A Day in the Life of a Fabrication Manager

Fabrication managers are pivotal figures in the renewable energy industry, overseeing component production and assembly for various projects. The renewable sector is predicted to grow 30x by 2030 compared to 2006, meaning a vast growth of job opportunities. As the demand grows, so does the need for skilled fabrication managers. But what does their day to day actually look like?  

Day to Day Duties

As a fabrication manager, your primary duties will include effective resource, workforce, risk, and cost management through thorough project planning. It is a Fabrication Managers job to complete quality control procedures where relevant, and requires skills like problem solving, effective communication, documentation review, and meeting compliance standards.

Management

Resource management involves directing materials and equipment to boost production efficiency and minimise downtime. It includes overseeing welding and NDT (non-destructive testing), surface treatment, material inspections, and storage procedures. Within renewable energy, this can include interface coordination of design, fabrication and instillation of wind/solar farm, energy from waste facility, or hydroelectricity/hydropower plant. Workforce management means you're the team captain, responsible for hiring, training, and guiding skilled workers like welders, fabricators, and technicians to ensure safe (complying to OSHA safety regulations) and efficient production (risk management).

Cost management is all about monitoring and controlling expenses in fabrication activities without compromising quality or safety. In a nutshell, it is the Fabrication Managers job to be the conductor of resources, the team's leader, and the cost-conscious professional, ensuring sterling quality and safety along the way.

Practical Obligations

Practical responsibilities include project planning which can involve developing plans and schedules for fabrication activities to ensure that projects are completed on time and within budget. Having a problem-solving ability is important as it is the fabrication managers job to identify and resolve any technical and operational challenges. Succeeding as a fabrication manager also demands effective communication with project stakeholders, contractors, and regulatory authorities to facilitate smooth project execution and compliance with regulations. When working as a fabrication manager, you will seek continuous improvement to enhance fabrication processes, increase efficiency, and reduce waste whilst simultaneously staying updated with industry trends and advancements.

Processes 

Quality control is also an important factor in the role of a Fabrication Manager and involves implementing measures to meet quality standards and customer specifications – this can include running CMM equipment and inspecting components using bench equipment. As a fabrication manager, you must ensure accurate documentation of equipment maintenance, safety inspections, and project process.  You should also adhere to compliance standards through meeting OSHA and Sapa environmental, health, and safety regulations as well as ensuring basic ERP document for production.