Brendan Eckstrom
Sexsmith,AB
Summary
Proven expertise in welding, honed through roles at IATSE Local 873 and as a self-employed farm laborer. Demonstrates exceptional physical stamina and teamwork, significantly enhancing project efficiency and safety. Mastered advanced fabrication techniques, leading to a 20% increase in production speed.
Driven welder with experience in SMAW, FCAW, MIG, TIG welding. Well-versed in standard procedures, policies and regulations with attention to detail. Flexible with focus and commitment to safety.
Experienced Welder with background in industrial design, material stocking, product shipment and waste management. Trained across multiple types of welding, metallurgy and structural design. Expert working at heights and in enclosed spaces.
Overview
43
43
years of professional experience
Work History
Farm Laborer
Self-employeed
01.1982 - Current
- Collaborated with coworkers to complete daily farm tasks efficiently and quickly.
- Operated farm equipment such as tractors and trucks with extreme care and precision.
- Supported animal welfare by providing proper care, feeding, and living conditions for livestock.
- Cultivated soil, sowed crops, and controlled weeds by slashing or chemical spraying.
- Assisted farmers with feeding and watering cows, sheep, goats, and pigs.
- Loaded and unloaded containers of materials and products on trucks, trailers and railcars by hand or with forklift truck.
- Built and mended fencing to prevent stock from straying, divide land and improve organization.
- Watered plants during growing seasons and closely monitored crops for growth progress or issues.
- Improved farm efficiency through proper maintenance of farm equipment and machinery.
- Contributed to overall farm cleanliness by regularly removing debris from fields following harvests.
- Safely operated heavy machinery such as tractors, harvesters, and tillers to cultivate land for planting new crops.
- Weeded gardens with garden forks, hoes and trowels, regularly using mulch mixed in with pre-emergent to prevent weeds from germinating.
Welder
IATSE Local 873
05.2018 - 08.2024
- Welded in flat, horizontal, vertical, and overhead positions.
- Maintained clean working environment by consistently organizing tools and equipment, promoting workplace safety.
- Demonstrated versatility in various welding methods including MIG, TIG, Stick, and Flux Core Welding techniques.
- Fabricated shop parts directly from blueprints.
- Inspected welds and checked critical measurements to meet specifications.
- Operated hoists, cranes, and power tools to dismantle equipment to find and remove defective parts.
- Clamped, held, tack-welded, heat-bent and bolted component parts to achieve required configurations and positions.
- Prepared welding equipment to perform advanced welding work.
- Enhanced welding quality by following precise welding procedures and maintaining proper equipment settings.
- Removed and repaired unacceptable welds with air arc and grinder to meet quality guidelines.
- Utilized blueprints and diagrams to compare finished products against design specifications.
- Reduced workplace accidents through strict compliance with safety regulations and guidelines.
- Increased production efficiency with expert time management skills and adherence to project deadlines.
- Delivered high-quality customer service as a reliable and skilled welder, contributing to positive company reputation and repeat business.
- Assisted in blueprint reading and interpretation for accurate alignment of parts during assembly process.
- Completed welding projects using gas tungsten arc, gas metal arc, flux-cored arc, plasma arc, and shielded metal arc equipment.
- Optimized material usage by accurately measuring and cutting required components prior to welding.
- Collaborated with team members for seamless project execution, improving overall productivity.
- Set up and operated shielded metal arc and gas metal arc welding equipment.
- Chipped off excess weld, slag, and spatter using hand tools.
- Provided support in developing custom jigs/fixtures to facilitate more efficient production workflows.
- Conducted thorough inspections of welds to ensure adherence to industry standards and codes.
- Developed customized welding techniques for unique materials, optimizing fabrication processes.
- Salvaged and rebuilt parts to achieve cost savings and reduce waste.
- Troubleshot technical issues during the welding process, minimizing downtime on projects.
- Strengthened client relationships by delivering consistent, high-quality workmanship on all projects.
- Addressed potential hazards or equipment malfunctions to prevent serious problems.
- Streamlined work processes through effective communication with supervisors and team members about project requirements and progress updates.
- Optimized welding supply inventory, preventing project delays by ensuring all necessary materials were on hand.
- Optimized fuel usage during welding operations, contributing to cost savings and energy efficiency.
- Contributed to environmental sustainability by implementing metal recycling practices in workshop.
- Maintained high standard of quality control, ensuring all welds met or exceeded industry standards.
- Enhanced workshop safety by consistently adhering to all safety protocols and conducting regular equipment checks.
- Conducted rigorous post-weld inspections to guarantee structural integrity of each piece.
- Reduced material waste with careful planning and accurate cutting of metal components.
- Increased operational lifespan of equipment with regular maintenance and timely repairs.
- Solved complex welding challenges by applying specialized techniques in MIG, TIG, and Stick welding.
- Assisted in project estimation by providing accurate time and material assessments for welding tasks.
- Chipped away debris and thick crusts of rust, slag, and other materials to ready surfaces for welding.
- Avoided warping, shrinkage, and distortion by carefully controlling welding processes.
- Prepared for assembly by positioning, aligning and securing parts using tools such as jigs and vises.
- Inspected welds for accuracy and conformance to specifications.
- Cleaned material surfaces to remove dirt or excess acid using chemical solutions, wire brushes and grinders.
- Bolted, clamped and tack-welded parts to secure components prior to welding.
- Welded various connections with high-quality final results.
- Maintained safety by wearing protective equipment, staying alert and following procedures.
- Welded metal components in vertical, overhead and flat positions.
- Cut, grinded and bent edges of materials to be joined for snug fit using power grinders and hand tools.
- Enhanced aesthetic appeal of final products with skilled finishing techniques for smooth and clean welds.
- Collaborated on design of custom metalwork projects, meeting client specifications with innovative solutions.
- Increased efficiency in metal fabrication with precise welding techniques for complex assemblies.
- Improved project completion times by streamlining welding processes for structural components.
- Led team training sessions, boosting overall skill levels with advanced welding techniques.
Education
No Degree - Welding Foundation
ITT Tec
Toronto, ON05.2018
Bachelor of Fine Arts - Theatre
Memorial University of Newfoundland
St John’s, NL05.2010
Skills
Heavy Lifting
Farm equipment operation
Physical Stamina and Endurance
Welding
Fabrication
Stick Welding
Blueprint Reading
Torch cutting
Layout and Fitting
Shaping and cutting
Vertical Welding
Structural welding
Crane Operation
Teamwork and Communication
First Aid Training
Languages
English
Full Professional
Timeline
Welder
IATSE Local 873
05.2018 - 08.2024
Farm Laborer
Self-employeed
01.1982 - Current
No Degree - Welding Foundation
ITT Tec
Bachelor of Fine Arts - Theatre
Memorial University of Newfoundland
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