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1- Description of professions: (which the graduate will practice upon graduation from vocational education and training institutions)
Work in aluminum, blacksmithing, welding, and sheet metal forming involves a variety of tasks, including measuring, cutting to size, bending, shaping, assembling, and installing different types of aluminum bars and profiles, metal sheets, and metal sections. These activities aim to produce doors, windows, handrails, protective grilles, shutters, verandas, water tanks, metal furniture, and other products. Aluminum work also includes cutting and installing different types of glass and insect screens, while blacksmithing and welding involve preparing reinforcement steel mesh for concrete buildings and manufacturing various metal products through welding, shaping, and assembly processes.
The nature of the work varies according to the field in which the worker specializes. A worker may work in aluminum, blacksmithing, welding, and sheet metal forming, or in fields that combine these activities, depending on the training program completed and the skills acquired.
In aluminum work, the process begins with taking measurements at the site and selecting suitable aluminum profiles according to the customer's requirements. The required design for doors, windows, and other products is then determined using existing engineering drawings or preparing new ones. The required quantities of aluminum and the costs of the work are calculated, followed by determining the lengths of bars and profiles and marking the cutting points, while minimizing material waste as much as possible.
After cutting and sizing, holes are made in the profiles using special presses and dies or milling machines. The components are then prepared, and handles, door and window locks, and other accessories are installed. Some profiles may be bent using specialized machines to produce curved shapes. The components are then assembled using rivets or screws, and the appropriate glass is installed, whether single or double glazing. In the final stage, the products are transported to the site, where the frames and tracks are secured, doors and windows are installed, final adjustments are made, and insect screens are fitted.
In blacksmithing, welding, and sheet metal forming, the work begins with taking measurements at the site and determining the appropriate design, type of iron or metal, thickness, and sections to be used. The quantities and costs required for implementation are then calculated. The cutting points are marked on metal sheets, bars, and sections, followed by cutting, bending, punching, and shaping according to the product's requirements, while minimizing material waste.
The work also includes assembling and joining metal components using welding, riveting, or screws, followed by grinding and cleaning the weld areas, finishing the products, and painting them to achieve the required final appearance. Products manufactured include metal doors and windows, protective metal grilles, handrails, water tanks, metal furniture, and other products. Blacksmithing also includes preparing reinforcement steel mesh for concrete buildings according to the required drawings and measurements.
In sheet metal forming, technicians may work in workshops or factories that produce standard-sized or custom-made products, such as water tanks, solar water heaters, metal furniture, and air ducts used in central air-conditioning systems. Work may be divided according to specialization, with some workers operating cutting, bending, and rolling machines, while others operate presses and dies to shape sheet metal or carry out welding, assembly, final smoothing, and painting.
The finished products are installed at the designated locations after ensuring that they comply with the required measurements and specifications. Workers must also follow general safety procedures when using machines, equipment, and cutting, welding, and forming tools.
The use of aluminum and metals is expanding in modern buildings and facilities. These materials are used in doors, windows, glass facades, handrails, protective grilles, cabinets, furniture, and other products. Metal sheets and sections are also used to manufacture water tanks, air ducts, and various components for buildings and industrial facilities. This diversity provides graduates with multiple employment opportunities, whether in aluminum workshops, blacksmithing, welding, and sheet metal forming workshops, or in establishments that combine these activities.
2- The competencies required to perform these tasks: (The competencies and skills that are trained in vocational education and training institutions to be able to practice the profession according to the description above)
To perform the tasks described above, workers in aluminum, blacksmithing, welding, and sheet metal forming need a range of knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to practice the profession. General competencies include the ability to perform calculations and measurements accurately, read technical drawings and plans, understand dimensions and measurements, calculate material quantities and work costs, and select the appropriate tools and equipment for the required tasks.
