Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung (BIBB)

Designation of occupation

Materials tester (m/f)

Duration of traineeship

3,5 years.
Training is provide in one of three specialist areas:

• metallurgy
• semi-conductor technology
• heat treatment technology

Field of activity

Materials testers are qualified to work unaided, examining materials and workpieces and using technological processes to alter their properties. They have basic metalworking skills. Detailed knowledge of the preceding production and processing steps enables them to analyse the causes of faults that have been identified and thus to gain information on preventing such faults. Testing methods are generally governed by standards or other sets of rules in relation to method of execution, presentation of results and quality assurance.

Occupational skills

Materials testers specializing in metallurgy

• examine materials submitted, primarily semi-finished metal products and metal workpieces and materials, for internal or external faults and test to ensure the maintenance of product quality;
• carry out investigations in the event of a failure in order to establish the cause of the failure;
• establish material properties, e.g. hardness, strength, ductibility, generally using destructive and non-destructive test procedures;
• prepare materials and inspect them microscopically for grain size, occlusions, arrangement of structure, etc.;
• document all results and test their plausibility.

Materials testers specializing in semi-conductor technology

• work in the semi-conductor industry and carry out tests and intermediate and final inspections on semi-conductor materials and components using specific investigation procedures;
• follow through the processes involved in the production of semi-conductor components from the silicon wafer stage to the finished product, the integrated circuit (chip);
• examine and analyse faulty products in order to obtain information on production irregularities;
• work in a self-reliant manner to carry out all the necessary individual quality assurance steps and assess the end results. Materials testers specializing in heat treatment technology
• apply different heat treatment processes to metals and metal workpieces which are likely to have to withstand particular stresses;
• adjust workpieces to specified tolerances;
• operate, control and maintain plant, machinery and furnaces used in the heat treatment process,
• particularly in the hardening process;
• investigate the results of heat treatment.

Last modified on: July 30, 2007