ISO Trendy among Vietnamese Enterprises
Nowadays, the application of quality management standard ISO 9000 has become a trend among Vietnamese businesses. ISO 9000 is considered the key for the question of competition of businesses, helping them to standardize their management system, minimize costs of operation, raise productivity and prestige, and increase option possibilities for customers. It is also seen as a passport for enterprises to expand and penetrate into international market.
ISO 9000 was introduced to Vietnam in 1996 with two companies being certified, the Castrol and the Electrical Cable and Wire Company (TAYA). The figure has now reached 2,000 businesses, which are assessed to have better operations and higher customer appreciation.
However, many enterprises in Vietnam are still chasing ISO and take it as a decoration, said Pho Duc Tru, expert of the Quality Productivity Network. In fact, the operation system of these companies remains rigid and outdated. This is very dangerous because ISO is a management system which is continuously improved upon. This system will be of no use if enterprises who have been certified don’t follow up on ISO procedures , Tru stressed.
At present, only 15-20 organisations in Vietnam provide ISO certificates for businesses as well as inspecting the application of this standard. Under regulations, poorly applied businesses will have their certificate revoked. In other countries, this system is updated and changed for every six months. Anyone who cannot catch up with this will be eliminated from the playing field.
According to Nguyen Thi Bich Hang, Director of Vietnam Productivity Centre, Vietnam has yet to introduce a real ISO playing field for businesses. On the other hand, many enterprises have yet to get used to this, which consequently makes their system more complicated and of lower value. Business leaders themselves have not fully grasped strategic objectives and quality principles. As a result, many enterprises are rushing for ISO to attract customers but neglect services to keep them which only helps to drive customers away.
Normally, it takes 8-18 months to develop an ISO system in an enterprise. The period depends on the business status and scale of application as well as the pledge of the leader together will full participation of the company staff.
There must be a long-term commitment which has great impact on the prestige and competitive capacity of enterprises, Tru pointed out.
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