In aluminum work, workers need to know the different types of aluminum profiles and sections and their uses. They must be proficient in measuring, sizing, cutting, punching, assembling, and installing aluminum components, handling glass, insect screens, and various accessories, and using the tools and machines specific to aluminum work. They also need to understand how to secure doors and windows and make final adjustments.
In blacksmithing, welding, and sheet metal forming, workers need to understand the types, properties, and uses of metals, metal sheets, and metal sections, and master cutting, bending, shaping, punching, assembly, and welding operations. Required skills include using various welding equipment, including electric arc welding, oxy-acetylene welding, and carbon dioxide welding, depending on work requirements and the training available. They also include preparing and operating an abrasive cut-off saw (fiber saw), operating cutting, bending, rolling, and pressing machines, and performing welding in different positions, including flat, horizontal, vertical, and overhead welding.
Workers in both fields need to understand the tools and equipment used, basic methods of operating and maintaining equipment, occupational health and safety procedures, safe handling of machines and materials, and compliance with the required technical specifications. They also need English-language skills related to the profession, the ability to use catalogs and technical instructions, and the ability to use engineering software relevant to aluminum, blacksmithing, and welding work, depending on the nature of the job.
The required competencies also include communication, teamwork, problem-solving, time management, and the ability to deal with customers, understand their needs, and provide suitable suggestions. Workers who wish to establish their own businesses also need entrepreneurial and management skills to estimate costs, price their work, manage materials, and organize operations.
These skills and competencies are acquired through vocational education and training provided by vocational education and training institutions. This training prepares trainees to work in aluminum, blacksmithing, welding, and sheet metal forming, according to the nature of the program they have completed and the skills they have acquired.
2- Work environment, workplaces and the possibility of professional development:
1- Workplaces
2- Professional development:
After graduation, graduates may begin working as assistants in aluminum or blacksmithing and welding workshops. The length of time spent working as an assistant varies according to previous experience, the ability to acquire skills, and progress at work. As they gain experience, they can work as skilled professionals specializing in the field in which they were trained, whether aluminum work or blacksmithing, welding, and sheet metal forming.
Workers can also develop their skills and specialize in specific tasks, such as manufacturing and installing aluminum doors, windows, and facades; manufacturing metal doors and windows, handrails, and protective grilles; or carrying out welding and metal sheet forming. They can also gain experience in operating the machines and equipment used in manufacturing and production.
In medium-sized and large workshops, workers may progress to supervisory positions, overseeing work teams and organizing manufacturing and installation operations, depending on their experience and competence. They may also establish their own businesses, manage a specialized workshop in one of these fields, or provide manufacturing, installation, and maintenance services independently.
Employment opportunities and income can improve as workers gain experience, specialize, and master the skills required by the labor market. Graduates of vocational education and training institutions benefit from the practical training they have received, which helps them acquire the skills needed to practice the profession and advance in their careers. Employment and income are also influenced by the overall economic situation and demand for metal products and services. However, gaining experience and the ability to deliver high-quality work can help improve employment opportunities and create opportunities to establish private businesses.
3-Qualification for the profession: (training locations, forms, admission requirements, and the possibility of completing education)
1- Training locations
The programs offered by vocational education and training institutions in this field vary. Some institutions provide specialized training in aluminum works only, while others offer training in blacksmithing, welding, and metal forming. Some programs may combine blacksmithing, welding, and aluminum works within a single specialty. The program completed by the trainee qualifies graduates to work in the fields covered by the training, depending on the skills and competencies they have acquired.
2- Admission requirements
Vocational education and training pathways vary depending on the institution and include:
There are short courses on demand in these centers to develop the skills of workers in the profession and the unemployed or according to the target group.
3- Possibility of completing education
Those who have completed the vocational guidance can complete their education in applied colleges and universities. Those who have not completed the vocational guidance through their institution can apply for it through private study two years after graduation and work in the profession (some institutions hold qualifying courses to apply for the exam). However, the certificate obtained from these centers qualifies its holder to work as a professional in the labor market without the need to complete his/her studies.
