The Appraisal Centre of the Northeast Corporation (now the 19th Corps) was formerly the Product Appraisal Station, established on May 15, 1995 in the context of the country's gradual innovation and development, performing the function of appraising the quantity and quality of coal and minerals, creating trust for customers, contributing to enhancing the reputation of the Northeast brand in the domestic and international markets. After 30 years of construction and development, the operating area is scattered and spreads across several regions, the conditions for performing tasks are still difficult. However, with the attention and close leadership and direction of the Party Committee Standing Committee, the Corps Commander, together with the spirit of solidarity, responsibility and creativity of the staff, the Centre has gradually developed steadily, becoming one of the leading prestigious appraisal units in the field of appraisal of the quantity and quality of coal and other minerals, playing a key role in the production and business chain of the Corps.

In recent years, in the context of deep integration and increasingly fierce competition, the requirements for appraisal tasks have continuously increased in terms of quantity, quality and progress. Meanwhile, the Centre is facing with difficulties, especially the lack of high-quality human resources, facilities and technical equipment. Faced with that reality, the Party Committee and the Board of Directors of the Centre have proactively implemented synchronous solutions, gradually creating sustainable values ​​and enhancing reputation in the market.

Cadres of the Centrer conduct appraisal of product on a ship

Identifying people as the central factor determining the quality and effectiveness of all activities, especially in the field of appraisal requiring accuracy, transparency and high professional ethics, the Centre focuses on building and developing human resources in the direction of "refined, compact, reasonable structure" and "solid expertise, strong character, standard ethics". Thoroughly grasping and implementing Decision No. 2976/QD-BQP, dated 6 August 2014 of the Ministry of National Defence on reorganising the Product Appraisal Station into the Appraisal Centre, the Party Committee and the Board of Directors of the Centre have focused on leading and directing the assessment of the functions and tasks of each department, thereby restructuring the apparatus in the direction of streamlining indirect forces, reducing intermediaries, and increasing direct human resources for inspection work, in order to improve productivity and efficiency in performing tasks; at the same time, building specific criteria for each position. On that basis, along with planning and arranging the use of staff and employees suitable to their capacity, work experience, and age, the Centre proactively coordinates with training institutions to discover sources, improve the quality of input selection, and prioritise candidates who graduate with good or excellent grades, good moral qualities, sharp thinking, and the ability to quickly adapt to a disciplined and professional environment.

To improve the professional qualifications of the staff, meeting the requirements of both immediate and long-term tasks, the Centre has implemented a variety of training and development forms, closely combining sending staff for specialised training at prestigious schools with on-the-job training and development. At the same time, creating conditions for new staff and those with little experience to directly participate in appraisal stages and steps learn from experienced staff through mentoring, vocational training, etc. In the period of 2015 - 2024, the Centre has cooperated with the following schools: Maritime College, Coal - Mineral Vocational College to hold training, development, and grant appraisal certificates to more than 60 staff; organise 16 training courses on appraisal skills, update new knowledge on technical standards, modern measurement technology. In addition, the Centre offers favourable remuneration policies, ensuring stable income, promptly motivating and rewarding individuals who have completed their tasks excellently; building a friendly and disciplined working environment, encouraging the spirit of learning and sharing experiences among generations of staff. With practical and effective solutions, up to now, the Centre has built a team of appraisers with "solid expertise, strong character, and high ethics", with 80% of them holding a bachelor degree or higher, contributing significantly to creating value and enhancing reputation with domestic and foreign partners.

