For the third consecutive year, Shandong SEM Machinery (SEM) held a welding competition for its employees and suppliers. SEM Chairman Paul Blackburn and leadership team attended the opening ceremony at Weifang Educational College on June 13. 49 welders from 11 teams participated in this year’s contest, representing SEM and nine suppliers.

SEM chief Welding Engineer Yezhong Zhang welcomed the participants and noted that the welding competition has greatly improved the quality of SEM products. For example, the crack frequency in SEM wheel loaders was reduced to 0.28% in the first five months of 2012, compared with 3.44% in the previous year.

Wang Fei, the General Manager of Shandong Linyi Ocean Fabrication Manufacturing, spoke as a supplier representative. He said in addition to product quality improvement, the competition provided a good learning opportunity for suppliers.

The contest began at 8:40 am with a theory test, followed by welding exercises. Results will be announced in early July. In August, SEM will host the first China facility welding contest, with participants coming from Wuxi, Suzhou and Wujiang.