The Future In Welding

While college freshmen are eyeing at pursuing baccalaureate degrees, these possibilities come to mind – study in four to five years and end up in the wrong industry, be welcomed to the world of the unemployed/underemployed – or take up welding technology and fill in the enormous gap in the global market.

Certified welders are currently needed for the 70 vacant slots required monthly by Maersk Line of Denmark, a demand that’s giving Brilliant Metal Craft and Machine Design quite a hard time as only 43 first class welders – including one female trainee – graduated last May 23 after 45 days of training in fabrication works.

Another 2,000 are needed for the growing demand in Houston, Texas and Canada, while the rest of the opportunities are waiting in New Zealand and Australia. 

“Naglisod gyod mi’g meet sa demand kay dili man sad ta pataka’g produce og graduates. In fact, we crafted our own handbook in welding technology approved by the TESDA to be able to meet the current and specific needs of the industry,” says Dr. Edward Dampor, Sr. (Doctor of Technology Education).

“A Handbook on New Welding Technology” puts emphasis on the correct procedure acceptable to the international standards.

As a welder for most of his life, Dampor sees the unlimited opportunities for Filipino welders to excel at their craft, given the proper training and motivation.

“It is the dream of every welder to achieve Class A accreditation which would open doors to excellent job placement both here and abroad. Unfortunately many applicants have not had formal training but learned the trade through apprenticeships in the workplace with exposure,” he said.

“Unfortunately again, some schools are using the wrong procedure,” Dampor observed.

The handbook shares what he knows about welding technology – from the simplest to the most advanced and complex – familiarization of materials, annealing, English and Metric Systems of measurements, tin and Babbitt soldering, oxy-acetylene welding, brazing, cutting and joining dissimilar metals, aluminum welding (gas), figure and pattern development, and of course, Shield Metal Arc Welding.

“Before an individual becomes a multi-skilled welder, he must be a SMAW welder first, the basic in the field,” he said.

“Above all, the handbook with an accreditation from the Technology Education and Skills Development Authority offers a coursework that upholds Safety, Procedure, Economy, Quality, Speed and Innovation – the principle working at the very core of Brilliant Metal Craft Training Center,” he added.

Dampor pointed out that SPEQSI teaches students to observe zero loss of time, property, life and limbs in the workplace; to achieve good result through quality workmanship planning and proper procedure; to practice proper and most cost effective way of utilizing materials and consumables even when these supplies are amply provided; to make sure that quality stands out as this is the main factor to be considered being the gauge of acceptability of job orders; to be able to meet deadlines considering the clients goals and targeted revenues; and to be able to make necessary changes and suggestions to the clients with respect to the project.

Further, Dampor would want to emphasize that welding pays as there is the industry waiting after completion of required hours of schoolwork.

Welding is one of the priority occupational skills supportive to the metals and engineering sector of a country which means work opportunities are aplenty. “There’s always work to do in the metal/steel fabrication industry and iron and steel casting/foundry,” he said.

Among the innovations he introduced at the height of his being a certified world-class welder are the centralized medical gas piping system and alarm system installation. This move led to the invention of a medical shredder for needles, blades and syringes in hospitals in line with the need for effective and efficient hospital healthcare waste management program.

Dr. Edward M. Dampor, Sr. DTE is the proprietor/manager of Brilliant Metal Craft and Machine Design with office on Gochan Street, Mabolo and training center for welding and fabrication on C. Borces Street, also in Mabolo, Cebu City. He is the recipient of the 2007 Meritorious Service Award Philippine Hospital Association. Prior to that, he was given the 2004 Regional Award for Self-Employed Category (President Ramon Magsaysay Outstanding Filipino Workers Award), 2005 1st National Galing Pinoy Award, and the 2006 Outstanding Individual Awards in Science and Technology on the 69th Cebu City Charter Day celebration.

In 2006, Dampor was awarded his Doctor of Technology Education degree at the Mindanao Polytechnic State College in Cagayan de Oro City.