In 1972, the welding department personnel at Blackhawk Technical Institute in Wisconsin undertook the project of updating the curriculum of their one-year welding degree program. A study was conducted of local welding industries to determine hiring policies, the tools and equipment a beginning welder should purchase, the types of welding processes used, and professional ratings of skills required of novice welders. Sixty-nine out of the ninety-one companies known to do welding in the Blackhawk Technical Institute District were asked to participate in the study, and forty-three of these were eventually interviewed. Based on their responses, it was concluded that (1) most companies are willing to aid schools seeking their advice on curriculum revision, (2) modern (semi-and/or fully-automatic) welding processes must be introduced into businesses because of the lack of skilled welders, and (3) industry is willing to hire trained graduates of welding programs. Also, it was recommended that similar studies be conducted every three to five years to update the curriculum. (The appendixes give the following information: names and addresses of companies asked to participate and interviewed, samples of letters and forms used in the survey, and a copy of the survey instrument.) (ELG)