Imagine the aroma of VIFON’s iconic pho wafting from kitchens worldwide, each bowl crafted with precision and delivered with unwavering reliability. In 2021, VIFON, Vietnam’s instant food pioneer, took a monumental step to make this vision a reality by partnering with Vietsoft to implement the EcoMaint Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS). Launched across VIFON’s cutting-edge factories, this project transformed equipment maintenance, ensuring seamless production and top-tier quality for its global markets. By adopting EcoMaint, VIFON implements CMMS software to keep its production lines running like a well-oiled machine, delivering authentic Vietnamese flavors to 93 countries with unmatched efficiency.

I. VIFON: Vietnam’s Culinary Ambassador

1. A Legacy Born in 1963

In the bustling streets of Saigon in 1963, 14 visionary investors founded VIFON, igniting Vietnam’s instant food revolution. Over six decades, VIFON has evolved into a global powerhouse, synonymous with instant noodles, rice-based products, and seasonings. As a flagship of Tan Viet Group, VIFON serves over 1 million points of sale across Vietnam’s 64 provinces and commands a 44.3% share of Poland’s instant noodle market. Its health-conscious products, free of synthetic colorants, delight consumers in 93 countries, including Japan, the U.S., and Australia.

VIFON operates three state-of-the-art factories in Tan Binh (Ho Chi Minh City), Quang Minh (Hanoi), and Tan Truong (Hai Duong), covering 67,000 m². Equipped with advanced U.S., Japanese, and European technology, these plants produce 10,000 tons of products annually, supported by 2,500 dedicated employees. From Pho VIFON to Crab Rice Noodles, every item embodies Vietnam’s culinary heritage.

2. Key Milestones

VIFON’s journey is a saga of innovation:

• 1963: Established as a monosodium glutamate (MSG) producer.
• 1967: Launched three factories—VIFOINCO (noodles), VILIHICO (MSG), and VIKAINCO (others).
• 1975: Nationalized as a state-owned enterprise.
• 1990: Began exporting Vietnamese flavors globally.
• 1996: Introduced Vietnam’s first instant pho.
• 2003: Launched Royal Instant Noodles with real meat packets.
• 2004: Became a joint-stock company.
• 2010: Pho VIFON ranked top 10 at the Global Food Industry Awards.
• 2012: Crab Rice Noodles won first place for innovation in Brazil.
• 2013: Received the First-Class Labor Medal.
• 2018: Set a Guinness World Record for the largest instant beef pho bowl.
• 2021: Expanded exports to 93 countries, solidifying global presence.

3. Vision and Values

VIFON aspires to bring its flavors to over 100 countries, celebrating Vietnam’s culinary soul. Its mission is to craft high-quality, health-focused instant foods while championing sustainability and community welfare. Guided by innovation, integrity, and cultural pride, VIFON ensures every product is a taste of Vietnam.

4. Accolades and Certifications

VIFON’s excellence is globally recognized:

• First, Second, and Third-Class Labor Medals.
• “Vietnam National Brand” (2016).
• “High-Quality Vietnamese Goods” for 27 years (1996–2023).
• “Golden Laurel Award” in Poland for 19 years.
• ISO 9001:2008, HACCP, IFS, ISO 22000, and SMETA certifications.

II. The Drive for Transformation: Why VIFON Implements CMMS Software

1. Challenges in High-Stakes Production

VIFON’s factories are high-energy hubs, with automated lines processing thousands of tons of noodles and seasonings daily. In 2021, maintaining this pace was critical to meet demand from 93 countries, but traditional maintenance practices created bottlenecks:

• Production Disruptions: Unplanned equipment failures halted lines, risking delays for clients like those in Poland, where VIFON holds a 44.3% market share.
• Quality Vulnerabilities: Inconsistent maintenance could jeopardize compliance with stringent standards like IFS, HACCP, and ISO 22000, essential for exports to Europe and the U.S.
• Inventory Inefficiencies: Manual tracking of spare parts led to overstocking or shortages, inflating costs or delaying repairs.
• Compliance Burdens: Paper-based records for audits were time-consuming, increasing the risk of errors.
• Cost Escalation: Reactive repairs drove up maintenance expenses and reduced equipment longevity.

To maintain its global reputation and scale operations, VIFON needed a digital solution to ensure equipment reliability, streamline maintenance, and support compliance. After rigorous evaluation, VIFON implements CMMS software with Vietsoft’s EcoMaint, selected for its robust functionality, user-friendly interface, and proven success in Vietnam’s food and beverage industry.

