Master craftsmen key to helping talent, enterprises grow

Master craftsmen should leverage their expertise to help young people and enterprises grow, as part of efforts to promote overall improvement of industries' technical standards and fulfill their social responsibility, participants said at a recent event in Chongqing.

"Craftsmen should not only strive for excellence themselves but also guide their teams and mentor young talent. They must step outside their factories and engage with more enterprises in need, particularly small and medium-sized companies and supply chain partners," said Yang Yongxiu, a senior technician from the China FAW Group, during the third Innovation Exchange Conference for Craftsmen of the Nation.

From an apprentice milling machine operator to an industry expert proficient in programming foreign computer numerical control systems, Yang was one of the 200 national master craftsmen this year.

Yang and his team have trained more than 3,000 individuals. In places like Jingmen of Hubei province and Qinhuangdao of Hebei, he has led his team to overcome more than 30 key technical challenges, helping enterprises improve processing efficiency by 20 percent.

The event, which concluded on Friday, showcased innovative achievements and celebrated the spirit of craftsmanship. It was co-hosted by the All-China Federation of Trade Unions and the Chongqing municipality.

Yang Bo, a project leader at the Chongqing Industrial Equipment Installation Group, demonstrated the tangible results of craftsmen aiding enterprises.

Also one of the 2025 national master craftsmen, he provided technical guidance on the welding of steel anchor beams and steel brackets for the Fengjie-Wushan bridge construction project. He diagnosed corrosion issues in core salt production equipment and developed customized repair plans for several salt chemical enterprises across the country.

"While helping companies solve problems, I also gained technical inspiration," Yang Bo said. This year, his research on composite metal material corrosion repair technology for salt production equipment was recognized as an outstanding construction method in Chongqing.

As a welder with 39 years of experience on the front lines, Yang Bo has participated in around 50 key projects across sectors such as chemical engineering, metallurgy, pharmaceuticals, and defense. He has led the company's technical team in overcoming dozens of welding challenges.

He also has mentored about 1,200 welding technicians, fulfilling the social responsibility of a craftsman through action.

On Thursday, a comprehensive cooperation framework for craftsmen from Sichuan province and Chongqing to assist enterprises was signed in Chongqing, covering areas such as collaborative technical problem-solving, joint skill talent training, and mentorship pairing.

Cui Xingguo, a national master craftsman and a technician at Dongfang Electric Machinery, said: "Participating in the enterprise assistance initiative is not only self-development but also an opportunity to learn from others."

As China strives to become a global manufacturing powerhouse, it faces a significant shortage of skilled laborers. In 2020, there was a talent gap of 19 million in the country's top 10 key manufacturing sectors, a figure expected to reach 30 million by 2025, according to an official report.

To address this challenge, the federation has established more than 2,600 craftsman academies nationwide, with a platform launched for employee skills services, and has created a special fund to support and incentivize national craftsmen.

Contact the writers at chenmeiling@chinadaily.com.cn