Prioritizing Risks in Production Activities: A Study of Salt Processing Enterprises in the Central Region of Vietnam

Abstract

Salt production has the common characteristics of agricultural output, always facing many types of risks. This study aims to identify and prioritize risks in the production activities of salt processing enterprises in the Central region of Vietnam. The research combined qualitative and quantitative research methods. The qualitative study conducted in-depth interviews with 12 experts from 6 salt processing enterprises to identify risk criteria. Next, structured interviews were conducted with experts to collect point data comparing each pair of risks, and at the same time, point data on the likelihood of occurrence of risk criteria were collected, and then the analytical hierarchy process was applied to determine the overall weight of the risk criteria, and from there, the risk score value is determined. The results of the study show that 5 risk criteria need to be prioritized for handling, including weather risk (PrPR2), with a risk score value of 3.5833; storage risk (PoPR1), with a risk score value of 2.6520; food safety risk (RIP2), with a risk score value of 2.4630; and coastal environmental pollution risk (PrPR3), with a risk score value of 2.0668; and finally, the risk of delayed production (RIP5), with a risk score value of 1.7112. Based on the above results, the study proposes some management implications to improve the production efficiency of salt processing enterprises in the Central region of Vietnam.