While Vietnamese enterprises are facing numerous difficulties and challenges arising from the global economic downturn, Export Mechanical Tool Joint Stock Company (EMTC) still scores notable successes in expanding cooperation and researching ground-breaking technological solutions to create perfect products for the market. Vietnam Business Forum has an interview with Mr Ho Viet Tam, EMTC Director, on the company’s performance. Tran Trang reports.
What strategies and directions has EMTC taken to attain positive business results in this context of economic difficulty?
In the past time, EMTC has actively invested in advanced technologies and equipment to enhance product quality and make sophisticated products as demanded by customers. Thus, the company has developed many new products and attained bigger revenues.
After going public 12 years ago, the company has invested a total of VND136 billion in 560 devices, with many changing the entire performance of the company like high-frequency hot-press hardeners which replace coal-fired kilns, automatic lathers, high-tech moulding centres, hot-press systems, continuous annealing furnaces, automatic electroplating lines, and others. By fostering worker capability, improving production organisation, and arranging equipment in accordance with Kaizen and 5S standards, we have achieved positive results. Annual revenue rises 25 - 26 percent on average. In 2001 it was VND43 billion, but soared to VND500 billion in 2011, an increase of 12 times. Workers are guaranteed better incomes and livelihoods; shareholders are paid good dividends; and all obligations to the State and society are always fulfilled.
As a parts producer for industrial companies, EMTC has made significant efforts to build up its brand name and secure a strong footing in the market. Its major customers are top motorcycle and automobile manufacturers like Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Piaggio, Ford and Toyota.
As a well-reputed mechanical brand name, what solutions has EMTC adopted to attain sustainable development?
To achieve our sustainable development objective, we focus on following works.
EMTC always builds a highly-skilled, devoted and loyal workforce. To do this, we link all their responsibilities to their interests. At the same time, we have good training policies to foster professional knowledge and skills.
EMTC always imposes strict management on product quality, because this is the only way to keep the trust with customers and enhance the value of the company's brand name.
What do you think about Japanese partners and market? How do you and EMTC want to deepen cooperation with Japanese firms?
EMTC was one of the first Vietnamese enterprises to supply parts for FDI companies. We have built good prestige among customers. We have received significant support from Japanese partners, from training personnel of quality management, the sense of product quality, production process management, and the sense of working principles. In fact, I felt uncomfortable about their meticulousness, strict control and work examination when we started working with them. At that time, we thought their activities were unnecessary, but we gradually understood the importance of what they had done. Our meticulousness in pre-production examination, document control, and production control has supported our development to help us win the trust of customers. And, our company has become a trusted parts supplier for industrial companies. Our revenues have thus kept rising.
We always need more assistance from Japanese partners, especially Japan - Vietnam cooperation agencies like JICA and JETRO, and manufacturers like Honda, Yamaha and Toyota.
Vietnamese
