In 2025, the APO resumed the Training Course on Development of Productivity Specialists (Advanced) for the first time since it was held in 2017 in Malaysia, after which the basic and advanced courses were combined into the Certified Productivity Practitioners’ Course. In response to rapid advances in technology, AI, and digital transformation, the updated course integrates new and emerging topics while maintaining the proven, conventional productivity enhancement methods central to the Development of Productivity Specialists curriculum. With professional staff from national productivity organizations (NPOs) as the primary target group, the course found a new home in Hanoi, Vietnam.

The Commission for Standards, Metrology and Quality of Vietnam (STAMEQ) hosted the advanced Development of Productivity Specialists course from 6 to 17 October 2025 with the support of the Vietnam National Productivity Institute. A total of 21 participants from 14 member economies attended, representing NPO professional staff, government training centers, academia, and business associations. The two-week course was delivered by four resource persons from the Republic of China, Japan, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

Throughout the course, participants engaged in presentations and hands-on exercises on a range of productivity enhancement tools, including value stream mapping, data collection and visualization for productivity measurement, total productive maintenance, and management consultancy techniques. For the practical component on productivity assessment and diagnosis, participants visited four local companies: Garment 10 Corporation Joint Stock Company; Seikico Co., Ltd.; Tung Duong Precision Mechanical Processing Co., Ltd.; and VPC Printing and Packaging Joint Stock Company. Earlier in the course, they also visited Rang Dong Light Source and Vacuum Flask Joint Stock Company to observe successful productivity enhancement practices in Vietnam.