In the marine coatings industry, strong technical service support is essential to ensuring quality, reliability and trust during projects. At Nippon Paint Marine, our marine coatings technical service representatives work closely with shipyards, shipowners and partners to provide smooth solutions to project challenges, supporting coating performance throughout a vessel’s lifecycle.
In this edition of our employee blog series, we introduce Tei Hobin, a member of the Marine Coatings Technical Service Representative (TSR) Group of Shikoku and the MC Technology Division, who provides technical guidance and on-site support across newbuilding and maintenance projects as part of our Shikoku Region Branch in Kagawa, Japan.
Tei Hobin, Marine Coatings Technical Service Representative, Group of Shikoku
I am responsible for providing technical guidance during coating application processes at painting sites for both newbuilding and maintenance vessels. My role includes conducting quality checks and evaluating coating performance after application, as well as offering technical support to customers such as shipowners, shipyards and agencies. In addition, I support communication across regions by translating technical documents into Chinese and English.
I was motivated to join Nippon Paint Marine after learning, while studying in Japan as an international student, that Nippon Paint was highly regarded in China for being “low VOC, healthy, and safe.” I had strong trust in the brand and wanted to learn more about its technical capabilities in Japan. The opportunity to work in a global environment was also attractive. Thanks to a fortunate connection, I was able to join Nippon Paint Marine without hesitation.
Problem-solving on site
As the market share of marine coating products continues to expand, challenges inevitably arise with wider product adoption. On site, we make every effort to resolve issues before they escalate. When coating abnormalities or other problems occur, we follow observation procedures, respond promptly, communicate with relevant stakeholders and work closely with supervisors, sales teams and technical departments.
By maintaining determination and enthusiasm for problem-solving, we strive to minimise dissatisfaction from shipowners and shipyards while reducing losses for the company. I also actively gather and share market information by engaging with shipowners, shipyards, dealers and painting contractors, helping to ensure our products remain competitive and aligned with customer needs.
First impressions that last
Since July 2025, I have been stationed at Imabari Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.’s Marugame Factory, working on new ship construction projects. Imabari Shipbuilding is the largest customer for our marine coatings business and ranks highly on a global scale.
When I first entered the ship being outfitted, it felt like stepping into a labyrinth. I immediately lost my sense of direction and couldn’t tell north from south, east from west. Although I have since become accustomed to the environment through daily on-site work, that first experience left a deep and unforgettable impression.
Previously, I had never worked on the construction of container ships, so the experience initially felt overwhelming. However, over time, it has become a valuable learning opportunity that I am truly grateful for.
Building trust through response
For us as TSRs, supporting customers and ensuring smooth progress of painting work is important, but earning trust is equally essential. When problems arise, we analyse on-site painting records to determine whether the issue is product-related or application-related and respond accordingly.
If the issue lies in application, we carefully explain fundamental solutions and precautions to ensure customer understanding and satisfaction. If it is product-related, we work to address it appropriately while managing expectations and minimising dissatisfaction. Through close collaboration with technical and sales teams, we approach customer issues as one unified group.
Thanks to thorough on-site response and consistent communication, I have been fortunate to earn positive impressions and trust from shipowners and shipyards, particularly within the maintenance vessel sector.
Learning beyond the yard
One educational opportunity that left a strong impression on me is the English conversation programme RareJob, which the company subsidises at half the cost. The programme suits my learning style, and I have taken the three-month course almost every year, maintaining an attendance rate of over 80%.
By continuing to study, I have improved my practical English skills, which helps me communicate with overseas colleagues and better understand technical documentation. I am grateful for the company’s support in enabling my ongoing development.
Lastly, I would like to express my appreciation to my colleagues at the Marugame Sales Office, where we support one another and enjoy working together. Thanks to the encouragement and guidance from Manager Shimada Kodai, Seo Akira and Karai Shohei in the Marugame area, as well as Kimura Norifumi and Toruy Takaya in the Imabari area, I am able to approach my work positively every day.
