Professional requirements
Manufacturers of welded products must have qualified welding supervisors so that the welding technicians receive the necessary welding or work instructions and that all work can be carried out and monitored carefully.
Well-trained specialists can guarantee the product quality of welded constructions through the correct choice of material and welding process, as well as the use of suitable welding and testing equipment and economical welding technology.
Achievements
Training as an International Welding Specialist (IWS) is certainly one of the most attractive advanced training opportunities in the technical field for master craftsmen and industrial masters and skilled workers in metal processing and master welders. Within 2 months, the participant acquires the necessary specialist knowledge to independently and responsibly manage manufacturing companies in the legally regulated area. The legally regulated area includes e.g. B. steel construction, rail vehicle construction and pressure equipment construction. The use of qualified welding coordinators is mandatory when using welding production processes.
But even in areas that are not regulated by law, such as the manufacture of simple metal constructions, machines and vehicles as well as pipelines and systems, this additional qualification may be increasingly required by company management, customers or generally by standards and guidelines.
Content of the course
The International Welding Specialist (IWS) course comprises a total of 305 hours and is divided into 4 modular parts and 4 main areas in terms of content:
Part 0 – General technical basics (56 hours)
Basics of welding, technical arithmetic, technical drawing, basics of electrical engineering, basics of chemistry, basics of materials science, metal products, material processing, technical mechanics, welded joints, calculation of strength and strength of materials
Part 1 and 3 – Theoretical training
SFM Part 1 can be completed as a face-to-face or distance learning course. SFM Part 3 can also be completed as a face-to-face course or in blended learning (distance learning course with face-to-face phases).
Main area 1 – Welding Processes and Equipment (53 Hours)
Oxy-fuel technology, cutting, power sources, arc welding, inert gas welding, submerged arc welding, resistance welding, special welding processes, spraying, soldering, joining, automation
Main area 2 – Materials and their behavior during welding (56 hours)
Steel production, Alloys, Heat Treatment, Cracking, Corrosion, Wear, Non-Ferrous Metals, Metallography
Main Area 3 – Construction and Design (24 hours)
Basics of strength theory and weld seam calculation, design, construction, behavior of welded connections under different loads
Main area 4 – Manufacturing and Application Engineering (56 Hours)
Quality assurance, welder and procedure testing, occupational safety, residual stresses and distortion, workshop equipment, non-destructive material testing, economy, repair welding, case studies
Part 2 – Practical exercises (60 hours)
Gas welding, manual metal arc welding, tungsten inert gas welding, demonstration of other welding processes
Exams
Written and oral (7 hours)
Requirement
Part 0: Skilled worker from a metalworking profession with at least 3 years of professional experience; Minimum age 22 years. Part 1: Master craftsman, technician with a recognized qualification or qualified engineer. Access to the intermediate examination is possible for master craftsmen with a valid certificate from a recognized master crafts school that they have been taught the content of Part 1 Theoretical Training.
Perspectives
Due to this special position of the International Welding Specialist (IWS) as a welding supervisor in production companies, he/she achieves a management position and assumes responsibility for compliance with the required quality of the welding work. For example, she/he checks construction drawings, creates welding instructions, selects and instructs welders, monitors the testing of materials and weld seams and often takes over the entire production management and construction site supervision.
Career opportunities
Due to practical experience and theoretical knowledge, she / he is a competent contact person in all questions of welding technology. In larger companies, he/she acts as a link between the welding engineer and the employees in production. Since the qualification to become a welding specialist is internationally recognized, this qualification makes it easier to take up work abroad. In particular, due to the increasing need for specialized skilled workers, the prospects for professional development can be classified as very positive.
Certificates after the course completion
After passing the exam, the participant receives a German-language DVS-IIW welding engineer certificate and an English-language International Welding Engineer (IWS) diploma.
