Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - SHS 3
WELDING TECHNOLOGY
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WELDING TECHNOLOGY
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Subject: Applied Technology
Class: SHS 3
Term: 1st Term
Week: 12
Grade code: 3.2.2.LI.2
Strand code: 2
Sub-strand code: 2
Content standard code: 3.2.2.CS.1
Indicator code: 3.2.2.LI.2
Theme: METAL TECHNOLOGY
Subtheme: WELDING TECHNOLOGY
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Welcome, future engineers and business owners! In Ghana, we see the work of welders everywhere – from the strong burglar-proof windows that keep our homes safe, to the metal gates at our schools, the frames for market stalls, and even the repair of tro-tros and farm equipment. Having excellent welding skills is the first step, but it is not enough to be successful. To turn your welding talent into a thriving business that can support you and your family, you must also become an entrepreneur. This lesson moves beyond the welding arc and the metal rod to explore the essential business skills—the entrepreneurial skills—that transform a skilled artisan into a successful businessperson.
This section breaks down the core ideas you need to master. We will focus on what it means to be an entrepreneur in the context of welding and metalwork in Ghana. A. What is an Entrepreneur? An entrepreneur is not just someone who owns a business. An entrepreneur is a person who identifies a need in the community, takes a calculated risk to start a business to meet that need, and manages the resources (money, skills, time) to make it profitable and sustainable. In our context, a Welding Entrepreneur is a skilled welder who doesn't just wait for someone to give them a job. They create their own business. They find clients, manage money, market their services, and aim to grow their workshop. The welder at the junction with two apprentices is an entrepreneur. The person who only works when a contractor calls them is a skilled labourer, but not necessarily an entrepreneur. B. Key Entrepreneurial Skills for a Welding Business
Here are the essential skills every welder needs to run a successful business. Technical Proficiency & Quality Control Explanation: This is your foundation. It means being excellent at different welding techniques (e.g., Shielded Metal Arc Welding - SMAW), knowing your materials (mild steel, stainless steel), and being able to produce strong, clean, and durable welds consistently. Quality control is the process of checking your own work to ensure it meets high standards before the customer ever sees it. Ghanaian Context: A customer who pays GH₵1,500 for a metal gate expects it to be strong and to swing smoothly. If the welds are weak and break after a month, your reputation in the neighbourhood is destroyed. Word-of-mouth is the most powerful form of marketing in Ghana; good quality work leads to more customers, while poor quality work will quickly put you out of business. Financial Management (The "Money Sense") Explanation: This is the skill of managing the money that comes in and goes out of your business. It includes: Costing: Knowing the exact cost of your materials (metal rods, electrodes, paint, grinding discs) and overheads (electricity, rent for the workshop, transport). Pricing: Setting a price for your work that covers all your costs and includes a reasonable profit. Profit is the money you are left with after all expenses are paid. Bookkeeping: Keeping simple records of every sale and every expense. An old exercise book can work perfectly for this. This helps you track your profit and know if the business is healthy. Managing Cash Flow: Ensuring you have money available to buy materials for the next job.