People are key to sustainable manufacturing: Mondelez Kinh Do
For Bang Kim Ngan, Plant Director of Mondelez Kinh Do in Ho Chi Minh City, employees play a central role in turning sustainability goals, technology and operational standards into measurable results.
Sustainable manufacturing goes beyond renewable energy and waste reduction. At Mondelez Kinh Do in Vietnam, employee engagement plays a crucial role in achieving sustainability goals. CEO Bang Kim Ngan emphasizes that a continuously learning and developing workforce, along with future leaders, provides a lasting competitive advantage.
This approach has transformed the company's manufacturing operations in Vietnam, producing popular brands like Mooncakes, Bakery, Cosy, Oreo, and Cadbury. Every sustainability commitment must be transformed into practical actions on the factory floor, Ngan asserts. When environmental protection goals are woven into daily work, employees can effortlessly implement them and proactively contribute to the company's larger objectives.
The company aligns sustainability targets with employees' responsibilities and professional growth. Workers are motivated to spot problems and suggest solutions at their workplaces. At Mondelez Kinh Do's two factories, initiatives on water usage, food waste, and emissions have yielded tangible results. Water consumption per tonne of production has dropped over 30% in the past three years, food waste has decreased by more than 50%, and CO2 emissions have remained stable despite production growth.
At the Ho Chi Minh City plant, 71% of food waste was converted into new value streams, and the rooftop solar system helped reduce hundreds of tonnes of CO2. The plant aims to use 100% green electricity. Ngan emphasizes that these results are the result of numerous improvements made by employees across production lines.
Sustainable development goals set by the government, organization, and company are meaningless without the day-to-day efforts of people. That's why Ngan ensures each individual understands their role in the bigger picture. The company's "Leader Grows Leader" philosophy encourages sharing practical knowledge among team members of all experience levels.
The "Power the Future" strategy supports digital transformation, reducing repetitive manual work and allowing employees to focus on judgment, analysis, and decision-making activities.
Ngan believes the company's progress should be measured by employee development. Vietnamese professionals are leading improvement projects across the region, demonstrating the Vietnamese workforce's global capabilities. Mondelez Kinh Do has achieved a 50% increase in labor productivity over three years and has integrated safety, quality, productivity, and employee development into its operational management system.
The Ho Chi Minh City plant is the first Mondelēz International biscuit factory in Southeast Asia to reach this level of operational maturity.
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