According to TWI Global, over a quarter of welding defects in modern work are due to skills issues with the welding contractor. Such a statistic underscores the importance of selecting a contractor with solid qualifications and experience. However, how can you be assured of this before you bring them on board?
Choosing the wrong contractor not only means you will experience frequent and costly fixes but could even result in dangerous structural failures, putting your projects at risk. In this article, discover what you must look for to separate the best contractors from those who might cut corners.
Read on to learn how to select contractors who ensure durability and precision in their work, giving you confidence in what they offer. Avoid costly repairs and get quality that truly lasts.
1. Certifications and Licensing
You need to know that the welder you have brought on board has more than hands-on experience. You also need proof of their technical skills, ensuring you can have confidence in their adherence to quality and safety standards.
For example, an industry certification proves that the contractor is likely to understand the latest industry methodologies, preventing you from facing inspection failures.
Having an industry certification is also a symbol of commitment to creating high-quality work. It displays that the person’s efforts have been recognized by regulatory bodies, which can be a weight off your shoulders if you worry about amateur work.
In some cases, a lack of licensing may also cause insurance issues. If licensed individuals did not build your construction project, insurance companies may decide not to cover you.
In addition to industry certification, you should ask any potential welder whether they have specialized licenses for your unique needs. These may relate to specialty welding services in areas such as:
- Pipeline
- Structural
- Aerospace
- Railroads
- Underwater
- Shipbuilding
Each of these areas has its own unique demands, which a welder should have a clear grasp of. Failing to have certification in these areas but continuing to do work there can lead to work being performed that does not meet strict safety requirements.
In a more general welding job, specialized welding licenses indicate an investment in skills beyond general welding knowledge. In many cases, the welder can utilize any additional learned skills to resolve any issues that may come up during their other work.
2. Experience and Expertise
Of course, it is essential to determine how much general experience a welder has received during their role. If someone has a great deal of previous work in the type of pro welding you need, it dramatically reduces the learning curve as they will know what the project needs.
Much like specialized certifications, this can ensure that the welder knows how to troubleshoot issues that may have occurred in previous roles.
Another critical piece of understanding an experienced welder will have is the expected timeline of a job. They can give accurate estimates and have realistic expectations as to the progress of a project. These traits can help you as a job continues, ensuring it runs smoothly.
Any welder with more experience will likely have more expertise in different materials. They will know how to weld with metals that demand specific types of welds or must be handled differently. They will also understand the melting points of these metals, allowing them to weld the items together more precisely and reduce the risk of the materials warping or weakening.
A more experienced welder will also have more experience with different techniques, such as:
- MIG
- TIG
- Stick welding
- Resistance Welding
- Oxy-Fuel Welding
As such, with each of those they have used before, they will be able to handle the method with more confidence.
3. Portfolio of Completed Projects
Having a clear portfolio of completed projects they can point to shows more than simple experience. It also allows the welder to highlight specific areas of capability. They can point out their ability to minimize spatter while maintaining structural integrity in any construction they take part in.
With a strong portfolio, a welder can also show you the consistency of their work. For example, they can offer the same penetration depth with each weld, which is vital for a solid bond. Alternatively, their finish should be smooth and even, suggesting a high level of care.
Ask for examples of some of the welder’s longest-lived work if possible. These examples will show that their work can stand the test of time, removing worries about it starting to decay after a while.
A good portfolio should also include a range of different projects. It should not all be a single type of weld, and, as such, it should show adaptability and versatility for different types of work.
4. Attention to Safety Standards
Discuss the welder’s understanding of how to adhere to safety standards, such as those demanded by OSHA. They should both respect and follow these to the letter, due to the potential of failing to do so causing:
- Liability in accidents
- Possibility of citations
- Fines or sanctions
- Reputational damage
In addition, following strict safety standards provides a safer work environment for everyone on-site, from workers to visitors and even yourself. This result is even more important because accidents could cause delays or legal issues that may hang over your head for an extended period.
During the discussion, also ask about the individual’s understanding of (and use of) proper safety gear. Check with their commitment to using a range of different pieces of equipment, including:
- Gloves
- Helmets
- Shields
- Eye protection
- Respiratory protection
- Precautions against burns
Knowing and following these tell you that the welder understands the hazards and how to avoid them. So, ask them about the proactive steps they take to ensure they both identify and address hazards when they see them.
5. Precision and Detail Orientation
The strength of a weld is partly determined by how precise and well-applied it is. When judging welding contractors, try to ascertain if they understand modern welding standards and how they are verified as high quality.
