we are having a bad day in our welding we can stop and analyze the situation. By process of elimination we can isolate the problem restore harmony and return to our work. Welders are paid to be in control of the welding process. If you are not in control of the welding process to produce the desired weld then stop. Welders are not paid to make bad welds. Stop and find out where the problem lies.

It's going to be in one of three areas. The problem is with the materials or filler. Ask yourself is the material clean and in condition to welded? Are the filler metals in proper condition for welding? Have the electrodes been stored properly ECT… Is the problem with the machines or is the problem with the welders and how they prepared the material and the welding technique they are using, or a combination of the all of the above. Engineers on a larger scale can use this approach to develop organizational charts, controls and check list to assure that each days welding produces the desired outcome. The best charts in the world only work if people want them to. Keep in mind that sometimes Engineers approve poorly developed welding procedures and must be willing to admit that the welders are doing an excellent job with a bad procedure. You cannot blame welders for giving you what you asked for in the procedure specification when things don't work out. Rework the procedure, educate the welders to it and go on. To be in this business means your going to make adjustments along the way.

A Peruvian welder can buy a few tools, a small welder and begin to use this approach for the beginnings of his own business in welding. Most of the welders I know have their own tools and do work after hours. Look around the room today and you see your friends in welding. Like you they have chosen welding to make their dreams come true. This is an opportunity to share your names and contact information. This is a good opportunity to share your dreams and plan for those new partnerships in welding that will put you on the path to more prosperity. The best inventions are still waiting to be invented. Perhaps by yourself you don't have all the skill or money to start building your dream welding company. But you have a dream and you're not alone.

As I traveled into the Colca region last year in the company of Ing Lazado of EXSA south we stopped and visited with a welder in a remote Andean village. He had a simple forge, a hammer, an anvil and a small electric welder. He was the only welder for many miles. The community depended on his skills. With welding he provided a home for his family. His young son has hopes of going to Arequipa to study someday.

Welding is what dreams are made of. Welders are the keepers of the public safety. Welders preserve our civilization. They build the implements of peace. Welders make the tools that till our soil and make our land productive. To be a welding professional is more than a job. We have answered the call to a higher profession. One upon which all others depend.

We are much more than technicians. We come to welding to build our dreams. In a world with so much to be sad about welding allows us to create and to build for a better future. Each of us here today has brought our dreams with us. We see welding as vehicle to new and better possibilities.

When I examine the history of the giant tractor company John Deere & Company I see a large corporation that started out with one man, one man with a dream. This company now employees hundreds of welders, this company began as a company of one. Started with one man and one mans dreams. Now this company makes possible the dreams of thousands. John Deere was not a doctor or a lawyer. He was a man with skill and a dream. Who in this audience today has a dream? Who here today knows in his heart that through welding he is going to make his dreams come true? We deserve to have such dreams. Dreams keep hope alive. John Deere started with the simplest of tools. He sacrificed for his dreams and overcame obstacles.

I think of the story of one of the welding distributors I met here in Peru last year. Twenty years ago this man worked in a restaurant waiting tables, but he dreamed of more. He began by purchasing one container of welding rod and went shop-to-shop selling one kilo at a time. He had to start with one container because that was all the money he dad. When he had sold the entire first container he bought another and then another and then another. He traveled on foot and by bus because he did not own a car. As I stood in his store and listened to the story I thought how powerful dreams can be. He had a dream and was willing to work to make it come true.


We seek harmony between men, machines and materials. We seek harmony in our lives at home and in our community. We are proud to tell our friends we are welding professionals. They look to us for leadership.

We have dreams of greatness because of welding.

It is said that men become what they dream. Then let us dream big.

Thank you.

Education in Welding 6/8/07 

Societal understanding of the role metal working and in particular welding has played in the past, present and future of mankind. Educational materials should present the world history of metals and welding as an evolutionary process that has allowed other scientific advances in medicine and engineering to be made possible.   Print and video materials should reinforce the noble profession of the metal trades in age appropriate presentations, kindergarten through to the third grade, fourth through sixth, Jr. High school, high school and then college through university.   These age appropriate presentations will create images of the importance of metal working as it relates to improving the human experience through agriculture, sanitation, transportation and medicine.  As the age level advances a more diverse presentation of the world of welding with segments those present career choices as life enriching opportunity that serves the community, the nation and mankind. 

