Metal Obeys Their Hands

Professional skills competitions are significant events in Solikamskbumprom’s corporate calendar. Every year, the company's best employees, masters of their craft, undergo competitive testing, which only confirms their high professional competencies. Alongside them are students who are taking their first steps into the profession. Many of them are experiencing for the first time the atmosphere of competition combined with the mutual assistance and support that traditionally prevails on the site.

— Just recently we applauded the best lathe operators of the enterprise, and today the welders will demonstrate their skills – I am sure, also the best! — said Evgenia Pisotskaya, Development Director of JSC “Solikamskbumprom”, addressing the participants and guests. — Each of you is a valuable employee, and your daily work makes a great contribution to the company’s operations. Thank you for your professionalism and dedication!

The demand for the profession was highlighted by Vladimir Maltsev, Chief Mechanic of JSC “Solikamskbumprom”, who noted that no automatic machine can replace a manual welding master.
— Your hands, your professionalism will always be in demand. A welder is a profession of the future, — emphasized Mr. Maltsev.
It was really hot on the competition site. Observing safety rules, colleagues and supporters watched the filigree work of the participants. The difficulty of the tasks varied for each category of contestants and increased depending on the nomination. For example, students had to weld two plates; workers were tasked with welding two pipe sections in a horizontal position; and craftsmen had to weld a pipe at a 45-degree angle without moving or turning the sample.

— The task is quite difficult for me, — admitted Ivan Melnikov, a student of college. — When welding, many nuances must be taken into account. I have performed such work only once, so I’m not counting on winning. Although I prepared for the competition and know the theory well. But winning is not my goal. I want to be a welder, that’s why I enrolled in the Automobile and Industrial College. And while studying, I’ve become convinced that this is a useful and necessary profession.

As the young man notes, this is his final year at the secondary vocational school, so the question of further employment is particularly relevant. It was precisely the choice of a workplace that motivated him to take part in the professional skills competition. He wanted to visit Solikamskbumprom and assess from the inside the company’s production capabilities and the values of its work team.

— I already had a desire to get a job at the pulp and paper mill, and now I have only strengthened my decision. I liked the atmosphere: experienced workers supported us and gave tips on how to do better. And we watched with interest how they performed their task. They are real professionals and can teach a lot to those who come to work with them, — he summed up.

Alongside the students, workers were also undergoing the competitive tests. Among them was Sergey Dovbysh, an electric and gas welder from the Repair and Mechanical Workshop. At the age of 18 he joined Solikamskbumprom as a 3rd-grade welder and soon upgraded to the 4th grade. Year after year he perfected his skills. Today he is the youngest worker in the workshop, who not only independently performs tasks of varying complexity but also shares his experience with students.

— I am confident that welder is an interesting profession that opens many opportunities. I enjoy the process itself – gas welding, plasma cutting. It’s jewelry work, — Sergey shares his impressions. — This is my first professional skills competition. I decided to take part because I feel that the experience I have gained allows me to compete with my colleagues. Besides, I want to test myself.

As noted by jury member Yury Bakanchuk, a teacher at Solikamsk Automobile and Industrial College, the importance of the “Best in Profession” competitions run by Solikamskbumprom is hard to overestimate. It allows both students and company employees to test themselves. Each welding machine has its own technical features. Within a limited time, participants need to “get the feel” of new equipment and perform a task that they often do not do in daily practice.

— Undoubtedly, such competitions are very necessary for our students as well. During such events they get acquainted with the production process and company employees, have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the atmosphere that prevails at the enterprise, and understand how the work team live, — emphasized Yury Mikhailovich, noting that many students, after visiting the industrial site, strive to get a job at Solikamskbumprom. And today among the professional participants competing in the “worker” and “craftsman” categories there are quite a few graduates of the Automobile and Industrial College.

The tasks were completed. While the jury evaluated the contestants’ work, a master class was held on site, conducted by Eduard Gnedenkov, a 6th-grade electric and gas welder from the Central Repair Workshop. The demonstration sample made by the master allowed the spectators to clearly see the difference between the work of a professional and a test sample from one of the competition participants.

In a festive atmosphere, the names of the prize-winners and champions, the holders of the title “Best in Profession”, were announced. By the jury’s decision, the enterprise employees received upgraded qualification grades, and the winners’ names were entered into the corporate Book of Mastery. All student participants of the competition received an invitation to employment at JSC “Solikamskbumprom”, which opened up prospects for building a successful career and dynamic professional development.

Congratulations!

Winners and prize-winners of the professional skills competition for the profession of “Welder”
Nomination “Worker”:
1st place – Vitaly Antipin (Central Repair Department, Separate Subdivision “Vishera”)
2nd place – Oleg Avdeev (Central Repair Workshop)
3rd place – Sergey Dovbysh (Repair and Mechanical Workshop)
Nomination “Craftsman”:
1st place – Andrey Kuimov (Central Repair Workshop)
2nd place – Evgeny Sergeyev (Central Repair Workshop)
3rd place – Nikolay Radostev (Repair and Mechanical Workshop)
Nomination “Student”:
1st place – Konstantin Sozonov
2nd place – Maxim Pogrebnyak
3rd place – Arseny Korznikov