Garment 10 Corp: Improving Production Capacity and Business Culture

Garment 10 is known as a national brand in the fashion industry, with a large export market. To assert its leadership in the Vietnamese fashion industry and build its global reputation, the corporation always improves its production capacity and enhances its culture. Mr. Than Duc Viet, General Director of Garment 10 Corporation, Member of the Executive Committee of VCCI (7th term), gives an interview on this issue.

To improve production and business capacity, how has Garment 10 prepared resources to modernize production lines, develop environmentally friendly technologies and reform management methods?

In the past time, Garment 10 has accelerated automation technology and digital transformation and achieved initial results. Specifically, by simplifying processes, the system has reduced intermediary stages, human resources and time at work. Applying modern technological equipment helps human resources acquire more knowledge and experience. This is another necessary step for digital transformation.

Garment 10 has invested in modern equipment such as shirt hanging lines, automatic fabric spreading - cutting machines and many modern specialized machines. Besides, the corporation has applied advanced management software to support administration, including material management software, output export and import reporting management software, and document digitization management software.

In our professional departments, we are applying advanced software for 2D and Fit 3D designs to check fitness, style and balance of samples, measure and check fabric parameters as for finished products. Especially, customers can browse samples remotely.

At manufacturing plants, a software system has been applied to connect data from devices at all stages on sewing lines and aggregate factory data; and help managers to monitor via smartphones and computers at any location. The intelligent system can control real-time working parameters and performance of equipment, help managers understand production situations, line balances, labor and equipment arrangement.

In the context of economic integration, Vietnam's textile and garment industry, including Garment 10, is aiming to "go green" to demonstrate social responsibility to the environment and bring many benefits to businesses at the same time. Garment 10 always aims for sustainable development and uses green energy in the most practical jobs. In November 2022, Garment 10 signed a cooperation agreement with GreenYellow Power Ventures Co., Ltd to develop a rooftop solar power project at Bim Son Garment Factory. With those efforts, on December 12, 2022, Garment 10 Corporation was honored to be awarded the 5-star "Green Energy 2022" title by Hanoi People's Committee - the highest title for efficient and economical use of energy.

Corporate culture has long been built and upheld by Garment 10. Currently, VCCI is also promoting corporate culture by boosting communication on Vietnam's Code of Business Ethics". What do you think about this?

With 19 companies and member factories in nine provinces and cities from Hanoi to Quang Binh, staffed by nearly 12,000 stably paid employees, Garment 10 not only brings socioeconomic stability but also spreads its working culture and behaviors in the localities where its factories are located.

It has enhanced the culture by following Uncle Ho’s teachings, which are integrated into all activities. Garment 10 initiated this approach in 1959 when Uncle Ho visited the company and launched the campaign of studying and following Ho Chi Minh's moral examples in 2006. This is considered a decisive factor for the stability and development of Garment 10 culture.

Garment 10 is a humanized environment where culture is considered the root of development. The corporation builds its own culture where people are both the goal and the driving force of business development. Employee rights and interests are guaranteed, with many benefits being higher than regulatory levels. Garment 10 Corporation has been honorably named “Business for employees” by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor since 2014.

On May 19, 2022, VCCI announced the Code of Ethics for Vietnamese entrepreneurs and launched its application in the business community nationwide with ethical rules: (1) Creating economic values for society; (2) Complying with the law; (3) Transparency, fairness and integrity; (4) Creativity, cooperation and mutual development; (5) Respect to nature and environmental protection; and (6) Patriotism and responsibility to society and family.

In fact, these rules have been implemented very seriously by Garment 10. The corporation has a long history of cultural tradition and roots created and cultivated by many generations of employees. Currently, four generations of employees have worked for Garment 10 and the corporation is welcoming the 5th generation. We have a kindergarten, a clinic and an affiliated vocational college that trains hundreds of students each year. To operate them, the corporation must have a regular welfare fund for employees and the community. We have kept this model for decades and have made it more and more effective over time. In fact, the cultural background of Garment 10 is an important factor to foster its sustainable development.

Five key contents are adopted to build the culture of Garment 10: Studying and following Uncle Ho's teachings; Caring for employees; upholding the spirit of solidarity, living gratefully and keeping the tradition; Living responsibly to society, the community and the country; and Building a civilized and cultured working environment.

Corporate culture makes a company different from the rest, expressed not only by the quality of its products and services but also by processes of contact, transaction and cooperation as well as service attitude to customers. It is the sense of responsibility, the sense of credibility, and the respect for partners that will bring satisfaction and trust and lead to long-term cooperation and loyalty of partners and customers with the corporation.

Business is just one of our three main pillars: Economic, cultural and political pillars. These pillars have enabled us to develop and stand firm during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak.

Garment 10 is a decent business supplying high-quality goods and services to the community. Its products not only focus on convenience and fashion but also on environmental friendliness. Waste and emissions are always controlled and treated by law. All activities are calculated to save resources and energy, make the most of natural energy, and contribute to an increasingly green, clean and beautiful environment.

On December 5, 2021, Garment 10 Corporation was honorably named the Company of Business Culture in Social Responsibility Category. This is also a great motivation for us to create more value for ourselves, the community and society.

Garment 10’s products are highly appreciated by customers

As a member of the 7th VCCI Executive Committee, what do you think about the role, operation and contribution of VCCI to business development in the past time?

VCCI is a national agency representative of the business community and business associations in Vietnam, a prestigious and active member of international trade associations and organizations. As a representative for the voice of the business community, VCCI always accompanies and listens to business opinions in a joint effort to build an ideal investment, production and business environment. VCCI also helps companies build a business culture and actively takes part in lawmaking and policymaking.

In particular, VCCI has been renovating its organization and improving its work performance to be a true national representative of the Vietnamese business community and entrepreneurs in the international integration period.

Do you have any recommendations for the Vietnamese business community and entrepreneur force?

During 37 years of Doi Moi (renovation), Vietnamese entrepreneurs have constantly grown in both number and quality, making great and important contributions to the cause of national construction and defense in many aspects.

However, in the period of accelerating industrialization, modernization and industrial revolution 4.0, the entrepreneur force still has limitations. Many entrepreneurs still apply old management methods, and lack professional training in modern management skills. In addition, their knowledge of laws and international integration is limited.

I think that, to develop the entrepreneur force in the new era, it is necessary to improve the quality of entrepreneur training, building a modern Vietnamese business culture of characteristic national identity. It is important to foster the role of the representative agency of the business community and the entrepreneur force; focus on investing in "green production"; promptly honor good businesspeople who have made many contributions to the country; and cultivate the sense of activeness and self-development among entrepreneurs.

Thank you very much!

Source: Vietnam Business Forum)