Rockwell Automation Presents CXO Roundtable on “Smart Manufacturing - Champions of Change” Powered by Pro MFG Media

#SmartManufacturing #Innovation #DigitalTransformation #ManufacturingExcellence #CXORoundtable #RockwellAutomation

August 2024 : The recent CXO Roundtable, presented by Rockwell Automation and powered by ProMFG Media, supported by the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), brought together leaders from top manufacturing organizations to discuss the transformative impact of smart manufacturing on the industry.

Murli Manohar, Head of Enterprise Software Solutions at Rockwell Automation India, kicked off the event by emphasizing the critical role of data in driving AI initiatives within manufacturing. "The future of manufacturing lies in our ability to capture and contextualize data to enable intelligent decision-making," he noted.

Ranjan Arora, Enterprise Software Sales Leader – Automotive Industry, Rockwell Automation India discussed the advantages of SaaS and cloud-based manufacturing platforms. He introduced the Plex platform, stating, "With over 8 billion transactions daily, Plex is a game-changer in connecting and automating manufacturing operations globally."

The event featured a dynamic exchange of ideas led by Manish Kulkarni, Director & Co-Founder, ProMFG Media, who engaged in conversations with industry leaders from renowned companies, including Mahindra Group, Altigreen, SKF India, Suprajit, Tenneco Automotive India, Wabtec Corporation, Kennametal, Continental India, Essae Gears and Transmissions, Toyota Industries Engine India, and Essae Digitronics.

Fred Hehl, Vice President, Enterprise Software Sales, Rockwell Automation, highlighted the need for automation in achieving effective digital transformation. "Many manufacturing operations are still burdened by manual processes and disparate systems. To truly unlock the potential of digital transformation, it’s essential to automate and integrate these systems to ensure seamless visibility and control,” Fred stated.

Neeraj Bhalla, Group VP- Head Digital Projects – GTO, Mahindra Group, shared insights on standardizing processes across multiple plants. He emphasized, "Co-creating with shop floor teams is crucial to successfully map and improve operational processes."\

Rajashekar Venkat, Director, Sales & Manufacturing for the Machining Solutions, Kennametal, shared a predictive maintenance case study. "Interconnecting machines for predictive maintenance has greatly improved our machine performance and efficiency," he explained.

Neha Misra, Global IT Leader - Supply Chain and Smart Manufacturing, Wabtec Corporation, highlighted sustainability efforts. She stated, "Tracking scope one, two, and three emissions is critical for meeting our sustainability goals and reducing environmental impact."

Ajoy Lall, Sr. Vice President, Manufacturing, Altigreen, discussed the challenges of traceability in the automotive sector. "Digital product passports are essential for ensuring traceability and accountability in our battery production," he noted.

Girish Hanchate, Factory Manager - - Bangalore, SKF India, shared initiatives on energy consumption tracking. "Our focus on energy tracking and water neutrality has led to significant environmental and cost-saving benefits," he highlighted.

Click here to view the complete session: https://youtu.be/KtDOf4HtR0o

Lokesha B S, Deputy General Manager – Projects & Production Engineering, Toyota Industries Engine India, spoke about key metrics for measuring smart manufacturing success. He asserted, "Sustainability and data-driven decision-making are at the core of our smart manufacturing strategies."

Kubendran KS, Vice President Operations, Essae Gears and Transmissions, added insights on achieving traceability in the automotive industry. "Achieving complete traceability is a challenge, but it's essential for quality and compliance," he said.

Kailash Kumar B Jain, Director - Global Warranty and Data Analytics, Tenneco Automotive India, discussed the implementation of digital tools. He remarked, "Our digital tools for warranty management have been pivotal in improving product quality and customer satisfaction."

Jagadeesh Aratoli, AGM - Enterprise Solutions, Suprajit Engineering, contributed insights on the role of smart manufacturing in driving operational excellence. He stated, “Embracing smart manufacturing has allowed us to optimize our production processes, reduce waste, and enhance overall operational efficiency.”

Santhosh K V, Vice President of Operations & TPM Facilitation, Essae Digitronics, discussed cost savings through digital platforms. He observed, "Digital transformation has significantly reduced our administrative and logistic costs, driving better business strategies."

Sebastian Ananthaswamy, Head of SAM Operations Plant Bangalore, Continental India, discussed the implementation of Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) and advanced technologies. He shared, “By focusing on OEE and leveraging advanced technologies, we’ve been able to significantly boost productivity in our electronic component manufacturing processes.”

The roundtable concluded with a consensus on the importance of digital transformation in shaping the future of manufacturing. The insights shared by these industry leaders provide a robust framework for companies aiming to leverage smart manufacturing technologies to drive innovation, efficiency, and sustainability.

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