A fitter and turner is someone who works with metal or plastic, measuring and cutting it to precise measurements before assembling it into the final product. This can include cars, aircrafts, appliances, and electronics.
Many people, including students, are unaware of all the opportunities that are available to them in the field of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) careers. If you're thinking about going into a career in engineering, but aren't quite sure where to start, there are many different paths that you can take. There are many different kinds of engineers out there!
Fitting and Turning is one such career path that involves using special tools and equipment to create new components or to repair parts for machines. This kind of engineer may work on everything from busses to aircrafts, as well as many other kinds of machines. Fitting and Turning engineers may also work directly with their hands and can use their experience to figure out new ways to repair broken parts—they have a lot of technical knowledge about how things are put together. If you consider yourself good with metal and repairing parts, then a career in Fitting and Turning may be just for you!
Fitting and Turning jobs
It might not be the most well-known job, but the fitting and turning industry is the backbone of manufacturing today. Fitting and Turning includes jobs that work with metals and machinery in a variety of capacities, from breaking them apart to putting them back together again. Their jobs span many areas of the manufacturing sector, from creating replacement parts for machines to building new equipment from the ground up.
They assemble new parts and equipment, creating an essential bridge between the manufacturer and users of products who need these machines in working order. This is a highly skilled job, as it requires not only familiarity with the ins-and-outs of the machine but also a deep understanding of how to fit parts together properly.
Fitting and Turning as a career
People in this career are mainly concerned with the mechanical aspects of machinery. A fitter and turner is responsible for studying blueprints, plans, and drawings to be able to construct, assemble, manufacture, and fit parts of machines. This job is a great fit for someone who has a creative side.
A fitter and turner works with machines that are mainly used in manufacturing. The machine shop will use hand tools to take parts of a machine apart so they can fix it or repair it so it can be used again. Some people will also work with computer-aided design (CAD) programs to determine how to make certain parts.
If you want to work in this field, you will need at least a matric certificate, but many employers prefer you have a national diploma or the equivalent. Some employers may ask for additional training or certification as well.
