Encouraging Businesses to Improve Productivity and Product Quality

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has just approved the national program to support enterprises to improve productivity and product quality in the period 2021 - 2030.

According to the decision, the Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam to assume the prime responsibility for implementing the program; to guide relevant ministries, agencies and localities to develop plans and implement the tasks of the program. In which, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) is responsible for leading and coordinating with the Ministry of Science and Technology, relevant ministries, agencies and localities to mobilize and introduce enterprises to participate in the program; coordinate with ministries, agencies and localities to organize propaganda and raise awareness about productivity and quality for enterprises. VCCI is to take part in the consideration and selection of collectives and individuals with achievements in productivity and quality enhancement.

The overall objective of the program is to support enterprises to improve productivity and product quality (productivity and quality) on the basis of applying solutions to standards, technical regulations, management systems, contributing to increasing the proportion of the total factor productivity (TFP) to economic growth, improving the productivity, quality, efficiency and competitiveness of the economy.

Accordingly, in the period of 2021-2025, the harmonization rate of the national standard system with international standards and regional standards will reach about 65%; granting training and standard certification for about 600 experts in productivity at ministries, agencies, localities and enterprises.

The number of enterprises receiving annual support for solutions to improve productivity and quality increases by 10-15%. The number of ISO 9001 quality management system certificates and the number of ISO 14001 environmental management system certificates granted to businesses increase at least 10% compared to the 2011-2020 period. At least 100 enterprises are instructed to synchronously apply solutions to improve productivity and quality, becoming models for sharing and replicating nationwide.

In the period of 2026-2030, the harmonization rate of the national standards system with international standards and regional standards will be around 70-75%; granting training and standards certifications for about 1,000 experts in productivity and quality, of which about 200 experts are certified with regional and international qualifications.

In order to achieve the above objectives, the program sets out tasks and solutions to improve mechanisms and policies to promote productivity and quality improvement activities; research and propose mechanisms, policies and solutions on science, technology and innovation to improve the productivity of the country, industries, localities and enterprises in the process of economic restructuring. The program also aims at developing a productivity improvement master plan based on science, technology and innovation.

At the same time, it aims at strengthening information and communication on productivity and quality; promoting the dissemination and guidance on the application of management systems, productivity and quality improvement tools, especially supportive tools for smart production and smart services in enterprises. The program also aims at honoring and rewarding collectives and individuals with high achievements in productivity and quality activities, encouraging and supporting enterprises to participate in National Quality Awards programs.

In addition, the program will support enterprises to apply standards, technical regulations, management systems, basic quality and productivity improvement tools, promoting the application of specific management systems and productivity improvement tools. It will support businesses to apply a system of traceability of products and goods, and application of good agricultural practices (GAP) for organic agricultural production.

In particular, the program will attach importance to training human resources for productivity and quality improvement, developing and promulgating criteria and standards for productivity specialists, and expanding productivity and quality training in universities, colleges and vocational schools.

By Quynh Chi, Vietnam Business Forum