Mission

1.Background

　Japan's economy is in a gradual recovery trend against the backdrop of monetary easing, a weak yen, and low oil prices, and the manufacturing industry is maintaining high operation levels due to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and other factors, although there are regional differences. On the other hand, a shortage of skilled workers has emerged, and in the welding industry, the shortage of welding engineers who support Japan's economic foundation is becoming more serious. In terms of technology, emerging new materials require the development of more advanced welding techniques. However, the number of welding research and education institutions in Japan is decreasing, especially in rural areas, and Japan's world-leading welding technology is also in a state of concern. In response to the recent significant changes in the welding industry, our society has formulated the following activity guidelines from a medium- to long-term perspective.

2. Activity Guidelines of the Japan Welding Engineering Society

Common recognition in the welding community

  • Welding and joining are fundamental technologies essential to manufacturing.

Issues facing the welding industry

  • Globalization of the manufacturing field
    Rapid catch-up by developing countries, shift of production bases overseas, increase in foreign workers
  • Current state of the welding field in Japan
    Reduction in the number of welding-related research and educational facilities in Japan, decrease in the number of researchers, decrease in welding engineers and skilled workers in companies, and increase in the age distribution of welding-related workers due to the declining birthrate, etc.

Activity Guidelines

  • Based on the continuous efforts of industry, academia, and government, we will support the maintenance and development of world-leading welding and joining technologies and contribute to the development of Japan as a manufacturing nation.
  • Through the activities of the Expert Subcommittee, which is a grouping by industry, and the Research Committee, which is a grouping by research field, we will contribute to the development of technology in relevant fields, its dissemination and advancement, and human resource development, as well as its standardization and broad dissemination throughout society.
  • To ensure the reliability of products and structures involving welding, a system to support quality control through construction management and nondestructive testing is needed, and we will continue to develop and operate a qualification and certification system that provides objective evaluation.
  • We will proactively strengthen relations with foreign countries, especially with Asian countries, contribute to international exchange, and act as a beneficial neutral organization to member companies.
  • We will disseminate information from the "Welding Information Center" and, in addition to providing focused support to our members, appeal to society about the importance of welding and joining technology and support online educational and promotional activities.
  • We will use the Welding Information Center to promote education and dissemination to society (raising the level of the welding industry).
    1. Improve the image of the welding industry and promote the dissemination of information to young people and women
    2. Expand and promote educational content

Activity Policy of the Japan Welding Engineering Society

1. Background

　Our society analyzed the situation of the welding industry at our General Planning Meeting, identified issues to be addressed, summarized them into activity guidelines and priority measures, and approved them as the “Mission of the Japan Welding Engineering Society” at the Board of Directors Meeting in June 2015. Our society generally conducts its activities based on this mission, and each related committee has formulated specific activity policies and is currently implementing them.

　The domestic economy is expanding moderately, and in particular, the construction steel frame industry is expected to continue supporting the economy with the start of several big projects in addition to those related to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. On the other hand, due to the declining birthrate, the ratio of job openings to job applicants has exceeded that during the bubble period, and there are concerns that the labor shortage will become even more serious.

　Given this situation, our society must contribute to the welding industry and implement measures to develop the Japanese manufacturing industry as soon as possible. Therefore, the General Planning Meeting has decided to unify the specific activity plans currently being implemented or planned, including some medium- and long-term plans, into one “Activity Policy of the Japan Welding Engineering Society” and to work together as one society and to promote activities in cooperation with related organizations.

2. Current Situation Analysis of the Japan Welding Engineering Society

　In formulating the activity policy, we conducted a SWOT analysis of the risks and opportunities for the Japan Welding Engineering Society after grasping the environmental changes surrounding the welding industry. The KFS (Key Factors for Success) necessary for formulating the activity policy were extracted through a cross-SWOT analysis.

Changes in the Environment Surrounding the Japan Welding Engineering Society

  • Some manufacturing industries are returning to Japan.
  • The construction and steel frame industries are expected to remain steady for the time being with the start of big projects, including the Tokyo Olympics.
  • There are concerns that a shortage of welding engineers will become the normal situation in the future due to a decline in the number of instructors caused by an aging workforce and declining birthrate.
  • The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has tightened its requirements for welding quality.
  • Regarding certification, the number of applicants for welding engineers and welding coordinators has increased for two consecutive years, and this year's numbers are also favorable.
  • The number of research and educational institutions has been decreasing, especially in rural areas, and welding education has not been sufficiently provided.
  • The pass rate for new applicants for welding engineers has been declining year after year.
  • The activities of Expert Subcommittees and Research Committees are beginning to show signs of vitality.

3.Activity Policy of the Japan Welding Engineering Society

　Specific measures developed to realize KFS (Key Factors for Success) are listed below as the activity policy of the Japan Welding Engineering Society

  • Further promote qualifications by improving the service, quality, and efficiency of the certification business
    •  Improve candidate services by upgrading the certification system
    • Improve the quality and efficiency of administrative work (strengthening compliance) by upgrading the certification system
    • Expand the Welding Coordinator Certification System overseas, with a focus on Asia
  • Expand public relations and improve the image of welding
    • Appeal to the general public about the excellence and importance of welding technology and skills
    • Create public relations tools
    • Utilize media and events
  • Attract human resources to address the shortage of welding engineers and skilled workers
    • Increase the number of female welding engineers to address the decline in the working population (as a combined package with people from overseas, young people, and elderly people).
    • Promote the attractiveness of welding to young people
    • Promote and expand welding through support for welding competitions for high school students
    • Expand JIS Welding Engineers Certification to Asian countries to utilize people from overseas
  • Expand welding education to pass on skills and improve welding quality
    • Stimulate local welding research and education
    • Start and spread welding engineer education
    • Strengthen skill transfers (Meister system, technical support for local fabs)
    • Start basic welding education (start in cooperation with related organizations, targeting industries with high needs such as construction)
  • Strengthen efforts in fields where the activities of Expert Subcommittees and Research Committees are limited (such as the construction industry), identify their needs, and respond
    • Support basic education and respond to the shortage of skilled workers mentioned above
  • Expand the scope of activities through joint projects of academia and society to meet the needs of the industry
    • Build a platform for academia and society
    • Determine the content of joint projects between academia and society (JIW Joint Planning Committee)
    • Select the content of activities (outreach, innovation, AI, etc.)
    • Disseminate new technologies systematically by Subcommittees and Research committees
    • Promote information dissemination activities through more active use of the Welding Information Center