fitters

Fitters are skilled tradespeople who install, assemble, align, and adjust components and systems in various industries. They work from drawings, specifications, and engineering data to ensure parts fit together correctly and function safely. The term covers several specialties, including pipefitters, mechanical fitters, sheet metal fitters, and shipfitters.

Typical duties include reading blueprints, marking cut lines, cutting, shaping, and fitting pieces, fastening joints with bolts, screws, or welding, aligning equipment with precision, and checking tolerances using measuring tools. They may install piping systems, machinery, ducts, or structural components, connect instrumentation, and test assemblies for leaks or proper operation. When problems arise, fitters troubleshoot and adjust as needed.

Training commonly comes through apprenticeships or technical programs, combining hands-on work with classroom instruction. Licenses or certifications may be required for specialized fields, such as pipefitting or welding, and safety training (OSHA), crane operation, or lockout/tagout procedures is often required.

Work environments vary from construction sites and shipyards to factories and maintenance shops. The job can be physically demanding and may involve working at heights or in confined spaces. Fitters rely on tools such as calipers, levels, pipe cutters, pipe wrenches, torque wrenches, pliers, and welding equipment, and must follow safety protocols to prevent injuries.