2. Vietsoft: The Perfect Partner

With over 20 years of expertise, Vietsoft brought a wealth of experience in deploying CMMS solutions for Vietnamese enterprises. Its tailored approach, technical prowess, and commitment to client success made it the ideal partner for VIFON’s 2021 digital transformation. The partnership ensured EcoMaint aligned with VIFON’s complex production needs and long-term growth goals.

III. EcoMaint: The Heart of VIFON’s Maintenance Strategy

EcoMaint is a powerful, web-based, and mobile-accessible CMMS that acts as the central nervous system for VIFON’s maintenance operations. Designed to optimize asset management and ensure production continuity, EcoMaint offers a suite of advanced features tailored to VIFON’s high-volume food manufacturing:

1. Unified Asset Oversight

EcoMaint creates a digital command center for VIFON’s 3500+ assets, including noodle extruders, seasoning blenders, sterilization units, and packaging systems across its Tan Binh, Quang Minh, and Hai Duong factories. Managers can monitor real-time data on equipment status, location, and maintenance history, providing a holistic view akin to a chef overseeing every station in a bustling kitchen.

2. Proactive Maintenance Automation

EcoMaint automates preventive maintenance schedules based on machine runtime, usage cycles, or calendar intervals. For instance, VIFON can program bi-weekly inspections for high-speed packaging machines or monthly calibrations for sterilization units, minimizing the risk of unexpected breakdowns and ensuring consistent production output.

3. Comprehensive Maintenance Tracking

Every maintenance task—repairs, part replacements, or technician observations—is meticulously logged in EcoMaint’s database. This historical data allows VIFON to analyze patterns, such as recurring seal failures in noodle extruders, and implement targeted improvements. The system’s detailed records also serve as a foundation for predictive maintenance strategies.

4. Intelligent Spare Parts Management

EcoMaint tracks spare parts inventory, issuing automated alerts when critical components like conveyor belts, filters, or extruder nozzles fall below predefined thresholds. This ensures VIFON can execute repairs swiftly while avoiding overstocking, optimizing inventory costs and reducing downtime during maintenance.

5. Data-Driven Dashboards

EcoMaint’s customizable dashboards deliver real-time insights into maintenance performance, presenting metrics like Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF), Mean Time To Repair (MTTR), and maintenance costs in intuitive charts. These analytics empower VIFON’s leadership to make informed decisions, such as prioritizing upgrades for high-maintenance equipment.

6. Seamless Compliance Support

EcoMaint maintains comprehensive records of all maintenance activities, ensuring VIFON remains audit-ready for certifications like ISO 22000, HACCP, IFS, and SMETA. Automated compliance reports reduce manual effort, ensuring accuracy and saving time during regulatory inspections.

7. Integration with IoT Potential

EcoMaint’s scalable platform supports future integration with Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, enabling real-time equipment monitoring and predictive maintenance. While implemented in 2021 as a foundational CMMS, this feature positions VIFON for Industry 4.0 advancements.

 

IV. Transformative Benefits: How EcoMaint Powers VIFON

EcoMaint is the catalyst for VIFON’s operational excellence, delivering measurable benefits tailored to its food production environment:

1. Minimized Downtime

EcoMaint’s preventive maintenance reduces unplanned downtime by up to 20%. For VIFON, this translates to an additional 1,000 tons of production annually (based on a 5,000-ton baseline), ensuring timely deliveries to markets like Poland, Japan, and the U.S.

2. Significant Cost Savings

Optimized maintenance cuts repair costs by 15% and extends equipment lifespan by 10%.

3. Streamlined Inventory Management

EcoMaint reduces spare parts overstocking by 15%, freeing up capital for reinvestment. VIFON can maintain critical components like packaging machine seals without tying up resources in excess inventory.

4. Boosted Workforce Productivity

By automating administrative tasks, EcoMaint allows technicians to focus on core maintenance activities, increasing plant productivity by 20%. This enables VIFON to meet surging demand in export markets like Australia and Europe.

5. Enhanced Product Quality and Compliance

Reliable equipment ensures consistent production quality, reinforcing VIFON’s commitment to food safety and compliance with global standards. This strengthens its reputation as a trusted supplier in demanding markets.

6. Sustainability Gains

Efficient equipment reduces energy consumption by up to 10%, aligning with VIFON’s environmental goals and enhancing its appeal to eco-conscious consumers worldwide.

