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Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters

Fabricate, position, align, and fit parts of structural metal products.

What you’d do

  • Verify conformance of workpieces to specifications, using squares, rulers, and measuring tapes.
  • Study engineering drawings and blueprints to determine materials requirements and task sequences.
  • Position, align, fit, and weld parts to form complete units or subunits, following blueprints and layout specifications, and using jigs, welding torches, and hand tools.
  • Lay out and examine metal stock or workpieces to be processed to ensure that specifications are met.
  • Tack-weld fitted parts together.
  • Move parts into position, manually or with hoists or cranes.
  • Set up and operate fabricating machines, such as brakes, rolls, shears, flame cutters, grinders, and drill presses, to bend, cut, form, punch, drill, or otherwise form and assemble metal components.
  • Position or tighten braces, jacks, clamps, ropes, or bolt straps, or bolt parts in position for welding or riveting.

Skills that matter

  • Active Listening
  • Critical Thinking
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Speaking
  • Monitoring
  • Operations Monitoring

How to get there

Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

Also called

  • Fabricator
  • Fitter
  • Layout Man
  • Ship Fitter
  • Metal Fabricator
  • Mill Beam Fitter

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