Sneak Peek at Weaknesses of Vietnam Welding Industry

There are always two sides to anything. While Vietnam welders have been more recognized for quality and work attitude, there remain some limitations to be overcome in this industry towards brighter future for Vietnam welding.

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It is necessary to recognize good points the welding industry got and achievements it gained. It is more necessary to figure out and fix downsides to it for national welding development and higher creditability on its workforce competencies. Below specifies 5 limitations with Vietnam welding industry and how they have been overcome.

1. While there are certified, skilled workers, there remain those without proper training 

Will your career be as bright as welding arc if you, as an amateur welder, diligently learn skills and show good work ethic?

Vietnam welders have been highly preferred among foreign employers as being clever, skilled, experienced and hard working. Their skills are often obtained from training and work practice. Still, there are some amateur welding workers without any official training and degree. They have accumulated knowledge through learning from their peers and/ or seniors that they respect and trust, and their skills grow by practical experience. Many of them were successful in this career as a result of diligent work and eager-to-learn attitude. Their work ethic and skills are amazing, and they are now making the good money. Meanwhile, some were lacking in skills and information of labor safety. This problem has been taken with best care by enterprises, vocational schools and placement agencies. Employers are more engaged in manpower training. Vocational schools have attracted increasing number of students due to their affordable fees and facilitating their students learning at school and working part time for money and experience accumulation. Those schools also offered professional training as required by employers. For best quality workers supply, hiring companies in Vietnam have poured out lots of time and efforts looking qualified welders across over the country and providing intensive trainings. 

2. There are limited modern welding equipment and devices

Some training schools haven’t kept up with continuous technology innovation at enterprises. Indeed, their facilities weren’t updated, and tools and equipment weren’t adequately offered for an increasing number of trainees. With this shortage, students will find it harder to learn and upgrade skills and miss the chance to access and get familiar with more productive equipment that produces superior weld quality. Just imagine, using FCAW will result in 300% higher productivity than when manual SMAW is employed, in terms of lbs of weld per hour.

FCAW  (left) is 300% more productive than manual SMAW (right) in terms of lbs of weld per hour

As a solution to this shortage, the Government, companies and associations have strongly encouraged and generously supported training centers and colleges with advanced equipment and devices. Those schools themselves have also attempted for proper investment in latest training equipment in response to higher skill demand. Vietnam welding industry can be confident with their further success in the near future.

3. There is inadequate information about welding industry

Let welding occupation be more known!

There have not been lots of updates about this industry in Vietnam. Not few people would consider welding as a blue collar job only and have no idea of its job types and its crucial role in national development. That’s why this promising industry needs more promotion, and proper orientation among learners.

4. There needs more effective leadership 

A good leader will hold the key to problems

Leaders are not only responsible for his work accomplishment but also his team members/ subordinates’ results. This doesn’t hold for some welding supervisors in Vietnam. It is not that they are not good at checking and discovering defects. What they lack is the ability to identify causes, root cause and come up with optimal countermeasures. That led to a waste of time, cost and efforts redoing welds. Related training and clear identification of roles and responsibilities will help this case. 

5. There needs more focus on labor safety

This cake is called S'mores because it is too delicious to eat just one. Welding safety is too important to just involve protective equipment...

Worker injuries may be the biggest financial risk employers face, especially for skilled welders. This induces really expensive downtime and lost productivity. That is why Vietnam welding industry has poured proper investment in work protective equipment – for example, welding helmet, hand shield, goggles, fire/flame resistant clothing and aprons, boots, gloves, etc. Along with the industry development, it is increasingly important to fullest equip welders with best possible safety equipment. That way not only does good to worker safety but also working performance. Any interruption due to work accidents would induce weld’s failure. Welding protective equipment has been currently available on the market at good prices. While labor safety in this regard has been improved, work arrangement with risk assessment and mitigation have not been properly taken care. There should involve careful assessment of surrounding environment, welding sites for fire and explosion prevention.

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