Business look to stay ahead of the curve

One of leading firms in the cement sector, Hoang Thach Cement Company - based in northern Hai Duong province, set a business target of posting VND415 billion ($19.7 million) in profits in 2012, slightly lower than $425 billion ($20.2 million) in 2011. Other business targets are almost similar to those in 2011.

According to the company’s general director Dao Ngoc Binh, a sharp increase in cement consumption this year was unlikely when big construction works and public investment projects faced delays.

“Businesses flexibly revising production and trading plans to match actual practices would be a viable way-out in current context,” said Binh.

Apart from adopting modest production and consumption indexes, the company’s management has urged production managers to strictly apply cost-saving measures. Accordingly, specific norms in energy, fuel and coal consumption are rendered to different production workshops to curtail expenses.

The firm has also set close eyes on supervising product quality from selecting materials to making end products, and re-planned limestone extraction to boost efficiency.

Bac Ninh province’s Dong Binh Joint Stock Company aims to achieve VND45 billion ($2.1 million) in revenue and VND3.5 billion ($169,000) in profits in 2012 against VND36 billion ($1.7 million) revenue and VND2.65 billion ($126,000) profits in 2011.

The company’s managing director Tran Thi Nhan said this year the firm would slash production expansion and investment plans to abate risks since consumption in US market and Europe would even darken this year.

The company then focused on raising work efficiency and strictly applying Lean technology which promotes the wise use of software and other systems to eliminate waste at every point in a manufacturing or business process to cut down expenses.

For its part, Ho Chi Minh City-based An Phuoc Garment Company set to boost development in the home market targeting medium-range customer segment.

“Products should be of more affordable prices to customers in current difficult market,” said the company’s general director Nguyen Thi Dien.