Fabrication quality is where projects quietly win or lose months of schedule. Here is what to check before signing — written by Truong Thinh Corp, a Ho Chi Minh City fabricator that owns its own 25,000 m² plant.
A steel structure factory without a documented QC system, calibrated cutting equipment, and export experience will produce inconsistent tolerances that cost far more to fix on site than they saved on the unit price. The difference rarely shows up in a first quotation — it shows up six weeks later, on site, when a connection doesn't line up.
"Buying directly from the fabricator that owns the equipment removes a layer of risk — you can request mill certificates, weld records, and inspection reports from the party that did the work."
Ask for the certificate and welder qualification records against a recognized scheme — not just a claim of certification.
Request a sample Tekla Structures drawing set to confirm the fabricator does its own detailing rather than outsourcing it.
Confirm monthly fabrication capacity against your project tonnage and delivery window — ask for the current order book.
Check customs documentation experience and prior shipments to your destination country.
Clarify whether the quote is fabrication-only or includes site erection under one contract.
| Question | Direct Fabricator (Truong Thinh) | Trading Intermediary |
|---|---|---|
| Owns cutting/welding equipment | ✓ Yes | ✗ Often subcontracted |
| Direct QC oversight | ✓ Yes | ✗ Diluted |
| Mill certs from the fabricator itself | ✓ Yes | ✗ Passed through |
| Schedule commitments | ✓ Direct | ✗ Subject to subcontractor margin |
Ask for the ISO 9001:2015 certificate and welder qualification records, request a sample Tekla Structures shop drawing to confirm in-house detailing, and check export experience to your destination country including customs documentation history.
A fabricator owns its cutting, welding and QC equipment and fabricates in-house. A trading supplier often subcontracts fabrication to third-party workshops with no direct oversight, which dilutes accountability for tolerances and schedule.
Mill test certificates per heat number, welder qualification records against a recognized scheme, and a structural design code confirmation — Vietnamese TCVN or an international code such as AISC or Eurocode.
Send your project drawings — our engineering team will return a quotation, and you can verify every claim on this page against real documentation.
