Tracking Strategic's Rapid Growth in Vietnam, and Recognizing the People Who Make It Possible

Looking back to our first customer visit at our new Vietnam Factory in October 2023, you’d never imagine that in just two years that empty, cavernous space would transform into one of the most capable high tech helmet manufacturing facilities in the world.

But we had a vision. And we move fast.

By November 2023, our Vietnam facility shipped its first helmets, a modest run produced in the thousands, and today, that same factory produces over 200,000 helmets a month, built by an entirely local workforce under hybrid management, with local content, and utilizing a growing array of state-of-the-art machinery and automation, all in a facility that prioritizes sustainability in support of Strategic Sports’ goal of being carbon neutral by 2030. 

The Volume Curve

The numbers tell the story of the ramp. After that first, small shipment in late 2023, production has compounded year over year:

2023: 3,069 units, our first shipment and proof of concept, produced in the final weeks of the year.

2024: 174,649 units, the ramp-up year, as lines, tooling, and training scaled together.

2025: Over 200,000 units a month.

Across just over two years, the Vietnam factory has maintained a volume trajectory few new facilities anywhere in the world can match.

“We’ve invested heavily in our Vietnam Factory, with more to come,” Strategic Sports Managing Director, Norman Cheng said, referring to the $30m that’s already gone into Strategic’s Vietnam factory in just two years.

Floorspace was doubled from 30,000 to 60,000 square feet with the completion of Phase 2 Expansion, which also brought major upgrades to our machinery and technical capabilities to rival  the full process integration already running at our China facilities, including spanning injection molding, painting, decal application, EPS molding, printing, forming, cutting, sewing, and final assembly. Our in-house test lab is also being substantially upgraded, which will speed up development cycles and strengthen quality control.

Phase 2 expanded our product range as well, adding  dedicated space for goggle production, covering lens forming, surface treatment, frame production, and assembly, alongside new lines for body armor that include shock-absorbing layer forming, heat-sealing, cutting, and sewing.

"Machinery, automation and factory space are important, but we know really that all of our growth is possible because of the hard work of our people, our most valuable resource. We say People First, that’s a core value of Strategic Sports, and we mean it…that’s what makes us strong” Cheng said.

Recognizing Our Vietnam Team: Q2 Excellence:

Our Vietnam factory is staffed by an entirely local workforce, with hybrid management including Vietnamese leadership as part of our core management structure. It’s truly a Vietnamese factory, staffed by a Vietnamese workforce and increasingly led by Vietnamese managers, producing at a scale and quality that now stands alongside our most established sites, even utilizing over 70% local content. 

And this quarter, our Vietnam team gave us plenty to celebrate. From the production floor to the purchasing office, employees pushed efficiency higher, sharpened new skills, and helped teammates grow, and it was our privilege to thank them for it in person. On an early morning at our Vietnam facility, we gathered the whole factory for an outdoor recognition ceremony followed by a celebration, honoring fourteen employees across four award categories: Outstanding Employee, Most Improved Employee, Best Training, and Outstanding Leader.

Each winner walked the red carpet to receive their certificate from plant leadership, backed by a stage banner reading "Strategic Sports Vietnam Outstanding Employee Recognition Ceremony" in Chinese and Vietnamese, a fitting symbol of the cross-border teamwork that makes our Vietnam operation run. Here's a closer look at who we celebrated and why.

This is a Vietnamese factory, staffed by a Vietnamese workforce and increasingly led by Vietnamese managers, producing at a scale and quality that now stands alongside our most established sites.

On a sunny afternoon at our Vietnam facility, we gathered the whole factory for an outdoor recognition ceremony followed by a celebration, honoring fourteen employees across four award categories: Outstanding Employee, Most Improved Employee, Best Training, and Outstanding Leader.

Each winner walked the red carpet to receive their certificate from plant leadership, backed by a stage banner reading "Strategic Sports Vietnam Outstanding Employee Recognition Ceremony" in Chinese and Vietnamese, a fitting symbol of the cross-border teamwork that makes our Vietnam operation run. Here's a closer look at who we celebrated and why.

Outstanding Employee

Five employees recognized for consistent excellence, accuracy, and dedication on the floor.

Trần Thị Loan

Molding Dept. — Materials Team

Recognized for strong responsibility, diligence, and clear, accurate record-keeping. Raised production efficiency to 80% while keeping the defect rate below 3%.

Hoàng Thị Nghiêm

Assembly Dept. — A2 Line

Mastered eight skills, including Level 3 EVA snap-button applying, Level 1 instruction-manual insertion, and Level 1 strap threading, while lifting production efficiency to 73%.

Thái Thị Hồng Thắm

Painting Dept. — Decal

Increased production efficiency to 68% and held the defect rate to just 1.6%, reaching Skill Level 2 along the way.

Lê Thị Kiều Ngân

QC — Quality Control

Responsible for product inspection and quality control across five subcontracting factories, contributing valuable diligence to the company's quality management.

Võ Thị Hồng Anh

Production Control — Production Control

Kept clear, accurate records and brought a proactive attitude to learning and teamwork throughout the quarter.

Most Improved Employee

Five employees who made the biggest leaps forward this quarter, in skills, efficiency, and results.

Nguyễn Thị Xuân Thanh

Molding Dept. — Trimming

Raised production efficiency to 80% and mastered Level 2 bavia and Level 1 edge-trimming skills for a standout quarter of growth.

Võ Hoàng Khang

Assembly Dept. — Materials Team

Progressed quickly in material knowledge, mastering six skills including Level 2 ear-pad wrapping and Level 1 carton sealing and packing, and lifted efficiency to 65%.

Võ Phương Nghi

Painting Dept. — Materials Team

Took the initiative to learn material management and the T100 system, mastering seven skills and raising efficiency to 68%.

Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Trâm

Purchasing Dept. — Purchasing

Reduced costs through supplier negotiation while upholding quality, supported colleagues through overtime, and posted a quarterly score of 90.

Võ Thị Tuyết Nhung

Purchasing Dept. — Purchasing

Despite a short tenure, mastered 13 system modules, reached a 90% supplier on-time delivery rate, and scored 88 for the quarter.

Best Training

Three employees who invested in teammates, bringing new hires up to speed quickly and reliably.

Lê Thị Hoàng Mi

Painting Dept. — Polishing

Trained new employees to proficiency, helping the line approach China-factory production levels, while lifting efficiency to 70%, holding defects to 1%, and reaching Skill Level 3.

Trần Thị Thanh Vân

Assembly Dept. — B2 Line

Organized and trained new team members to fast proficiency, helping raise production efficiency to 70%.

Phan Hữu Rin

Stitching Dept. — Stitching Team

Trained new employees to quick proficiency, lifting efficiency to 73% while keeping the defect rate to just 0.8%.

Outstanding Leader

One team leader recognized for precision, accountability, and systems mastery.

Hoàng Thị Dung

Painting Dept. — Team Leader

Carefully verified production data at every process and reconciled quantity discrepancies, lifting efficiency to 80% and mastering T100 modules including goods receipt and inventory inquiry.

Celebrating Together

Recognition is only half the story. After certificates were handed out, the team stayed on for a celebration on-site, trading the production line for a red carpet, music, and time together as one factory family. It was a chance to applaud not just the fourteen award winners, but every employee whose work made Q2 a strong quarter.

Congratulations again to our Q2 award winners, and thank you to the entire Vietnam team for the work, care, and teamwork you bring every day. Here's to building on this momentum in Q3.