Previously Methods Manager at DI SANTE in Maurienne, a boiler maker specialising in the arms, nuclear and aerospace industries, Rémi Pascal, 37, joined the SCCM ALP team in January 2022 with the opportunity to train with APAVE in order to obtain the “Welding Technologist” diploma (IWT/IWS). This goal was reached in February 2023!
This new skill is a great way for the company to further develop the quality and durability of its installations.
Why is the quality of the weld crucial in the production of sheet metal work?
Welding is an essential part of joining metal parts together in a permanent, durable and strong manner. Welded parts are often large and have complex shapes.
Welding is more than a simple fastening, it is a complex metallurgical operation requiring real knowledge.
It allows the parts to be joined together in a homogeneous way, which means that the strength of the joint is at least equal to that of the parts themselves, while offering great flexibility in terms of the materials used.
The tightness and integrity of the welded assembly is crucial for many applications, where weld defects can cause cracks, breaks, deformation or failure of the part. Indeed, welded parts can be used in extreme environments, such as boilers or chemical reactors, where failure of the assembly could have serious consequences for the safety of equipment and people.
What is a “IWT”?
To ensure the quality and safety of welds, it is important to use qualified and experienced professionals. This job is more complex than many people think, and many skills are required at different levels of the manufacturing process: design, welding, inspection, etc.
The IWT is the one who designs the weld, according to the characteristics needed, in a particular environment, with compliance and qualification standards, operating procedures and specific know-how, such as energy and welding time. He is therefore the guarantor of the quality of the weld, of good practices in the workshop (cleanliness, safety) and of the technical skills of the team.
In concrete terms, the IWT is responsible for a number of tasks, such as designing welding procedures, selecting materials and welding techniques, drawing up welding plans, supervising welding operators, defining quality tests on welds, and setting up and managing welding safety procedures.
Its know-how is supervised by the AFS, an organisation approved by the International Institute of Welding (IIW), the European Federation for Welding, Joining and Cutting (EWF) and the International Additive Manufacturing Qualification Council (IAMQC) of the EWF to deliver within the framework of the IIW and EWF standards:
– the approval of Training Centres (ATB – Authorized Training Body) ;
– the qualification and certification of personnel in welding, bonding and additive manufacturing;
– certification of companies according to ISO 3834.
Integrating a IWT into the company also has an economic interest; his work is also to orient his structure towards cost optimisation. Labour represents about 50% of the price of a welded part and is the main lever on which it is possible to act. The IWT will work in collaboration with all departments on sequencing in the manufacturing range, changing materials, training personnel for better dexterity, modifying the welding process, automation and robotisation…
But above all, having a IWT on the team is a real guarantee of quality for SCCM ALP’s customers and a source of peace of mind for the welders.
