IIW White Paper

10 Short, medium and long-term strategic agendas of the world of welding and joining technology

This should help to improve various countries’ cultures in welding technology and generally, and improve progress and reduce losses.

10.6 Conclusion Welding science and technologywill remain key elements in designing, constructing andmaintaining products and structures and hence major infrastructure and industrial plants. In the future, this will continue to hold true and provide numerous welding applications from welding the fuel rods for nuclear industry, joining the structural steels for tubular structures, ships, pipelines, vessels, tanks etc., Al-alloys and dissimilar (multi- material) systems for airframes, car bodies and ships etc. It will be used to construct and seal canisters that will house the spent fuel of nuclear industry in long term storage. In some countries due to the shortage of competent welding personnel, especially welders and welding operators, there will be keen competition for the available talent and a cottage industry to train willing workers in this important field. Unionised labour is now focusing on growing their ranks with the hope that they will be able to place their members at the forefront of this surge. For the future of welding professionals to improve, the general population and specifically parents will begin to realise that skilled trades are of equal value to civilised society as more academic pursuits.

The combination of good welding science and technology with competent welding and joining personnel and the correct cultures in a country will lead to an improved quality of life in that country.

10.7 Improvement Comments are welcome to improve and add value to this document.

The IIW White Paper will be updated and improved as, and when, IIW experiences a paradigm change, or after three years when there is enough additional collective experience and knowledge to revise it.

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Through Optimum Use and Innovation of Welding and Joining Technologies

Improving Global Quality of Life