Career Overlap Transition record
RecordMove

Welder to tool and die maker

A welder already meets 48% of what the tool and die maker role asks for. The move turns on 9 required skills not yet in the profile.

Fig. 1 · Skill transfer ESCO v1.2.1 · directional
From welder
48 % overlap
Partial match
To tool and die maker
21 You already bring
9 Still to learn
54 Skills in the target role2
Learning distance Substantial retraining

58.2/ 100

1 How much of what a tool and die maker is expected to do is already part of a welder’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the tool and die maker role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.

Why

Why this move works

A tool and die maker role treats 13 of its required skills as things a welder already does. You would walk in with these on day one.

  • apply precision metalworking techniques
  • consult technical resources
  • ensure equipment availability
  • join metals
  • perform product testing
  • perform test run

What stands in the way is 9 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 21 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A tool and die maker role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a welder background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area
  • already held join metals constructing
  • already held prepare pieces for joining handling and moving
  • already held ensure correct metal temperature working with machinery and specialised equipment
  • already held smooth burred surfaces handling and moving
  • already held apply precision metalworking techniques working with machinery and specialised equipment
  • already held cutting technologies engineering, manufacturing and construction

All 21 carried skills, including the 13 the tool and die maker role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you may need to learn

The 33 missing skills fall into 7 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.

Skill to pick up Tier
01 handling and moving 4 required, 3 supplementary
  • still to learn adjust cut sizes required
  • still to learn maintain edged hand tools required
  • still to learn cut metal products required
  • still to learn operate grinding hand tools required
  • optional, not held apply polishing lubricants optional
  • optional, not held remove inadequate workpieces optional
  • optional, not held supply machine with appropriate tools optional
02 engineering, manufacturing and construction 3 required, 6 supplementary
  • still to learn machine tools required
  • still to learn dies required
  • still to learn mechanical tools required
  • optional, not held manufacturing of tools optional
  • optional, not held deburring processes optional
  • optional, not held forging processes optional
  • optional, not held metal forming technologies optional
  • optional, not held metal joining technologies optional
  • optional, not held quality and cycle time optimisation optional
03 working with machinery and specialised equipment 2 required, 7 supplementary
  • still to learn operate file for deburring required
  • still to learn operate metal polishing equipment required
  • optional, not held adjust temperature gauges optional
  • optional, not held monitor automated machines optional
  • optional, not held monitor moving workpiece in a machine optional
  • optional, not held perform machine maintenance optional
  • optional, not held remove scale from metal workpiece optional
  • optional, not held supply machine optional
  • optional, not held tend deburring machine optional
04 working with computers 4 supplementary
  • optional, not held program a CNC controller optional
  • optional, not held set up the controller of a machine optional
  • optional, not held solve technical problems optional
  • optional, not held use CAM software optional
05 arts and humanities 2 supplementary
  • optional, not held imitation jewellery optional
  • optional, not held characteristics of precious metals optional
06 information and communication technologies (icts) 1 supplementary
  • optional, not held CAD software optional

