Improve anchovy classification, saving 350 million VND per year

Turning production concerns into initiatives

Starting working at the Investment Technical Department, Kien Giang Import-Export Joint Stock Company, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Thai gradually took on the positions of Acting Head of Department, Head of Investment Technical Department. In October 2025, he was assigned the task of Director of Hon Chong Acorn Processing Enterprise.

Through many positions, he accumulated professional knowledge, management experience and understanding of the production activities of the enterprise. For him, technical improvement is not something far-fetched but starts from identifying inadequacies, tasks that take a lot of time and manpower to find ways to overcome.

In his position as Director of the Enterprise, Mr. Thai focused on reviewing the production process, machinery, equipment and labor arrangement plans. From the problems arising in reality, he researched and proposed solutions to rationalize production, save costs, improve productivity and product quality.

One of his outstanding highlights is the initiative "Innovative and creative solutions in applying anchovy grading systems to replace manual grading methods", which was researched and proposed in 2026.

Instead of continuing to depend on manual classification methods, he boldly put the screening system into application at the enterprise. The solution aims to directly solve one stage in the processing line, where reducing manual operations can bring clear efficiency in terms of manpower, time and cost.

Save 350 million VND per year

According to the achievement report, the screening system has the ability to classify from 300-400kg of finished A1 and A2 anchovies. With a labor cost of about 5,000 VND/kg, the application of equipment helps businesses significantly reduce costs compared to manual methods.

The economic efficiency of the initiative is estimated to profit about 350 million VND per year, based on an average volume of 350kg/day, labor costs of 5,000 VND/kg and about 200 production days per year.

Not only bringing economic value, the solution also contributes to reducing labor for workers, shortening processing time and improving productivity. When the volume of raw materials increases, the application of equipment also creates conditions for enterprises to be more proactive in organizing production, meeting requirements for progress and product quality.

For me, the value of creative labor lies not only in the amount of money saved but also in the ability to reduce manual work, improve production organization efficiency and create conditions for workers to work better" - Mr. Thai said.

Spreading creative labor spirit

Along with researching and implementing initiatives, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Thai also focused on sharing experiences, guiding and encouraging officials and employees in the enterprise to proactively detect inadequacies and propose technical improvement solutions.

According to that orientation, each job position can become the starting point of initiatives if workers have a sense of responsibility, are willing to learn and constantly seek ways to do things more effectively. Solutions suitable for production practice also have the opportunity to be improved, maintained and replicated.

This is also the spirit of creative labor emulation that the Trade Union organization is promoting: encouraging union members and workers to promote initiatives from their own work, linking innovation with the requirements of safety, quality, economy and efficiency.

Efforts in professional work, production management and technical innovation have contributed to helping Mr. Thai be recognized through many forms of commendation. From 2022 to now, he has received the Medal of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in 2022; Certificates of Merit from the Southern Food Corporation in 2023, 2025; Certificates of Merit from the Corporation's Trade Union in 2023 and the title of Grassroots Emulation Soldier in 2024.

In 2026, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Thai is one of 9 individuals awarded the title "Exemplary Worker" by the Vietnam Agriculture and Environment Trade Union at the Conference honoring advanced typical examples of the Agriculture and Environment sector in 2026.

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