Pacific Engineers: 'Innovation is a journey without an end.'

The creative journey begins with small ideas.

Like most people, in his early days at TH Milk Joint Stock Company, Mr. Thai Binh Duong thought his job was simply to complete his assigned tasks. But then, during a production shift, he realized he could apply his knowledge of electronics to create an electrical circuit to control the water tank's balancing system, replacing human intervention. Despite his initial reservations, he boldly proposed the idea, and surprisingly, the innovation was implemented across the entire production line, saving hundreds of working hours annually. That first experience made him realize that his small idea was contributing to real value for the company and the community.

From that initial idea proposal, like a stream of water being set in motion, Duong and his colleagues continuously explored and proposed initiatives and technical improvements to increase productivity, save costs, and create sustainable value for the business.

Among his long list of innovations, Duong is most proud of the servo valve system that controls the filling level for lines 10 and 11. The current Tetrapak machine's valve technology uses pneumatic valves, which are prone to malfunctions, leading to milk overflow or insufficient milk filling. “Of course, the machine has the function of discarding these defective milk pouches and preventing faulty products from reaching the market. But the production process with the old valves resulted in wasted packaging, wasted time – delaying the factory's schedule, and wasted labor waiting for repairs… Faced with this reality, Mr. Cao Minh Hoa – our Technical Director – requested an urgent switch to a new, more modern technology that was faster and more accurate. Faced with this challenge, I pondered over and researched the most advanced technologies available at the time, self-learning to quickly apply them to practice,” Duong shared.

After two weeks of diligent research, Duong developed a PID algorithm to control a servo valve and was ready for testing. The first test yielded very promising results; however, one small element was still not as expected. Duong and his team continued their research, working tirelessly at the factory, even through the night, to find the answer. In the next test, the system performed as expected, with the pouring process being absolutely precise. The total cost savings from this initiative in 2023 amounted to 3 billion VND. This initiative also earned Duong the Creative Labor Award in 2023.

Previously, the initiative to create an automated box-grabbing robot for Line 11, for which Duong was the programmer, was also considered a "leap forward" in technology and an unforgettable milestone for the young engineer. It marked the first time robotic technology was applied in Vietnam without having to purchase robots from abroad.

Currently, Duong is upgrading this robotic system into an AI robot capable of handling tasks autonomously without human intervention. Once completed, the system will be 10 times faster than the old technology. This project demonstrates the ability of "made in Vietnam" machines to keep up with new technological trends.

Similarly, stemming from practical shortcomings, Pacific engineers have successfully developed innovations such as the CMMS management system, EPMS energy management system, automatic camera date checking system, and image processing software for checking and verifying cap defects. The value generated from these innovations amounts to billions of VND annually.

The belief in "seeds of creativity"

The boundless energy and creativity of Pacific engineers not only deliver valuable projects but also positively impact those around them. That energy is nurtured by belief and passion for their work.

The greatest belief that Duong has repeatedly affirmed is, "If you don't give up, you won't fail." It is this belief that has helped Pacific Engineer persevere through difficulties. If the process from practical application to idea is one of careful thought and reflection, then the process from idea to creative product is a whole other of persistent hard work with high determination, daring to act, and daring to accept failure. After each successful project by Duong and his colleagues, there are sleepless nights spent working tirelessly beside the machinery, days of frantic searching for errors, and periods of anxious operation and testing... And then, together, they erupt in the joy of victory after each success – taking another step on the creative journey.

“Creativity is a journey without an end. The most difficult part of the creative process is turning the ideas in your head into a reality that everyone can see. To do that, we had to plan ahead, have a long-term vision, develop multiple alternative solutions, and work on multiple solutions simultaneously to address each specific problem. The most important thing is to maintain the belief that every failure brings you closer to success. If you don't give up, there will certainly never be failure,” Mr. Duong confided.

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For me, happiness is when even small initiatives are put into practice, contributing to the collective good. Happiness is also the recognition of colleagues, the trust of leaders, and above all, the feeling that I am doing what I am passionate about. Every day at work, I see it as an opportunity to learn, challenge myself, and spread the spirit of creativity to everyone.

Pacific Engineers -
Improvement Manager at TH Milk Joint Stock Company

Another belief that Pacific Engineers constantly remind themselves of and share with their colleagues is the belief in the creativity within each person and the importance of it.creative environmentHe said: “Some say that creativity is a flame that only burns when there is enough oxygen of belief and opportunity. I believe that, because I have experienced it myself. I believe that every worker carries within them a seed of creativity. If sown in an environment of trust, watered by care, that seed will sprout and grow strong. Fortunately, at TH Milk Joint Stock Company, the open working environment, along with the mechanism of listening, quick feedback, support in terms of time, funding, equipment, encouragement of teamwork, and timely rewards, has further strengthened the power to nurture our creativity.”

"It is these beliefs that guide Pacific Engineers on their journey of innovation and finding happiness every day," Duong shared.