Faced with high requirements for quality, progress and expansion of appraisal of different types of minerals according to market demand, the appraisal work of the Centre needs to meet new quality management standards with many technical indicators to be determined, such as: heat, humidity, volatile matter, sulphur, etc. To meet that requirement, the Centre proactively promotes the modernisation of the technical equipment system and promotes technical innovations and improvements. Based on the existing equipment capacity, the Centre actively researches and grasps the development trends of technology, especially modern equipment and machinery in the field of measurement and appraisal in the region and the world; advises and proposes the Corps to invest in a focused manner, gradually modernising the technical equipment system, ensuring effective operation according to domestic and international quality management standards. Along with that, the Centre has built and implemented a good mechanism to encourage and motivate staff and employees to conduct scientific research, promote initiatives, improve techniques, improve labour productivity, save costs, shorten appraisal time and improve service quality. In particular, many topics, initiatives and technical improvements of the Centre have been effectively applied in practice, contributing to saving costs and improving appraisal capacity. With the spirit of innovation, creativity and proper investment in equipment, the Centre has shortened sample analysis time from 06 hours to 05 hours, contributing to reducing waiting time for transportation vehicles, increasing competitiveness in coal consumption activities of the Corps.

Analysing the sample according to Vilas 608 standard

To enhance its reputation, along with investing in modern equipment, the Centre focuses on implementing appraisal processes to ensure transparency, accuracy and operating a quality management system according to international standards. Implementing the motto "Honesty, accuracy, timeliness, efficiency", the Centre focuses on researching and perfecting a strict and objective appraisal process from the stage of assessing the quantity and quality of input products to the stages of sampling and analysis; in which, the sampling stage is carried out with close supervision of 03 parties (delivery - receipt - appraisal) to ensure objectivity in appraisal work. On that basis, the Centre directs units to strictly maintain the appraisal process; strengthen regular and unscheduled inspection measures, and resolutely handle violations. Notably, the Centre has selected and established a Process Team with the core being leaders, commanders of agencies, appraisal stations and experienced officers and employees; with strong character and good ethics specialising in inspection and supervision of the operation of the appraisal process.

Along with that, to ensure high accuracy, the Centre proactively updates and operates the quality management system according to domestic and international standards; actively researches and supplements appraisal criteria in accordance with market demand. In 2024, the Centre proactively proposed the Office of Quality Recognition (Ministry of Science and Technology) to recognise 03 more laboratory tests in the coal quality analysis stage, bringing the total number of tests to 62 criteria, thereby increasing the reliability of appraisal results. Currently, the Centre has mastered and operated 02 quality management systems according to international standards, ensuring that all appraisal results are in accordance with international standards and practices, recognised by domestic and foreign organisations. As a result, the Centre has built solid trust with partners in the industry, gradually affirming its reputation in the market.

With scientific, practical solutions and a spirit of innovation and creativity, over the past 30 years, the Centre has always exceeded its annual plan, strictly managing the quantity and quality of coal in the Corps; Preserving capital and strictly fulfilling tax obligations to the State, its financial situation is healthy. In particular, the Centre has completely mastered the procedures of assessing the volume and quality of coal of the Corps; the certificates issued by the Centre always ensure "accuracy, timeliness, efficiency", constantly enhancing its reputation with domestic and international partners. In recognition of these results, the Centre was honoured to receive a Certificate of Merit from the Prime Minister, the Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Industry and Trade; the 19th Corps awarded 04 Emulation Flags, 28 Certificates of Merit and many other noble titles.

Promoting the results and experiences achieved, in the coming time, the Centre will promote innovation, develop and expand the scope of appraisal, meeting the increasing demands of the Corps and the market. In the current conditions, expanding the market and improving competitiveness are identified by the Centre as one of the key strategic orientations, important driving forces for stable and sustainable development. Accordingly, the Centre promotes innovation in thinking from passive to proactive in approaching the market, seeking partners, signing appraisal service contracts, expanding cooperation with businesses and organisations inside and outside the Army. In the immediate future, along with expanding the scope of appraisal to high-value minerals such as titanium, bauxite and some other important resources; strengthening the building of long-term cooperative relationships with partners, the Centre promotes innovation, digital transformation, improving the quality of management and operation of appraisal work; building and developing high-quality human resources; Prioritise investment resources to modernise and synchronise equipment, etc. Thereby, improving the capacity to provide appraisal services, creating a solid foundation to continuously create real value, building the Centre into a truly capable and prestigious appraisal organisation, forever worthy of the title "Appraisal Soldier", joining hands to steadily develop the 19th Army Corps.

Colonel NGUYEN HONG CU, Director of the Centre