Over the years, in parallel with the cohesive implementation of measures to comprehensively lead and direct all aspects of work, Z189 factory has accelerated studying and following Uncle Ho’s teachings to generate a driving force to enhance its productivity and business effectiveness; contributed to ensuring the task of national defence and security as well as involving in socio-economic development.

Z189 factory, under the General Department of Defence Industry (formerly Enterprise 189 of the High Command of Military Region 3), was established on 17 January 1989. It is tasked with building and repairing watercraft; producing metal components; trading in metal materials; importing and exporting materials, machinery, and equipment for ships and boats; organising warehouses and storage of goods; loading and unloading military cargo; operating coastal transport services, etc. to serving both national defence and civilian economy. Throughout 35 years of construction, development and maturity, under the leadership of the Party Committees and Leaders of the General Department of Defence Industry and the assistance of local party committees and authorities at all levels, generations of cadres, military workers, and labourers have always made every endeavour to surmount all difficulties and challenges to cement the tradition of “Unite to overcome all difficulties, promote dynamism and creativity”; as a result, the Factory has achieved numerous outstanding outcomes and been awarded the title of Hero of Labour in the renewal period (2008), Third-Class Fatherland Defence Medal (2016), Second-Class Labour Medal (2028), and other noble rewards.

Leader of the General Department of Defence Industry visits and checks the Factory

In recent years, similar to other enterprises in the Army, the Factory has been undergoing a restructuring process of organisation and forces; meanwhile, various impacts of the market economy, fierce competition for production and business, and the considerable pressure from the task requirements of national defence, etc. remain in the way. To accomplish all assigned political tasks and in parallel with fostering solidarity, bringing into full play the intrinsic competencies, collective intelligence, etc., the Factory has advocated studying and following Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, ethics, and manners in association with the comprehensive implementation of all aspects of work through multiple measures to enhance the quality of production and business effectiveness.

Deeply grasping President Ho Chi Minh’s teaching that “The more challenging the work is, the more the leadership must be closely attached to the masses, and the more it must closely combine general policy with specific guidance…”, the Factory has intensified the leadership and direction of the party committees and commanders at all levels in all activities. Annually, the Party Committee and the Board of Directors of the Factory concentrate on leading and directing propaganda and awareness among cadres, workers, and labourers about the position and significance of intensifying the study and following Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, ethics, and manner to stimulate self-reliance, determination to overcome difficulties, thirst for contribution, etc. Simultaneously, the Factory has directed its party committee, leaders of agencies and units to check and supplement plans to step up studying and following Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, ethics, and manners in combination with programmes and plans to perform the resolutions at their levels. In particular, the focus has been placed on breakthrough phases which encompass adjusting, organising forces and technological platforms; renewing the management, command, and administration regimes over production and business; and practising thrift in all activities. In addition, the Factory has brought into play the pioneering and exemplary roles of cadres and party members during task implementation, especially those of presiding cadres, commanders, and technical personnel. The Factory has accelerated the implementation of the Campaign titled “Effective, durable, safe, and economical management and use of weapons and equipment, and traffic safety” in association with the Campaign to Promote the traditions and devote talents to deserve the “Uncle Ho’s soldiers” title in the current context; effectively dealt with policy regime for labourers; forecast, oriented and completely addressed issues regarding ideology. Accordingly, the Factory has formed a consensus, solidarity, and unity in terms of morale and actions within the Factory; and equipped the cadres, workers, and labourers with self-reliance, creativity, and determination to accomplish all assigned tasks.

Accelerating the organisation, restructuring, renewal, and improvement of production and business effectiveness is the measures directed by the Party Committee and Board of Directors. In particular, priority has been given to resources and mastery of technology to build modern military ships with high-tech content; continuing to research designs and manufacturing processes and diversifying the types of economic and export ships, especially traditional aluminum alloy products. Concurrently, the focus has been also put on mapping out the contents, formulating appropriate manufacturing, technical, financial, and social plans and assigning specific targets to agencies and units. The Factory has accelerated “Enhancing the competence in business administration”, abiding by the Charter of Enterprise Management, and regulations on technical work; implementing reasonable organisation of human resources; closely and scientifically administering the production and completely addressing problems during the manufacturing process; effectively exploiting new technological equipment; and regularly reviewing, amending, and supplementing regulations in accordance with practical situations. To date, the organisation and structure of the Factory are relatively reasonable with sufficient quantity and quality in accordance with functions, tasks, business sectors, and management mechanisms; meeting the demands of the production process and other activities. The operational departments have been interconnected and accomplished all production and business targets; maintained and enhanced the charisma and brand of the Factory.