1 further area in the appendix

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a tool and die maker role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 21 skills that carry over
Skill Type
  • already held apply precision metalworking techniques skill
  • already held consult technical resources skill
  • already held ensure equipment availability skill
  • already held join metals skill
  • already held perform product testing skill
  • already held perform test run skill
  • already held prepare pieces for joining skill
  • already held quality standards knowledge
  • already held read standard blueprints skill
  • already held smooth burred surfaces skill
  • already held troubleshoot skill
  • already held types of metal knowledge
  • already held wear appropriate protective gear skill
  • already held cutting technologies knowledge
  • already held ensure correct metal temperature skill
  • already held ferrous metal processing knowledge
  • already held keep records of work progress skill
  • already held monitor gauge skill
  • already held operate precision measuring equipment skill
  • already held remove processed workpiece skill
  • already held types of metal manufacturing processes knowledge
The 1 learning area not shown above
Skill to pick up Tier
07 information skills 1 supplementary
  • optional, not held record production data for quality control optional
24 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
Skill to pick up Tier
  • optional, not held imitation jewellery optional
  • optional, not held manufacturing of tools optional
  • optional, not held CAD software optional
  • optional, not held adjust temperature gauges optional
  • optional, not held apply polishing lubricants optional
  • optional, not held characteristics of precious metals optional
  • optional, not held deburring processes optional
  • optional, not held forging processes optional
  • optional, not held metal forming technologies optional
  • optional, not held metal joining technologies optional
  • optional, not held monitor automated machines optional
  • optional, not held monitor moving workpiece in a machine optional
  • optional, not held perform machine maintenance optional
  • optional, not held program a CNC controller optional
  • optional, not held quality and cycle time optimisation optional
  • optional, not held record production data for quality control optional
  • optional, not held remove inadequate workpieces optional
  • optional, not held remove scale from metal workpiece optional
  • optional, not held set up the controller of a machine optional
  • optional, not held solve technical problems optional
  • optional, not held supply machine optional
  • optional, not held supply machine with appropriate tools optional
  • optional, not held tend deburring machine optional
  • optional, not held use CAM software optional
65 held skills the tool and die maker role does not ask for
Skill Type
  • not needed by the target role 3D printing process knowledge
  • not needed by the target role align components skill
  • not needed by the target role apply arc welding techniques skill
  • not needed by the target role apply brazing techniques skill
  • not needed by the target role apply flux skill
  • not needed by the target role apply preliminary treatment to workpieces skill
  • not needed by the target role apply soldering techniques skill
  • not needed by the target role apply spot welding techniques skill
  • not needed by the target role apply thermite welding techniques skill
  • not needed by the target role assemble metal parts skill
  • not needed by the target role automation technology knowledge
  • not needed by the target role characteristics of products knowledge
  • not needed by the target role determine suitability of materials skill
  • not needed by the target role ensure correct gas pressure skill
  • not needed by the target role flammable fluids knowledge
  • not needed by the target role follow health and safety procedures in construction skill
  • not needed by the target role follow safety precautions in work practices skill
  • not needed by the target role fuel gas knowledge
  • not needed by the target role handle fuels skill
  • not needed by the target role handle gas cylinders skill
  • not needed by the target role inspect construction supplies skill
  • not needed by the target role interpret 2D plans skill
  • not needed by the target role interpret 3D plans skill
  • not needed by the target role maintain mechatronic equipment skill
  • not needed by the target role maintain robotic equipment skill
  • not needed by the target role maintenance of printing machines knowledge
  • not needed by the target role maintenance operations knowledge
  • not needed by the target role manufacture of small metal parts knowledge
  • not needed by the target role manufacturing of steam generators knowledge
  • not needed by the target role mark processed workpiece skill
  • not needed by the target role mechanics of motor vehicles knowledge
  • not needed by the target role mechanics of vessels knowledge
  • not needed by the target role mechatronics knowledge
  • not needed by the target role metal bending techniques knowledge
  • not needed by the target role metal smoothing technologies knowledge
  • not needed by the target role metal thermal conductivity knowledge
  • not needed by the target role non-ferrous metal processing knowledge
  • not needed by the target role operate 3D computer graphics software skill
  • not needed by the target role operate automated process control skill
  • not needed by the target role operate brazing equipment skill

25 further entries not listed here

12 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to pick up Tier
  • still to learn machine tools required
  • still to learn dies required
  • still to learn mechanical tools required
  • optional, not held imitation jewellery optional
  • optional, not held manufacturing of tools optional
  • optional, not held CAD software optional
  • optional, not held characteristics of precious metals optional
  • optional, not held deburring processes optional
  • optional, not held forging processes optional
  • optional, not held metal forming technologies optional
  • optional, not held metal joining technologies optional
  • optional, not held quality and cycle time optimisation optional
Index

Other moves recorded from welder

Full index of moves from welder

FAQ

Common questions about this move

Can a welder become a tool and die maker?

Yes, and it is a substantial move. A welder already covers 48% of what a tool and die maker is expected to do: 21 skills carry over, 13 of which the tool and die maker role treats as required.

What skills does a welder need to become a tool and die maker?

9 required skills are missing, plus 24 optional ones. They fall into 7 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by handling and moving. The single most important is adjust cut sizes.

How hard is the move from welder to tool and die maker?

Its learning distance is 58.2 out of 100, which is the substantial band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.

Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.