Solution to increase goods productivity and quality

To ensure rapid and sustainable economic development, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has adopted a national programme to increase the productivity and quality of Vietnamese goods as well as businesses’ competitive edge from now through 2020.

A VOV Reporter recently talked with Deputy Head of the General Department of Standards, Measurement and Quality, Vu Van Dien about the issue.

VOV: To what level are businesses aware of the application of advanced technologies and new standards in production organisation?

Mr Dien: Drastic changes have been made in this regard. Many businesses have a better understanding of the importance of applying new technologies and standards in production organisation because they want to produce high-quality products that satisfy customers’ needs. The application of new technologies and standards in management, supply of materials and equipment, and goods consumption has greatly benefited Vietnamese businesses. At our current level of international economic integration, this application is becoming an urgent need for every business.

VOV: Last May, the PM approved a national programme to increase the productivity and quality of goods as well as businesses’ competitive capacity from now through 2020. Could you please tell us about the programme’s major targets?

Mr Dien: A number of Vietnamese businesses have now been fully aware of the need to raise the quality of capital and workers.

In fact, Vietnam’s labour productivity remains low compared to other countries in the world, even within the region. Therefore, to ensure sustainable development, businesses should increase the quality of management and effectively use all capital inflows and human resources. This is the most important target.

VOV: How many projects are there in this national programme and which is the most important?

Mr Dien: The programme has nine major projects which focus on building and applying technical standards, improving the productivity and quality of products from different sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, information and communication, construction, healthcare and transport as well as small and medium sized enterprises.

Project No. 1 is the most important and provides a foundation for building quality infrastructure. Under the project, 6,000 more new standards will be created by 2020 and which 60 percent of Vietnam’s standards will meet international and regional standards.

Another important project is project 9 which aims to improve the productivity and the quality of key products and increase businesses’ internal strength based on measures in line with local and business features.

VOV: The programme will help 100,000 businesses apply advanced technologies in production. What measures should be implemented to achieve the target?

Mr Dien: First, Vietnam must build a network of professional private organisations who specialise in productivity and quality nation-wide to disseminate skills and experiences that businesses should apply into production.

Second Vietnamese businesses should take full use of international cooperation because there are standards and regulations which are new in Vietnam but have been applied in many other countries for long time.

Third, the country should continue disseminating information to help businesses realise the need to meet technical standards and regulations at any cost.

VOV: Thank you very much

Nguyen Nam Hai, director of the Vietnam Certification Centre (QUACERT), said that the national programme devises measures to improve productivity so it is necessary to have close coordination among relevant agencies to ensure the success of the programme.

The State should issue policies to encourage businesses to apply new technologies while consultants, trainers and other relevant agencies should improve their capacity to disseminate the best solutions to businesses.

Businesses themselves must know how to access new technical standards and regulations. Currently, tertiary education does not have departments which specialise in training experts in consultancy and the application of management tools and standard systems.

Pham Van Tuan, Deputy Head of the Quality Management Department of the Urban Infrastructure Development Investment Company, said that businesses were not aware of applying technical standards and regulations 10 years ago. Now it may change but still remains a challenge for businesses. Businesses should know how to overcome these challenges because competition is becoming fiercer and fiercer and the market is expanding. If they want to develop they cannot be an outsider.

The biggest challenge for businesses in applying new technical standards and regulations into production is that many remain old-fashioned. To be successful needs practical support from relevant agencies for businesses.