CWI Cole Warner Makes His Mark

At the young age of 27, this welding trainer and inspector already has many accomplishments

BY KRISTIN CAMPBELL, managing editor of the Welding Journal.

This article originally appeared in CWI Corner, Inspection Trends, February 2021 issue (pages 14–16).

Do you have something to sip on while reading this profile? If not, go get a cup of coffee, or fetch your favorite beverage to enjoy alongside learning about Cole Warner.

Allowing his own spark to shine, Warner’s starting out early in his career wearing many helmets. At Lippert  Components Inc. (lci1.com), Goshen, Ind., he’s a welding trainer who uses his Certified Welding Inspector (CWI) skill set in various ways, including on steel I-beams. Find out more about his past, present, and future within this article.

Life in the Fast Lane

Rather fitting, Warner is a self-professed “car guy” who hails from Tipton, Ind., a mere hour away from Indianapolis where the famous motor speedway and Indy 500 take place.

 In high school, he took an automotive class while looking for employment in line with his hobby. Performing mechanic tasks led to welding. In wanting to know more about arcs and sparks, he took courses at a center in nearby Elwood, Ind. Over time, he was pleased to change gears from detasseling corn to securing shop work.

Warner stayed in state for college and kept on taking automotive courses. But his father thought he should keep pursuing welding, so he did at Vincennes University.

“The reason I’m at where I am,” Warner said with gratitude, is because of the guidance given by instructors Thomas L. Newman (dearly departed) and Mike Hastings. He continues to honor them by paying it forward.

In 2016, Warner graduated from the university with an associate’s degree in welding technology. For nearly two years after, he served at the university as a program coordinator/adjunct professor, working with new hires for Lippert Components. He instructed them on how to weld and basic theory. He was able to train many students through a grant from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development’s Skill UP Indiana program that enabled students to earn an advanced welding certificate and credits from the university to use toward an associate’s degree in welding. Warner joined Lippert Components at the end of 2017.

Current Day Customs

Warner is a welding trainer at Lippert Components, a supplier of components to the recreational vehicle (RV) and residential housing industries, along with adjacent industries, including bus, cargo and equestrian trailer, marine, and heavy truck. It has more than 70 facilities throughout the United States, Canada, Ireland, Italy, and the United Kingdom.

More than 650 welders, across four plants, work for the company in Elkhart County, Ind., for the chassis division. They perform gas metal arc welding (GMAW), hybrid laser GMAW, pulse GMAW, and metal cored GMAW.

“We’re training incoming welders,” Warner added. He values the mentoring aspects of training and acknowledges “a lot of pride” goes into crafting welds, akin to signing your name.

The chassis division builds 1300 frames/day, a number that still impresses Warner. To maintain these high production numbers, the company recently created the Chassis Training Center. “Fifty people now have trained in the last few months,” Warner said about the new space. He played a part in its establishment and praised Jose Baez, his colleague who speaks Spanish, for acting as a translator between some trainees.

Surprisingly, production has increased 20% during the pandemic. This could be attributed to families preferring RV travel over an airplane. “Interesting year for sure,” Warner reasoned.

He’s also in awe of the company’s R&D department and likes following projects, progress from an idea to a full build.

“Everything is a learning process,” Warner said. Implementing inspection practices is part of his forte, too.

Becoming a CWI

Always up for a good challenge, Warner heard the CWI test was hard. Therefore, he thought, “Why not give it a try?”

He forged ahead, deciding to foot the funds and put his skills to the test. Part of his preparation included an in-person, six-day seminar taught by CWI Paul W. Cameron. He chose testing to the American Welding Society’s (AWS’s) D1.1, Structural Welding Code — Steel.

Warner took studying seriously. “I really don’t want to fail,” he recalled.

The AWS Member Network was a good support as well. Spotting various posts helped him be a fly on the wall gathering tips from questions asked and responses given.

His hard efforts paid off in the form of passing.

Currently, his CWI prowess is used in different ways. For example, he’s often called on at the I-beam processing center. Steel I-beams are welded there from end to end. Looking at the welds for defects, then using inspection tools, if necessary, occurs. With the large quantities produced, scanning technology is further utilized. Not that long ago, more employees were hired to help meet these needs. Imperfections need to be caught and fixed, so finished products will be reliable and sound.

“We’re hands on with day-to-day inspection,” Warner said.

Depending on the metal thickness, AWS D1.3, Structural Welding Code — Sheet Steel; D1.1; C7.2, Recommended Practices for Laser Beam Welding, Cutting, and Allied Processes; and C7.6, Process Specification and Operator Qualification for Laser Hybrid Welding, are adhered to.

He also performs both fillet weld break and fatigue tests, plus he inspects bent samples.

Evaluating weld quality, then making further decisions based on that, is important; welding procedure specifications and procedure qualification records are also critical to the inspection process.

He cherishes that his career is challenging, involves moving in different directions, and encompasses creative thinking to discover solutions.

“I enjoy every minute of it,” Warner emphasized. He offered this advice for someone who wants to become a CWI: “Do it!”

The Road Ahead

Looking forward, Warner is excited for the future.

He hopes what’s ahead includes building training and inspection teams at Lippert Components; creating a trailer manufacturing specification; preparing the fabricators to weld to certain codes; looking at ideas for qualifying welders; becoming an AWS Senior CWI; possibly aiming for American Society for Nondestructive Testing certification; and more. In his down time, he’s training for an IRONMAN® triathlon, putting him in a different driver’s seat.

Readers may get in touch with Warner at colewarner10@gmail.com.

Achieving CWI Status

Here are two resources where you may learn more about becoming an AWS CWI.

            • Visit aws.org/certification/page/certified-welding-inspector-2.

At this website, you’ll discover the qualifications involved; exam schedule; documents needed, including various applications; photo identification requirements; certification programs 2021 price list; online courses offered; seminars available; information for becoming an AWS Test Supervisor for Certification; veteran benefits; applicant instructions; renewal details for a CWI and Senior CWI; and recertification specifics.

            • In addition, AWS has started a new initiative —webinars for individuals who’ve begun their path to earning a CWI credential.

Set to take place over 30 min, “What to Expect during the CWI Application and Certification Process” will be a short presentation with the remaining time for Q&As. This month, webinars will be held on April 7 and 21 at 2:00 p.m. EST. You may register in advance at aws.org/cwi-application-webinar. After registering, you’ll receive a confirmation email with information about how to join the webinar. Future dates include May 5 and 19; June 2, 16, and 30; July 14 and 28; August 11 and 25; September 8 and 22; October 6 and 20; November 3 and 17; and December 1 and 15. They will also be held at 2:00 p.m. EST.

Fig. 1 — Cole Warner looks over welds on steel I-beams at Lippert Components Inc., Goshen, Ind. As a practice, he first keeps an eye out for defects, then goes back with inspection tools, if necessary.