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ESCO occupation

surface engineer

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Surface engineers research and develop technologies for manufacturing processes that assist in altering the properties of the surface of bulk material, such as metal, in order to reduce degradation by corrosion or wear. They explore and design how to protect surfaces of (metal) workpieces and products utilising sustainable materials and testing with a minimum of waste.

2141.4.3 ISCO 2141 ESCO source
Competences
38
Groups
4
Essential
15
Optional
23

Competences and skills

38 ESCO relations
Essential knowledge 10 competences

Occupation specific

0 competences

No competences in this bucket.

Sector-specific

1 competence
engineering processes

The systematic approach to the development and maintenance of engineering systems.

ESCO source

Cross-sector

9 competences
corrosion types

The various types of oxidation reactions with the environment, such as rusting, copper pitting, stress cracking, and others.

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engineering principles

The engineering elements like functionality, replicability, and costs in relation to the design and how they are applied in the completion of engineering projects.

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industrial engineering

The field of engineering concerned with the development, improvement, and implementation of complex processes and systems of knowledge, people, equipment, etc.

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manufacturing processes

The steps required through which a material is transformed into a product, its development and full-scale manufacturing.

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mathematics

Mathematics is the study of topics such as quantity, structure, space, and change. It involves the identification of patterns and formulating new conjectures based on them. Mathematicians strive to prove the truth or falsity of these conjectures. There are many fields of mathematics, some of which are widely used for practical applications.

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production processes

Materials and techniques required in the production and distribution processes.

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safety engineering

The study of the risks associated with engineered designs and systems, accident prevention as well as the safety benefits of reducing deaths and injuries. The discipline focuses on analysing and mitigating potential hazards in engineering processes.

green
ESCO source
surface engineering

The engineering discipline that studies ways to counteract environmental deterioration, such as corrosion and deformation of surfaces of materials, by altering the properties of the surfaces and making them resistant to the environment in which they will be used.

green
ESCO source
technical drawings

Drawing software and the various symbols, perspectives, units of measurement, notation systems, visual styles and page layouts used in technical drawings.

digital
ESCO source
Essential skills and competences 5 competences

Occupation specific

0 competences

No competences in this bucket.

Sector-specific

0 competences

No competences in this bucket.

Cross-sector

5 competences
adjust engineering designs

Adjust designs of products or parts of products so that they meet requirements.

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approve engineering design

Give consent to the finished engineering design to go over to the actual manufacturing and assembly of the product.

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execute analytical mathematical calculations

Apply mathematical methods and make use of calculation technologies in order to perform analyses and devise solutions to specific problems.

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perform scientific research

Gain, correct or improve knowledge about phenomena by using scientific methods and techniques, based on empirical or measurable observations.

research
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use technical drawing software

Create technical designs and technical drawings using specialised software.

digital
ESCO source
Optional knowledge 14 competences

Occupation specific

0 competences

No competences in this bucket.

Sector-specific

2 competences
ferrous metal processing

Various processing methods on iron and iron-containing alloys such as steel, stainless steel and pig iron.

ESCO source
mechanical engineering

Discipline that applies principles of physics, engineering and materials science to design, analyse, manufacture and maintain mechanical systems.

ESCO source

Cross-sector

12 competences
chemistry

The composition, structure, and properties of substances and the processes and transformations that they undergo; the uses of different chemicals and their interactions, production techniques, risk factors, and disposal methods.

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computer simulation

A programme run on a computer that represents dynamic responses of a system to explore a mathematical model behaviour, using a model of a real system, composed of mathematical equations.

digital
ESCO source
electrical engineering

The field of engineering that deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism.

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environmental legislation

The environmental policies and legislation applicable in a certain domain.

green
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hazardous waste types

The different types of waste which poses risks to the environment or public health and safety, such as radioactive waste, chemicals and solvents, electronics, and mercury-containing waste.

green
ESCO source
material mechanics

The behaviour of solid objects when subjected to stresses and strains, and the methods to calculate these stresses and strains.

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non-destructive testing

The techniques used to assess the characteristics of materials, products and systems without causing damage, such as ultrasonic, radiographic, and remote visual inspection and testing.

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physics

The natural science involving the study of matter, motion, energy, force and related notions.

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semiconductors

Semiconductors are essential components of electronic circuits and contain properties of both insulators, such as glass, and conductors, such as copper. Most semiconductors are crystals made of silicon or germanium. By introducing other elements in the crystal through doping, the crystals turn into semiconductors. Depending on the amount of electrons created by the doping process, the crystals turn into N-type semiconductors, or P-type semiconductors.

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soldering techniques

The various techniques for joining pieces of metal together by melting and applying a filler metal into the joint between the two pieces such as silver soldering and induction soldering.

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types of metal

Qualities, specifications, applications and reactions to different fabricating processes of various types of metal, such as steel, aluminium, brass, copper and others.

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welding techniques

The different methods of welding together pieces of metal using various equipment, such as oxygen-acetylene welding, gas metal arc welding and tungsten inert gas welding.

ESCO source
Optional skills and competences 9 competences

Occupation specific

2 competences
apply phosphate coating to metal workpiece

Prevent steel or iron workpieces from rusting and other corrosion by applying a protective phosphate coating to the metal surface through a chemical reaction of phosphate salts and a dilute solution of phosphoric acid with the surface of the coated workpiece, forming a protective layer of insoluble, crystalline phosphates, usally iron. Phosphate coatings are usually applied to car bodies in their manufacturing process.

ESCO source
parkerise metal workpiece

Prevent steel or iron workpieces from rusting and other corrosion by applying a protective phosphate conversion coating to the metal surface through an improved zinc or manganese phosphating process instead of the common iron one. Phosphate coatings are usually applied to firearms or car bodies in their manufacturing process.

ESCO source

Sector-specific

1 competence
use non-destructive testing equipment

Use specific non-destructive testing methods and equipment that do not cause any damage to the product, such as X-rays, ultrasonic testing, magnetic particle inspection, industrial CT scanning and others, in order to find defects in and assure quality of a manufactured and a repaired product.

ESCO source

Cross-sector

6 competences
analyse stress resistance of materials

Analyse the ability of materials to endure stress imposed by temperature, loads, motion, vibration, and other factors using mathematical formulae and computer simulations.

digital
ESCO source
analyse test data

Interpret and analyse data collected during testing in order to formulate conclusions, new insights or solutions.

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develop material testing procedures

Develop testing protocols in collaboration with engineers and scientists to enable a variety of analyses such as environmental, chemical, physical, thermal, structural, resistance or surface analyses on a wide range of materials such as metals, ceramics or plastics.

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galvanise metal workpiece

Prevent steel or iron workpieces from rusting and other corrosion by applying a protective zinc coating to the metal surface through the process of galvanisation by using methods such as hot-dip galvanisation or electrogalvanisation.

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recognise signs of corrosion

Recognise the symptoms of metal showing oxidation reactions with the environment resulting in rusting, copper pitting, stress cracking, and others, and estimate the rate of corrosion.

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record test data

Record data which has been identified specifically during preceding tests in order to verify that outputs of the test produce specific results or to review the reaction of the subject under exceptional or unusual input.

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