Roughing Operator Review

Operate and control the roughing area, making sure the temperatures, the widths, the gauges and the shape are all correct but also making sure that the area is always safe for any working parties in the area as they're safety is paramount, but also no one deserves to go to work and not come home.

Learning new skills on the rougher day to day and learning how to problem solve in different situations, I am also learning on how to manage a team within an area on my shift as this is a role and responsibility to progress to higher ranks within the steel works.

The programme we followed was a very useful course that gave us a good overview of everything mechanical (bearings, engineering drawings, pumps etc..), electrical (wiring diagrams, basic circuits etc...) and pneumatically (air pressure, compressors valves etc..), but could have included some more work specific things like operating wise of how certain operations work within the working environment.

The course we followed was very well structured, they done this by releasing us on day release to college on a normal week to complete subjects like engineering math etc, 2 day blocks for mechanical and pneumatics one day for each and then week long block releases for the bigger topics.

Employer was supportive in our work giving us time if needed within working hours to get work completed for college and again if needed happy to supply laptops to support work. If we needed any further help with any of the units then we always had the older apprentices to go to for help and support and their view of things.

if unable to complete any work the college was happy to provide any assistance where needed, taking time out to have you in and go through any necessary work in order for you to complete what needed to be completed. They would even run through the unit again just in case they might of missed anything the first time.

The qualification has given me a broader understanding of how things work within the mill and not just from an operating side of things but from and engineering side of things. it also helps when trying to pin point a problem or issue so that the fitters or electrical teams can resolve the issue quickly and efficiently.

Yes, there are many extra-curricular activities which involve things like team building exercises and workshops, a multiple of courses to go on to further your knowledge including things like team leadership courses SAP courses and first aid courses and even sporting events throughout the year which include all types of sports to suit any abilities.

Yes

Tata Steel provides a good income in a small town, it is a great place to work and has provided a good income for many years within the South Wales area, the steel works has also been a part of Port Talbot for many years and hopefully for many years to come, with families and generations working here for years

Learn the processes before hand as this shows that you are willing to go off your own back and learn things not just sit by and get knowledge that is passed to you by co-workers but knowledge that can be found out anywhere with a little bit of research from the internet/ libraries or locals.