As demand for skilled professionals continues in the construction and steel industry, welding training at Nordec’s Peräseinäjoki factory has become a proactive way to recruit and develop talent. A programme launched in the autumn of 2024 has delivered promising results, with seven of the eight participants now working in production roles.

Welding training at Nordec’s Peräseinäjoki factory

The programme was closely aligned with day-to-day factory work, and the transition from the classroom to full-time responsibilities was smooth. Participants said the skills and tasks covered during training matched what they now do in production. Experienced colleagues have provided support when needed.

“Everyone has been very helpful, and it’s been easy to ask for guidance,” says Sameli Rintala, who joined Nordec after working in the forest industry and looking for more stable employment closer to home.

Production Manager Janne Kivelä says commitment and development are clear across the production floor and the learning curve has been excellent. Participants joined their teams right after training and kept learning through hands-on experience. Kivelä believes this has worked better than a traditional approach. “The programme has proven to be the most effective way to recruit new employees into production.”

Another participant, Juhana Kallioniemi, came to the programme with a background in warehouse logistics and a welding qualification but no prior work experience in the field. “I had studied welding before, but this was a good opportunity to refresh my skills and actually start working in the field,” he says.

Production Manager Kivelä with new welders Kallioniemi and Rintala.

Results and next steps for the Peräseinäjoki team

For Rintala, the training also opened doors to wider responsibilities. He says he practiced the tasks for a few weeks and now takes on extra duties such as programming and shift monitoring when needed. Supervisors have noticed the progress as well. “There has been direct feedback that it has gone well. The next step is to introduce more challenges so that development continues. It has been impressive to watch the growth over just one year,” says Kivelä.

At the start of the summer holiday season, some new employees substituted in other roles to gain experience and support daily operations.Kivelä points out that this flexibility has strengthened the unit. “Productivity and quality have improved, and teamwork across the unit has become stronger.”

The one-year anniversary meeting confirmed that the model works. Both employees and management gave positive feedback. The training structure will stay the same, with the next programme already planned for later. The model is also being considered for other Nordec locations facing similar recruitment needs.

“The production teams deserve particular thanks. The entire factory organisation has gone out of its way to provide help and support,” Kivelä adds.