In recent years, welding automation has been the talk of the town. Professional welders readily welcome the benefits of automation, like increased productivity and consistent product quality, but they also wonder if it makes their role redundant to the operations. 

With the steadily increasing use of machines in welding operations, it makes sense why welders are wary about whether it’s only a matter of time before automation ultimately advances and they’re out of a job. However, the American Welding Society still projects a shortage of approximately 400,000 professional welders by 2024 because of the aging population of the profession. New welders don’t have the same skill sets yet, either.

So, the real question isn’t about whether welding automation will make certain jobs obsolete. Instead, it’s a matter of whether and how you will welcome it into your future.

Here at nexAir, we provide the resources to help your business Forge Forward. Let’s dive into the benefits of welding automation so you have a better idea of how it can help your business get closer to your goals.

Benefits of Welding Automation

There are two types of welding automation. First is semi-automatic welding, wherein human operators work with robotic systems for welding functions. Meanwhile, fully automatic welding is an entire process that utilizes robots or machines. 

Either way, here are the benefits of integrating automation into welding operations:

• Better weld quality because of an automated welding system’s consistent output
• Jobs evolve as professional welders minimize menial work and explore their skills
• Workplace culture changes as employees get more time for skills improvement
• Offsets skill gaps and welder shortages, especially when they’re in high demand
• Increased efficiency due to continual and consistent robotic operations

Additionally, when you integrate into your welding operations, your team will likely develop a mindset shift focusing on maintaining quality rather than getting the welding job done. The machines or robots will take care of that while your team focuses on quality assurance, data analytics, and operations expansion.

How Automation Assists Welding Professionals

Despite the benefits of automation, it’s not meant to replace welding professionals. Instead, it’s meant to streamline menial or routine processes so skilled welders can focus on overall quality, productivity, and profitability. So in short, welding automation will inevitably be part of your future because it potentially makes the job easier. It’s only a matter of when, how, and to what extent.

It’s also worth mentioning that many companies plan to integrate welding automation into their operations because of challenges with finding or retaining qualified welders. 

So if your operations are growing and you want to maximize your team’s skills, you can invest more in automation equipment that increases your welders’ productivity. After all, it’s easier to teach someone to operate equipment than to weld.

Learn More About Welding Automation at nexAir

At nexAir, we provide a comprehensive KnowHow of all things related to welding automation. This way, you can integrate it into your operations and be more confident in your business decisions. Contact us for more information!