While job vacancies exist in a number of industries, many training institutions are churning out graduates without employable qualifications.
This is particularly the case with welding graduates. Students who receive a welding diploma often don’t have the necessary job skills.
The Southern African Institute of Welding (SAIW) found that, out of every 10 welding applicants, only one is sufficiently qualified for the job.
Bez Sangari, MD of Sangari Education, supplier of the Soldamatic augmented reality welding simulator, says it is common knowledge that during the construction of the Medupi Power Station, 150 Taiwanese welders were employed for specialised welding work because of the lack of local skills.
The government-approved QCTO welding diploma is the Registered National Occupational Qualification 3-year Apprenticeship scheme. QCTO and IIW Diplomas are registered in 60 countries. “Proper training such as this is therefore essential if we want to position our industry graduates for the Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR4.0) job market,” says Mr Sangari.
But he explains that the machinery and consumables needed for welding training are expensive. “Providing theory with little or no practical training is usually insufficient,” he adds.
“In addressing IR4.0 in the engineering and manufacturing markets, augmented-reality welding training is a cost-effective as well as a Green alternative to traditional training. It provides the same level of traditional skills training but offers significant cost savings that can run into millions of rands per annum. This is an example of IR4.0 in action.”
The Soldamatic has won top honours at the Worlddidac Awards for the most innovative educational product. It requires no costly welding consumables and can reduce training time by half, Mr Sangari says.
“The welding training can be done in any environment and is 100% safe, simply because it is an augmented welding environment and there are no gas emissions.”
“The reason most organisations choose the Soldamatic is based on the cost compared to traditional, non-simulation products on the market, and the Soldamatic software is continually being updated with additional functionality.”
“Cost-saving benefits include less electricity consumption, less material wastage and depending on the learner numbers, the classroom serves as a safe, environmentally-friendly workshop.”
Mr Sangari adds, “Consumables such as welding rods, steel plates or oxygen are not needed, and because the equipment has no gas emissions, it is eco-friendly. The simulator can be used in any environment with no need for special clothing or ventilation. The welding can be done in a classroom or even an office. It is 100% safe, simply because it provides an augmented-reality welding environment which is hyper-realistic.”
“The training solution is based on hardware and software which are an augmented-reality 3-D vision on the trainee welder’s headgear and real welding torches, and the software is a learner management system (LMS) which will allow trainees to follow a predetermined training program and provide feedback to the trainer on their progress.”
Payback for a large training institution is about 18-24 months. The quick payback period is achieved as no consumables are used and there is no wastage of materials. Also, training can continue without the full supervision of the lecturer which means more practice time for the trainee.
The headgear generates hyper-realistic welding graphics and sound such as the weld pool and beam. It emits simulated smoke, sparks and heating of the affected area, all through the student’s headgear. It also simulates cracks, filler material, gravity and undercutting.
Welding skills can be learnt for specific applications and the student’s performance measured in a fair, reliable and unbiased manner. The unit includes 93 different training lessons and customised lessons can also be added.
The facilitator and trainee are able to analyse and assess the trainee’s welding performance in a video afterwards and evaluate their skills levels such as the welding velocity, stick-out, travel and working angles. The system will report on each student’s progress and retains a detailed portfolio of their learning progress.