7. Data-Driven Strategic Planning

EcoMaint’s analytics identify high-maintenance assets, guiding VIFON’s capital expenditure. For instance, replacing outdated blenders could reduce repair frequency, optimizing long-term investments.

 

V. The Implementation Blueprint: A Recipe for Success

VIFON’s 2021 implementation of CMMS EcoMaint, executed with Vietsoft’s expertise, followed a meticulous, phased approach to ensure seamless adoption and maximum impact:

1. Discovery and Planning

Vietsoft began with a comprehensive audit of VIFON’s maintenance operations, mapping over 350 assets across three factories. The team analyzed equipment types, usage patterns, and existing workflows to design a tailored EcoMaint configuration. This phase included stakeholder interviews with VIFON’s maintenance managers and technicians to align the system with operational realities.

2. System Customization and Integration

EcoMaint was customized to integrate seamlessly with VIFON’s existing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, ensuring data flow between production and maintenance. Maintenance schedules were tailored to VIFON’s 24/7 production cycles, with specific protocols for high-priority equipment like noodle extruders and sterilization units. Vietsoft also configured multilingual interfaces to accommodate VIFON’s diverse workforce.

3. Comprehensive Training Program

Vietsoft conducted hands-on training sessions at VIFON’s Tan Binh factory, equipping over 200 technicians and managers with skills to navigate EcoMaint. Training covered work order management, mobile app usage, report generation, and data analysis. Interactive workshops ensured practical application, with follow-up sessions to address user queries.

4. Pilot Phase Execution

A pilot phase was launched in early 2021, focusing on noodle production lines at the Tan Binh factory. EcoMaint managed 50 critical assets, including extruders and packaging machines. Within the first month, the pilot reduced downtime by 10% and improved maintenance response times by 15%, validating the system’s effectiveness.

5. Enterprise-Wide Rollout

Encouraged by the pilot’s success, VIFON rolled out EcoMaint across all three factories by mid-2021. Vietsoft provided on-site support during the transition, ensuring smooth adoption and addressing technical challenges. The rollout included over 3500 assets and 200 users, creating a unified maintenance ecosystem.

6. Performance Evaluation and Optimization

By mid-2022, Vietsoft and VIFON conducted a thorough evaluation, analyzing key performance indicators (KPIs) such as downtime reduction (target: 20%), maintenance cost savings (target: 15%), and technician productivity (target: 20%). Insights from this review led to optimizations, including refined maintenance schedules and enhanced dashboard configurations. Vietsoft committed to ongoing support, providing software updates and training refreshers.

7. Continuous Improvement Framework

Post-implementation, VIFON established a continuous improvement committee to leverage EcoMaint’s data for long-term gains. The committee analyzed failure trends, optimized spare parts thresholds, and explored IoT integration possibilities, ensuring EcoMaint evolved with VIFON’s needs.

The project, launched in early 2021, achieved full optimization by mid-2022, transforming VIFON into a digital leader in food manufacturing.

VI. VIFON’s Vision: A Global Culinary Powerhouse

EcoMaint is the fuel for VIFON’s ambitious goals:

• Global Market Expansion: Enhanced efficiency in 2021 supported VIFON’s growth to 93 countries, with plans to reach over 100 by 2025, building on its Polish dominance.
• Sustainable Operations: Reduced energy and waste align with VIFON’s eco-friendly mission, appealing to green-conscious markets.
• Industry 4.0 Leadership: EcoMaint’s IoT-ready platform positions VIFON for predictive maintenance and smart factory innovations.

Nguyen Ngoc Lan, VIFON’s General Director, stated, “Our 2021 launch of EcoMaint reflects our commitment to quality and innovation. With Vietsoft, we’re elevating Vietnamese cuisine on the global stage.”

 

VII. Conclusion: A Model for Food Industry Transformation

VIFON’s 2021 adoption of CMMS EcoMaint is a masterclass in merging culinary tradition with digital innovation. By harnessing Vietsoft’s expertise, VIFON ensures its factories deliver Vietnam’s flavors with precision, setting a gold standard for food manufacturers. Ready to revolutionize your operations? EcoMaint is the solution.

Learn more about CMMS EcoMaint here. Contact us for consultation via hotline: 0986778578 or email: sales@vietsoft.com.vn.

Let’s build a future of excellence with VIFON and Vietsoft!