Breakthrough from science and technology application

Promoting science and technology associated with new product development

At Workshop A5 of Factory Z183, a robot arm stretches out, skillfully placing product details in the correct position on the rack to prepare for the next stage. With heavy mechanical parts, previously, if done manually, it would take 3 people to lift and place, but now, the robot arm has completely replaced them, both freeing up labor and bringing superior productivity. Not far away is a CNC (automatic control) machine system, performing precise mechanical processing operations with highly automated features. From the workshop to the operating house, Factory Z183 is changing every day, not only putting on a new look but also significantly improving its capacity and production and business efficiency. In the 2020-2025 term, the total revenue of the Factory increased by an average of 25.18%/year, equal to 2.5 times the set target. State budget contribution increased by an average of 47.2%/year, equal to 4.72 times the target; profit increased by an average of 35.5%, equal to 5.91 times the target and average income of workers increased by 9.4%/year, equal to 1.88 times the target, of which, in the last year of the term, it reached 19.7 million VND/person/month.

In addition to its primary mission of producing defense products for the Army's training and combat readiness, Factory Z183 also actively promotes the dual-use capacity of its production line. Major Cao Huu Thong, Head of the Machining Team (Workshop A3, Factory Z183) said that the workshop undertakes mechanical processing of a number of defense and economic products. "With a modern, highly automated machinery system, one person can be in charge of 2-3 devices, labor productivity is significantly increased, and product quality is consistent," said Major Cao Huu Thong.

Robotic arms replace manual processes at Factory Z183. Photo: BAO LINH

With the strategy of investing in increasing technological capacity and participating deeply in the supply chain, in the past 5 years, Factory Z183 has put into production a series of 14 new products, including 5 export products, exceeding the target by 2 products. Z183 has become the largest domestic supplier of fire prevention and fighting products (water hydrants, water valves, fire extinguishers, sprinklers, fire hose reels, etc.), exported iron boxes. To promote science and technology work associated with the development of new products, the Party Committee of the Factory has issued a resolution on leadership to promote scientific research, manufacture of new weapons and technical equipment. It can be affirmed that science and technology work has contributed to improving production capacity, helping to successfully develop many economic products and is the basis for the Factory to be trusted with the task of manufacturing and repairing 6 new defense products.

According to Colonel Bui Van Luong, Party Secretary and Chairman of Mechanical Company 83 (Factory Z183), strategic product lines such as fire prevention and fighting products have been researched and developed by the Factory over a long period of time, and are currently continuing to affirm their brand and maintain their market share. Along with ensuring the implementation of national defense tasks, the Factory also aims to develop 10 new product lines for export and domestic consumption. In addition to strategic products, it will continue to research, improve, and deploy other products, ensuring the Factory's sustainable and long-term development.

Renewing thinking, aiming for new heights

Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation and national digital transformation; Resolution No. 3488-NQ/QUTW of the Central Military Commission on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation and digital transformation in the Army have created important motivation for direct production units to improve productivity and competitiveness in the direction of synchronous and comprehensive development, taking innovation as the driving force, digital transformation as the method and science and technology as the foundation.

Implementing Resolution 57 and Resolution 3488, Factory Z183 has issued an implementation plan and established a Steering Committee for breakthrough in science and technology development, innovation and digital transformation. The factory has set the goal of constantly innovating thinking, acting creatively, decisively, and breaking through to a new level. Determined to build a factory with modern technology, capable of producing and repairing all types of artillery shells in the equipment, meeting the needs of the Army and for export. At the same time, it has become the world's largest supplier of packaging and preservation products for ammunition, maintaining its leading position among suppliers of fire prevention and fighting products.

Colonel Vuong Chi Toai, Director of Factory Z183, emphasized that to realize this goal, the Factory focuses on investment projects to expand, modernize, increase production line capacity, and repair artillery shells in the medium-term public investment plan 2026-2030. Along with that are projects to expand the scale and modernize the production of strategic economic products. The Factory is also researching and choosing to invest in building at least 1 smart workshop in the near future.

Production line of Factory Z183. Photo: BAO LINH

Sharing about the unit's investment orientation, Colonel Bui Van Luong emphasized that in order to innovate and apply science and technology, there must be resources. The Factory's viewpoint is not to wait or rely on, but to proactively propose and make the most of resources, including existing resources. In particular, the Factory advocates setting aside the maximum amount of the results of production and business activities for the science and technology development fund and from this source of funding for scientific research. The rational use of resources for development investment will help the Factory supplement and upgrade the system of machinery, equipment, and technology, remove bottlenecks in production, thereby perfecting the chain, increasing labor productivity and product quality.

To truly master the technology, the implementation of mechanisms and policies to attract, employ, train and develop talents, in which priority is given to science and technology human resources. In particular, it aims to select qualified staff to participate in training courses for chief engineers and leading experts. Strengthen cooperation with research institutes and academies in science and technology, weapons development, new technical equipment and staff exchange and training. The factory also prioritizes funding to encourage and motivate young staff, engineers and workers with professional qualifications to continue to train high-quality human resources. This is also the premise for the factory to continue to make breakthroughs in development, becoming a core defense industrial base in a modern direction.

HUNG MINH THANG