Enhancing productivity and quality - Driving double-digit growth.

Vietnam's economy aims for double-digit GDP growth from 2026, requiring productivity and quality to become mandatory factors that determine the competitiveness of businesses and national development.

The journey of nearly 30 years, from the initiation of the productivity and quality movement in 1995 to the current National Program 1322 for the period 2021-2030, has marked a clear transformation: from the initial awareness of product quality to making productivity and quality the core foundation of digital transformation and international integration.

The journey to enhance productivity and quality.

The story begins in August 1995, when former Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh chaired the first Quality Conference and officially laid the first "foundation stone" for the national productivity and quality movement. This marked the beginning of a period when Vietnamese businesses began systematically accessing improvement tools, modern management systems, and international standards.

Chairman of the National Committee for Standards, Metrology and Quality, Mr. Nguyen Nam Hai. Photo by N.N.

Twenty years later, the Quality Decade (1996-2015) and Program 712 (2010-2020) laid a solid foundation. To date, the National Program to Support Businesses in Improving Productivity and Product Quality for the period 2021-2030 (Program 1322) continues its mission with a new vision: transforming productivity and quality activities into one of the main pillars of the national digital transformation strategy.

In just the first five years (2021-2025), despite being heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Program 1322 has achieved remarkable results. According to a report by the Ministry of Science and Technology , more than 1,700 new national technical standards and regulations have been issued, with a harmonization rate with international standards reaching 63%. Nearly 5,000 businesses have directly benefited from consulting, training, evaluation, and improvement activities; more than 6,410 businesses nationwide have received support (cumulatively up to 2024) through Program 1322 and other integrated programs.

The specific figures show even more significant results: Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) increased by an average of 20%, inventory value decreased by 45%, late delivery rates decreased by 44%, labor productivity increased by over 30%, and production and business cost savings exceeded 10%...

In particular, many solutions have deeply integrated Industry 4.0 technologies. For example, the AI-powered database applied in the garment industry's production preparation has helped some large enterprises reduce labor time in garment preparation by 30-45%. Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) have been successfully implemented in many factories, optimizing resources and costs. 308 enterprises have adopted advanced standards such as ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety), ISO 27001 (information security), ISO 31000 (risk management), or Lean tools combined with digitalization in hospitals and rubber and wood processing businesses.

Mr. Nguyen Nam Hai, Chairman of the National Committee for Standards, Metrology and Quality ( Ministry of Science and Technology ), emphasized: "We are not only fulfilling administrative targets but are also creating momentum for genuine growth. The ultimate goal is to contribute to achieving double-digit growth for the country as set by the Government."

He also particularly emphasized the "three-party" linkage model (State – University/research institute – Enterprise) to bring scientific research results into solving practical business problems as quickly as possible.

Improving standards and promoting digital transformation to enhance business productivity.

At the recent five-year review workshop of Program 1322, experts unanimously agreed that the period from 2026 to 2030 will be a breakthrough time if two levers are effectively utilized: perfecting the national standards system and accelerating digital transformation in businesses.

Mr. Nguyen Tung Lam, Director of the Vietnam Productivity Institute (VNPI), commented: "Vietnam's quality management has gone through a long journey from product management → process management → continuous improvement → modern management. The new trend is to put people at the center and strongly integrate digital technology, big data, and AI." He highly appreciated the role of Programs 712 and 1322 in helping businesses systematically access advanced management models, thereby significantly raising awareness of productivity and quality.

However, the gap between pioneering businesses and those still "reluctant to change" remains significant. Many small and medium-sized enterprises lack resources, expertise, and do not yet consider productivity as a long-term survival strategy.

From a state management perspective, Dr. Tran Hau Ngoc, Vice Chairman of the National Standards, Metrology and Quality Committee, stated that the goal of increasing the national standards harmonization rate to 75% by 2030 is a mandatory commitment for Vietnamese businesses to reduce risks when participating in global value chains, especially in the context of the rising green and circular economies. He emphasized: "Digital transformation is no longer a trend but a survival requirement. Management systems based on real-time data, automation, and AI will be key to increasing labor productivity, tightly controlling quality, and minimizing errors."

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Le Xuan Dinh highly appreciated the fact that the goal of establishing 100 model enterprises in productivity and quality had been achieved 5 years ahead of schedule (as of November 2025, there were 102 enterprises). However, the goal of training and certifying 1,000 productivity experts according to national and APO standards remains a major challenge in the next 5 years.

Mr. Ngo Quy Viet, former Director General of the General Department of Standards, Metrology and Quality, and Head of the Program Steering Committee, called for the continued maintenance and enhancement of the productivity and quality movement, focusing on the areas most in need by society: food safety, green economy, and circular economy. "The sooner businesses adapt, the greater their competitive advantage," he said.

Under the decisive direction of Directive 38-CT/TW (Secretary of the Central Committee) and Resolutions 57 and 68-NQ/TW (Political Bureau), Program 1322 is being reviewed and adjusted to synchronize policies, standards, and implementation methods. This forms the foundation for tens of thousands of Vietnamese businesses to easily access the most modern productivity solutions in the next decade, thereby creating sustainable and substantial growth momentum for the entire economy.

Nearly 30 years of improving productivity and quality has proven that when the State, universities, and businesses work together, Vietnam can absolutely turn challenges into opportunities to rise strongly in the digital age and global integration. The upcoming period of 2026-2030 is the time for the entire political system and business community to act more decisively than ever before.

According to Business Forum Magazine

Source: https://mst.gov.vn/nang-tam-nang-suat-chat-luong-dong-luc-tang-truong-hai-con-so-197251213152327735.htm