APO Accreditation Body (APO-AB) accredited certification bodies (CBs) operate productivity specialists certification schemes and grant productivity specialist certification to candidates after their successful evaluation by appointed CB assessors. The assessment process is crucial for certification schemes and to ensure the consistency and quality of schemes, enhance the credibility and reputation of both certified persons and CBs, oversee compliance with rules and standards, and uphold the code of ethics. APO-AB accredited CBs in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Singapore, Thailand, the I.R. Iran, and Vietnam grant productivity specialist certification to candidates upon their successful assessment.

A face-to-face training course for Assessors for the Productivity Specialists Certification Program was hosted by the Commission for Standards, Metrology and Quality (STAMEQ) from 16–20 September in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The program was designed in a structured manner to engage all participants in group discussions and presentations aimed at collective learning to develop qualified assessors and strengthen the APO-AB accredited CBs.

Twenty-one participants from 12 APO members completed the course with guidance from four resource persons, two each from Malaysia and Vietnam. Acting Director General of STAMEQ Dr. Ha Minh Hiep, who also serves as the Chairman of the Vietnam Productivity Specialist Certification Body (ViProCB) Certification Council, shared insights on the Certification Development Strategy and Resources for Certification. Training sessions on the APO-PS 101:2023 Requirements for Productivity Specialists certification scheme supported by case studies from the Malaysia Productivity Corporation Certification Body (MPC-CB) and ViProCB provided in-depth knowledge for producing qualified assessors who could contribute to APO-AB accredited CB operation.