Shangsheng Acrylic Products Co., Ltd. in Dongguan has launched a monthly workshop skills training program, covering five core processing techniques: acrylic cutting, diamond polishing, seamless bonding, heat bending, and UV color printing. All workshop operators participate in hands-on learning in a rotating manner to continuously improve the precision of finished products. Acrylic products demand very high precision in craftsmanship, with high-end cultural and creative decorative items, premium store display racks, and transparent signs requiring delicate polishing, bubble-free bonding, and clear, traceless patterns. The skill level of workers directly determines the quality of the finished products. In the past, workshop training was mostly one-time teaching for new employees upon joining, while experienced employees were fixed to single processes for a long time, knowing little about other techniques, making it difficult to handle complex custom orders from customers.
Now, the company arranges two days of concentrated training each month, taught by senior technicians and technical supervisors, divided into theoretical explanations and on-site practical sessions. The theoretical part explains the key points of processing acrylic sheets of different thicknesses: thin 2mm sheets are prone to deformation during heat bending, while thick 15mm sheets require extended grinding time for polishing, and the technique for controlling the amount of adhesive used for bonding transparent sheets. The practical session provides various sample sheets for employees to practice seamless bonding, irregular heat bending, and fine polishing of small items in groups. After completing the work, supervisors provide feedback, pointing out defects such as scratches, gaps, and curvature issues, with repeated adjustments and practice on-site.
In addition to basic processing techniques, the training content now includes complementary knowledge for UV printing, explaining the differences in ink adhesion on various sheets, surface cleaning steps for frosted and dual-color sheets before printing, and the operation technique for glossy浮雕 layers, addressing common issues such as printing detachment and hazy images. New and experienced employees are taught separately, with new employees focusing on basic cutting and grinding operations, while experienced employees concentrate on processing irregular and complex products, learning to read complex drawings and handle non-standard items, achieving multi-skilling and flexible allocation of personnel during order peaks to avoid delays due to insufficient manpower in single processes.
After the training, a unified practical assessment is conducted, and only operators who meet the standards in processing samples are allowed to work on high-end custom orders. Employees who fail the assessment are arranged for remedial training and can participate in production after becoming proficient. Additionally, a process improvement reward system is established, selecting operators with fine craftsmanship and fewer defects each month to provide corresponding incentives, motivating workers to improve their techniques.
With the implementation of regular training, the workshop's ability to handle irregular and complex acrylic custom orders has significantly improved. Many customers order custom irregular-shaped display stands and irregular signs, which the workshop can process into one piece without multiple reworks. The sample production cycle has been shortened, and the precision of the samples has gained recognition from many cultural and creative brands and chain stores, leading to a continuous increase in new custom sampling orders.
The company leader mentioned that acrylic processing belongs to the precision manufacturing industry. Equipment is just the foundation, while skilled craftsmanship of workers is the key to enhancing product quality. Long-term commitment to skill training can not only reduce raw material waste and lower rework costs but also produce higher quality finished products to meet customers' diverse and high-end customization needs.
CN