A company site visit, an enjoyable lunch, and playing soccer and other exciting games with friends summed up Day 7!
Coherent was our fifth company visit, and it was definitely the most technical one so far. Nevertheless, it was still engaging, mainly because of how much new information I was absorbing. If I had to describe Coherent to a peer, I’d say it’s a company that makes the technology behind other companies’ impressive features. For example, they produce tools used in facial recognition for phones. They’re not the flashy brand on the product, but they power what makes those products innovative.
One part of the tour that really stood out to me was learning how labor-intensive it is to produce some of their components. This is one of the reasons Coherent has expanded operations into countries like China and Vietnam. Our guide enthusiastically explained that workers in Vietnam earn around $3 an hour, working 10 hours a day, six days a week. At first, I was surprised by how low the hourly pay is and the long work day. However, after learning that Vietnam’s GDP per capita is about $4,000 and that workers receive breaks and a free lunch, I started to see the high benefits.
Coherent has grown significantly over the years, and with such growth comes expansion in infrastructure. This June, Coherent will open a brand-new facility right here in Vietnam! Although recent tariffs would have raised concerns, I don’t believe they would have reconsidered the expansion. Their innovations are geared toward next-generation technologies—far ahead of the curve. So while tariffs may be temporary, Coherent’s vision and long-term plans seem built to outlast them.