A Global Company Educates Globally: 

Print and video materials as well as exploiting internet and pod cast delivery methods will be made available in multiple languages with cultural considerations while emphasizing the importance of metal work/welding to the progress of any nation and its people.  The need for metal working skills is world wide and has applications in segments of the world economy easily recognized in any country i.e. agriculture, transportation, engineering projects, energy exploitation/extraction, mining etc…  Not to be overlooked is the architectural and artistic importance welding plays.  Internet and downloadable pod cast will make this information available world wide and accessible to peoples in their own language.  Also universal imagery with no language narration can bridge portions of the world where development of language specific projects would be difficult or cost prohibitive.

 Systems Understanding: 

Welding has evolved into a systems applications technology driven industry.  Its very simple modern commercial materials come in a variety of types designed and metallurgical engineered to meet a variety of applications possibilities.  Person interested in welding need to understand the history and evolution of the metals materials industry and how these materials are systematically identified, chemically composed and what the physical/mechanical characteristics are for their application.     Next then is education of the filler metals identification system and how these filler metals are matched to base metals and that the form the filler metal takes is determined by the weld process being used to apply it to the base metal.   Students of welding are educated in base metal identification and selection and how to match the filler metal to it.  They then learn to match the filler metal to the process that will allow the most efficient joining of the base metal for the intended project with the desired quality resulting from the weld activity.  This all must evolve with an eye to the end use of the completed weldments.  Any welding equipment manufacture must create educational tools that will bring the person who desires to weld into understanding of the base material, the filler material and the variety of possibilities in applying it.   So we know come to the core of the educational segment for the weld applicator which is equipment selection based on understanding of the base metal requirements and material thickness so as to choose a process that will achieve the best metallurgical results in an efficient manner.   The student’s educational process must be as a consumer of materials and equipment with enough flexibility in their educational experience to realize that choosing welding equipment is like getting a tool out of the box.  You choose varying equipment based on present or future materials applications.  We need and want every welder to be in a state of continued process improvement and forward movement in terms of skill and technology application.    Systems understanding include those tools and equipment related to cutting and preparing materials for welding, such layout and cutting tools for various materials with mechanical and thermal processes being primary choices.  Torches, Plasma Torches, Shears, and Nibblers etc… are examples of the tools and each one has a system of selection and rules of operation.   Besides the tools of trade and the equipment to be used the knowledgeable welder is also familiar with the building and construction codes related to major industries as well as the publication numbering system of the engineering society responsible for them.  Understanding the reason for quality in welding, how it is defined and then being able to achieve the quality outcome to satisfy design and engineering requirements is dependant on the individual welder having sufficient understanding of what, why and how quality in welding is achieved.          

Development of linear learning in welding: 

Like mathematics learning in welding can and should be a linear progression.  First is understanding of the historical, cultural and scientific importance of welding as it relates to our world and how it has evolved over the centuries.  This first step can not be overlooked as the cognitive and problem solving ability of the work force will be critical in addressing the engineering challenges of the future. Next is an overview of those industries world wide where welding is critical to its inception and on going maintenance.  Examples of these industries will be agriculture, transportation (in all its forms), construction and manufacturing.  With this view individuals can begin to form the relationships between which they are, where they live and the type of work that would allow them to self-actualize.  Common to all welding applications will be basic tool use, layout and alignment, process selection, tacking, welding and finishing. 

What is the goal? 

The industry wide goal is to create value through welding application such as to attract increased numbers of people willing to invest the time and energy to learn the present technology in such a way as to have meaningful work that produces or supports the production of goods and services to maintain and grow the economy.  In simplistic terms “more welders. The patriotic welder, the noble welder, the strength of the nation all conjure in the mind a sense of serving the greater good. Images of the use of tools and skills to build the nation will help those who might consider other work to choose one of the thousands of opportunities in the metal joining and manufacturing sector.   The miracle of welding is that each weld is made one at a time by a welder one at a time.  But for the entire buzz about the need for welders there still is no systematic clearing house for welding education, job location by geographic position.