India is witnessing a major change in the manufacturing industry as it embarks its journey to be self - reliant. Mr. Anil Bhasin, former President, Havells India Limited, shares with Pro MFG Media, the journey of the Indian lighting industry, and some key parameters to build a balanced ecosystem.
Every organization has a different way of approaching and conducting business. Undeniably, the goal of every organization is to achieve success and sustain every crisis. The different philosophies of organizations, is a testimony to the journey of Indian manufacturing sector.
Bajaj Electricals Limited believed in mainly trading and selling the products whereas, Havells India Limited, believed in manufacturing and selling the product. However, in contrast, are the philosophies of the organization, the leader of the respective organization believed in their values. As Napoleon Hill rightly says, “Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” The employees can perform successfully in such organizations because of the leader’s strong values and beliefs.
For, Make in India policy to be successful, the leaders in the manufacturing sector should understand the importance of building their own plant, rather than depending on numerous small vendors. The lighting industry in India has been into existence for quite some time, however they have not been able to set up their own manufacturing facilities. In fact, Havells India was the first organization to build a light fixture manufacturing plant as such plants require heavy investments and extensive infrastructure.
Even though the small vendors are efficient, the organizations cannot be dependent on them, as they are wrapped in limitations. The lack of capital cost-competitive market and limited ROI keeps them away from expansions and incorporating hi-end infrastructure. The GOI has initiated the Atma Nirbhar Bharat program but the industry leaders need to invest in future development. Organizations must build their own plants rather than being relied on China for the products. Apart from that, the lack of skilled engineers and workers is one of the most critical challenges faced by the Indian manufacturing industry. The desire to perform white-collar jobs leaves the industry in cold with skilled labor. The organization implements IoT technologies for better efficiency, but unskilled labor will not be able to operate the system, thus preventing the organization from efficiency. Also, the huge gap between industrial knowledge and the educational system cripples the industry further. There is a dearth of quality education in the country’s Industrial training institute (ITI) which basically sets back the ambitious plan of Atmanirbhar Bharat. The educational institutes and the manufacturing industry need to collaborate and stay in synergy.
Havells India has been proactively investing in building excellent plant and hi-end infrastructure. The organization had acquired Lloyd in 2017 and has invested approximately Rs. 300 crores to transform the plant into a highly equipped with excellent infrastructure manufacturing plant. The National Geographic channel has covered Havells for being the most modern plant for manufacturing of air conditioners. Apart from machines and equipment, Havells have also invested in R&D and built an independent Central Research Institute wherein the team is provided with facilities and isolation to think out of the box.
The manufacturing industry in India has witnessed a dramatic change in the past five years. Some of the manufacturing factories have transformed themselves into hi-end factories and smart factories. The Indian manufacturing sector has immense potential but the organizations need to focus on investing, skilled labor, and research & development aspects.
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