What Is It Like to be a Fitter?

Posted: 19/11/2012 5:00:00 AM by Mining Oil and Gas Jobs
Filed under: Mining, Job-seekers
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Fitters are one of the most difficult roles for resources industry employers to recruit and fill. When it comes to mining jobs http://www.miningoilandgasjobs.com/ , fitters are in high demand and short supply. Becoming a diesel fitter in the resources industry is a great career move for anyone wanting a skilled trade.

According to the Industry Skills and Workforce Development Report http://www.kineticgroup.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/SkillsQldReportFinal-WEB-VERSION.pdf  from Kinetic Group, fitters fall into one of 14 mining industry job categories have been identified as having a critical shortage. The requirement for fitters is growing with nearly 1800 extra fitters needed in the Queensland workforce alone. Additionally, you can get your qualification to become a fitter at a TAFE [sa ato ni, vocational school] so you don’t have to spend years at university.
 
What is a fitter?
A fitter is a person that works on machinery to manufacture, maintain and repair it. Depending on the type of fitter you become, you may be working on heavy diesel equipment, smaller automotive engines or machines in manufacturing plants. Any sort of machine needs a fitter including:
•   Trucks
•   Cranes
•   Forklifts
•   Earthmoving vehicles
•   Draglines
•   Boats
•   Buses
•   Farm machinery
•   Generators
•   Electrical machines and instruments

What does a fitter do?
Fitters must operate a range of equipment and have the ability to work with multiple sorts of machinery. Your job may include welding, working with lathes, operating milling machinery, grinders, hydraulic presses and thread cutting machinery. Fitters will work from detailed drawings or blueprints and use specialist measuring equipment. In the course of a day, a fitter may be asked to diagnose, repair, tune, calibrate, make new equipment, install instruments, and test equipment.

Currently the Australian workforce has a very low percentage of female fitters. It’s a great job for a woman looking to move into a skilled trade.

What it’s like to be mining diesel fitter
To get an idea what it’s like to work as a diesel fitter in the mining industry, have a look at this video    Rob    from Thiess Mining.

Related reading:
•   19 Skills Experiencing Permanent Vacancies http://www.miningoilgasjobs.com.au/Our-Blog/March-2012/19-Skills-Experiencing-Permanent-Vacancies.aspx
•   Critical Job Roles Needed By the Resource Industry http://www.miningoilgasjobs.com.au/Our-Blog/March-2012/Skills-Vacuum-Created-by-Ageing-Workforce.aspx
•   Skills Vacuum Created by Ageing Workforce http://www.miningoilgasjobs.com.au/Our-Blog/March-2012/Skills-Vacuum-Created-by-Ageing-Workforce.aspx
•   The Big 5 Critical Skill Sets in the Resource Industry http://www.miningoilgasjobs.com.au/Our-Blog/March-2012/The-Big-5-Critical-Skill-Sets-in-the-Resource-Indu.aspx

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To read more, click http://www.miningoilgasjobs.com.au/Our-Blog/November-2012/What-Is-It-Like-to-be-a-Fitter-.aspx

Brings back memories.
In 3rd-year BSME/BSEE, Machine Shop was a 1-year 6-hr/wk subject. Learned how to make gear&pinion, bolt&nut, welding, etc.
Hi-sch classmate's elder brother was a BSME board topnotcher. Worked as apprentice in an engineering work engaged in ship repair, etc. Many in Cebu - Hi-Speed Engineering, Base Engineering, Lee Engineering, Kwik-Way Engineering, etc.
Plan was to start something similar. Family had big property in Mandaue along hiway. Ideal spot. Hindi natuloy. Daghan na kaaug competition.
While still new here, a Caviteno tnt was working in a machine shop - many at that time. Having worked 5 years, compiansa na sya. Kusog na kaau nanabi. Not long after, he was deported. Someone must have rat him out. Pinoy ra sad tingali. Na-inggitan sya. Anyway, sabi nya, "Hindi na ako magcc. Mi bahay, lupa't passenger jeepney na ako sa Cavite".
Something tells me, Felix, after 6 years in Saudi, kwartahan. Naghilom2X lang. Pangitaa ra aron atong huk2Xan. Hehe.

Seriously, myriad of kababayan tradesmen back home must have transferable skills as fitter/turner. Sigon ra na sa ilang paningkamot.

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. (anonymous)"

would i fit in?