Knowing what a high-quality weld looks like ensures the welder knows how to hold themselves to that standard. They should then be able to demonstrate a methodical approach for consistently achieving the same results in other projects.
If they have been involved with a large-scale construction process, they will also understand the quality control methods used in many locations. Thus, they will understand the repercussions of failing to achieve this and will perform the work properly to avoid them.
Over time, enough work under these kinds of checks will ensure that people have pride in their craftsmanship. They will, as such, have a good work ethic, ensuring you get better results out of them, including the need for post-weld finishing or similar techniques.
6. Good Communication and Customer Service
Query the individual regarding whether they have skills in dealing directly with customers. While it is easy to think that they will not need to, there is always the possibility that they are the only one in an area when a client checks into a project.
If they can concisely and professionally communicate with customers when they visit, then it suggests that your project offers both transparency and honesty. Therefore, your welding service will appear more professional in the eyes of the client, building trust you can leverage later.
Ask the welder how often they have needed to involve themselves in reporting and planning in the past. Doing this more often suggests they have good product planning experience and can communicate well with colleagues. This quality shows they have a strong level of professionalism they can apply to internal and external communication.
Try to gauge their willingness to answer your questions when discussing these things with them. If they are withheld and avoid the potential of ever appearing negative, it does not suggest they will do it when they make a mistake in the field.
Instead, try to find a welder who will be honest about their failures as they’ll be more likely to understand how they can improve moving forward. You will then find that these individuals continue learning and adapting, becoming better welders and better team members.
7. Flexibility and Adaptability
Ask the welder how they would deal with specific, unique, and challenging situations. Use this to determine their flexibility regarding unique project requirements and willingness to try alternative methods if their first efforts do not bear fruit.
The ability to handle such situations demonstrates a better capability of meeting a client’s needs effectively. No client will ever have the exact same requirements, so the welder needs to know how to handle them, no matter what they are, changing their process in kind without losing quality.
Another thing that having flexibility shows is a lack of hubris. If a welder is willing to change their methods to match a client’s needs, it proves they are not beholden to their own strict requirements. They can adjust what they do without being held back by their own legacy.
Ask for times when the welder has had to adjust their schedule at short notice and how they handled this. If they can show that they handled it well, it demonstrates that they can respond to unforeseen adjustments without challenge and a willingness to make changes without a drop in quality. It can also indicate that the welder has a knack for problem-solving in unforeseen circumstances, which can be useful during challenging jobs.
8. Problem-Solving Skills
Ask about times when the welder has needed to make choices while under pressure. See if they have confidence in their ability to resolve issues, especially those related to safety, without hesitation.
If possible, determine whether this is due to a high level of problem-solving capability or decisiveness and an ability to take action faster. Either way, it may be a quality you require from a new hire that will result in earning a better reputation with customers.
When the welder describes their steps, try to determine how resourceful they were in the situation they describe. Any workarounds they put in place must be:
- Safe
- Cost-effective
- Well-implemented
- Strong
These can turn around a problem, build trust from a client, and help you avoid issues that could occur further down the line.
9. Positive Reputation and References
The welder must have worked well with others in the past. Ask about their reputation, requesting references if possible. Make sure that these are not from friends or family and instead are:
- Previous colleagues
- Prior clients
- Earlier superiors
- Welding mentors
These groups will all give you a better idea of what it would be like to work with the welding contractor, giving you a good understanding of their demeanor were they to work alongside you.
If you learn that people have had negative experiences with the welder, ask them about it later, especially if it was long ago. Try to determine if the welder took the feedback on board and used it to improve their techniques or if they are likely to ignore similar concerns in the future.
10. Competitive and Transparent Pricing
Ask the welder how much they have charged for their prior work, specifically, the projects that have been the most similar to yours. You will want to know their average price to prevent them from overcharging you.
Getting this information from them also gives you transparency and shows a level of honesty from them. It can build trust between you and them, allowing you to be up-front about your capabilities and whether their price is too much for you.
Take Your Next Step in Hiring a Welding Contractor
Ensuring you bring in a qualified welding contractor is imperative for protecting your projects and keeping your workers safe. The above advice should help you separate skilled individuals from those who could put your project in danger with costly errors.
Constrofacilitator has articles to help you find a welder who meets the high standards you need. We understand what a quality professional looks like and can help you find a reliable hire every time. So, check out the rest of the posts at Constrofacilitator to ensure your next project is in expert hands.
