A more connected manufacturing sector through smart applications

The talk show Digital transformation with 5G – The Path to Smart Factories in Vietnam hosted by VIR reviewed the trends of digital transformation and automation in Vietnam’s manufacturing sector

At the talk show Digital transformation with 5G – The Path to Smart Factories in Vietnam hosted by VIR, Seck Yee Chung, member of the Steering Committee of the Vietnam Business Forum's Digital Economy Working Group said, “Companies from different industries have to adapt to new technologies to compete and survive. However, adaptation is not an easy process. I suggest companies can focus on the four As, which include awareness, accessibility, adaptation, and advancement."

Chung added, “One of the challenges right now is knowledge. There are so many technologies and so many new exciting opportunities. You see it but where do you start. That is the stage where you are required to assess your needs to see what is critical and who can help you. Small and big companies may struggle to deal with the issues. After doing the assessments, you make the decision and implement the solution.”

Chung added that firms must evaluate the present level of access before embarking on the path of digital transformation. The majority of businesses have suggested evaluation solutions for Vietnam. Additionally, suggestions for digital transformation must be based on a company's internal and external capabilities, and companies must create their own digital transformation plan.

The process of digital transformation in Vietnam should be built on the inherent strengths and capabilities of businesses, Chung said, which calls for relying on Vietnamese IT firms. However, there would also be some top businesses that work with foreign consulting and training corporations to influence economies.

Denis Brunetti, president for Vietnam and Myanmar at Ericsson said, “With the help of 5G and IoT, Vietnam's manufacturing industry is undergoing an industrial revolution that will increase productivity even more and sustainably power the country's next wave of socioeconomic development and prosperity.”

The delivery of extremely low latency, high bandwidth, and dependable communication is what manufacturing companies are counting on from 5G. A variety of creative use cases will be delivered by 5G, the fastest and most dependable networking enabler, to expand industrial capabilities and boost agility while releasing operations from wired dependency.

Sensors will be strategically positioned across 5G-enabled facilities to monitor manufacturing processes and collect data for machine feedback and production management. As a result, operations will move much more quickly, maintenance capabilities will improve, and safety will rise.

David Liden, trade commissioner of Sweden, stressed that “Digitalisation is the industrial revolution and connectivity is the key to ensure Vietnam's industrial future and its inhabitants' long-term economic prosperity. Businesses must invest in smart manufacturing infrastructure. The digital transformation is also an opportunity for businesses to capture and use new technologies to make a difference."

Arghya Mandal, CEO of TH Milk JSC stressed, “Digital transformation is always considered a pivotal strategy of TH Group For instance, TH Group has been pursuing its set mission of “For the health of the community”, in which the group has become a trailblazer in applying high technology to livestock production in a bid to bring consumers TH true MILK-branded fresh and clean milk products that meet international standards."

At its $1.2 farm cluster project in the central province of Nghe An’s Nghia Dan district, state-of-the-art technologies are used, with the dairy cows listening to classical music played from loudspeakers hung on pillars. The music is believed to help raise the quality of milk.

Besides that, electronic chipsets are fixed on the legs of the cows to measure their health and milk conditions. All the information collected by the chipsets will be transmitted to computers for analysis. Thus, the cow raising process can be closely controlled, with rutting or diseased cows being discovered very quickly.

Denis Brunetti - President of Ericsson Vietnam and Myanmar Vietnam needs to continue to invest in 4G networks to enhance the experience of customers. And we continue to work with service providers in Vietnam towards providing 4G coverage in the country. Going beyond 4G, 5G will also enable Vietnam to unlock the potential of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and will be the foundation on which Vietnam can further build on its digital transformation journey and realise the government’s vision. Ericsson has been supporting Vietnamese mobile service providers with technical 5G trials since 2019, leveraging our technology leadership, strategic partnerships, and expansive 4G base – which can seamlessly and efficiently be upgraded to 5G capabilities when required. As a trusted and long-term strategic partner in Vietnam’s ICT industry, Ericsson is committed to working alongside leading mobile service providers, such as Viettel, VNPT Group, Mobifone, and Vietnamobile, to expand 4G network coverage and capacity whilst also preparing for the commercial introduction of 5G through a series of technical and commercial trials. In addition, Ericsson also recognises the need to lead the market in forging strategic 5G ecosystem partnerships that include cross-industry players, bringing them together with mobile service providers to deliver compelling digital transformation engagements and new revenue streams.

Seck Yee Chung - Steering committee member of VBF Digital Economy Working Group The government has pushed forward with the agenda of Industry Revolution 4.0 and smart city development. That is really great. But at the same time, it needs some improvements. VPF has dialogues with the government to propose reforms and improve the business climate. In terms of legislation, the government is working on two key laws, namely the Law on Cybersecurity and a degree on personal data protection, which brings some concerns for the business community. These laws are so important in these days and ages. Having said that, data needs to flow and has to cross borders. We urge the government to not only focus on governance and compliance around the use of data but also enable safe and secure flow as well as unlimited use of data.