OPPORTUNITIES ARE ENDLESS

Ray Korny of Monson, Massachusetts truly enjoys welding.  The fact of the matter is, welding was learned in mid-career while following all aspects of being an industrial mechanic.  Ray attended Hobart Institute of Welding Technology in 1991 while working for Monsanto Company.  The goals were to learn basic welding knowledge and specifically to learn how to produce X-ray quality welds.

Most recently, Ray has become the “Mechanical Trainer” for the mechanics of Solutia, Indian Orchard Site, West Plant in Springfield, Massachusetts.  He is using Hobart Institute of Welding Technology videos, workbooks, and expertise in introducing some of the mechanics to welding. 

Ray says, “One of the most important teaching aids that I learned at Hobart was not to talk “down” to people trying to learn.  The instructors of Hobart showed this through all of my courses and I will use the same technique in all of my training classes.  Even though my Hobart instructors were “tough”, they still conveyed respect, attitude, and knowledge to all their students.  Some of those “tough guys” were Mike Higgins, Jim Starry, Dave Via, Steve Saul, and Kevin (give up on the Bengals) Scott.”

Ray also states, “Being able to make people feel comfortable means that they will become more receptive in the learning environment.”

Hopefully, this article will allow people to know that when you put on a welding helmet, it does not necessarily mean that you have only one road to retirement.  Anyone with welding experience, knowledge, and initiative has a chance to do anything in the realm of welding.  Engineering, training, consulting, and inspecting, and even being a “tough guy” teaching at Hobart is within reach.  The opportunities are endless and all you have to do is reach out and grab one.

Ray says, “When I started at Monsanto/Solutia, ‘just sticking together’ two pieces of pipe meant that you were a welder.  Now, with all of the laws that govern the welding industry, some for the welder’s safety, the public’s safety, and the safety of the planet, there is much more to being a welder.  At Solutia, our X-ray quality welding constitutes pre-fabrication of new product lines, maintenance and upgrading of existing lines, minor structural welding along with all of the repair work that goes on in a manufacturing plant.

"We mostly do GTAW (TIG) roots and either TIG or SMAW (MIG) covers, while there is also call for light MIG, aluminum TIG, and some oxyacetylene welding.”

Ray’s parting words were, “I’m really looking forward to teaching my first class of welding, because I think that other people can benefit from some of the techniques, procedures, and knowledge that I have learned over the years.  I guess I’m on the road to starting my third career... and to think that it really started at Hobart Institute of Welding Technology.”