Staff of the Factory study ship design

Engraving President Ho Chi Minh’s teachings: “The mission of science and technology is of paramount importance; therefore, all sectors and everyone must participate in scientific and technological development to improve labour productivity, produce more materials, and victoriously build socialism”, the Factory has intensified its research, application of science and technology, and the movement to promote technical initiatives and innovation to enhance labour productivity. Bringing into full play the tradition of self-reliance and conducting research and, implementing Resolution No. 791-NQ/QUTW issued on 30 December 2012 by the Central Military Commission on “Leading the work of science, technology, and environment in the Army until 2020 and the next”, the Factory has concentrated in accelerated the movement of promoting technical initiatives and innovation in association with the movement titled “Effective and creative labour”. Intense propagation about the role of scientific and technological activities in the process of self-reliance in terms of technique has been carried out to eliminate foreign dependencies, especially when supply chains are disrupted and there is a scarcity of technical materials. In particular, the focus has been on researching scientific projects to increase labour productivity, improve the quality of military ship repairs, and produce technical materials; applying domestic technology and advocating self-reliance in innovation and modernisation, to ensure technical standards. Annually, the Factory's Science Council develops plans for agencies and units to register scientific projects and initiatives; conducts assessments and assigns tasks; regularly inspects, encourages, assists, and launches new scientific projects emerging during the implementation process. Simultaneously, research groups have been formed for scientific projects within the same specialisation, production chain, and technology chain to coordinate and save materials, time, and expert support. This facilitates groups and individuals to innovate in thinking and actively research more scientific projects, initiatives, and solutions with high application value in production. Specifically, in the 2018-2023 period, the Factory implemented 06 scientific projects at various levels and 192 initiatives and solutions were applied in production, which brought high efficiency and saved tens of billions of dong; 03 outstanding scientific projects and initiatives of which won the Creative Youth Award in the Army. These technical initiatives have directly enhanced labour productivity and product quality, reduced labour costs, saved materials, and maximised the efficiency of machinery and equipment, thereby reducing the overall cost of products. The Factory has accomplished the tasks of researching and building various types of modern military ships that demand high technical requirements and sophisticatedness; equipped modern weapons and equipment for long-term sea operations to serve national defence and security tasks and safeguard the Fatherland’s sovereignty over the seas and islands.

In addition, the Factory has always attached importance to training and fostering professional qualifications for cadres, engineers, and workers. The Factory’s Party Committee and Board of Directors have formulated regulations for training and developing cadres and technical personnel with specific policies to encourage their learning autonomy, thereby improving their professional qualifications. The focus has been placed on employing and magnetising high-quality human resources, especially students graduating from civilian and military schools. At the same time, the Factory has also regularly cultivated expertise and skills for hundreds of technical personnel. Annually, the Factory successfully organises competitions in association with the “Train Skills – Compete for Skilled Worker” movement in all sectors; conducts short-term training courses and invites expert consultants specialising in management and technical fields to train the cadres and engineers. During the 2018-2023 period, the Factory held over 40 in-site training courses for nearly 2,000 rounds of participants with a total expenditure of over 2.5 billion VND for the courses that were self-financed by the unit. Currently, cadres and technical personnel with college, university, and postgraduate qualifications account for 27% and high-level workers of 4/7 grade and above make up 43%, which include 18 welders with international BV certification and 53 welders with Lloyd’s certification, etc. As a result, the Factory's cadres, engineers, and workers possess high political zeal, professional qualifications, and craftsmanship. They always meet the task requirements and accomplish the task of constructing and repairing military and commercial ships.

The achievements over the years function as a crucial premise for the cadres, party members, workers, and labourers of Factory Z189 to promote learning and following Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, ethics, and manners and generate a driving force to accomplish all assigned tasks.

Senior Colonel NGUYEN VAN DIEU, Party Secretary of Factory Z189