NPS 2018 : A More Productive Future

A More Productive Future

With the view to put spotlight on some of the best practices in the manufacturing industry, Indian Machine Tool Manufacturers’ Association (IMTMA) organized the 12th edition of National Productivity Summit 2018 on August 24-25, 2018, at ITC Grand Chola, Chennai. The theme of the summit was ‘Showcasing Competitiveness in Manufacturing’. Highlights…

Indian Machine Tool Manufacturers’ Association (IMTMA) organizes its annual National Productivity Summit (NPS) to highlight and reward projects that have excelled at achieving improved process performance and enhanced productivity.

This year NPS 2018 was graced by the presence of MM Murugappan, Executive Chairman, Murugappa Group and Dr V Sumantran, Chairman, Celeris Technologies who did the honors of inaugurating the summit. Sharing their space were P Ramadas, President, IMTMA; Indradev Babu, Vice President, IMTMA; and V Anbu, Director General & CEO, IMTMA.

Setting the tone for the summit, Murugappan emphasized on the Indian companies to embrace technology to gain competitiveness. “We must realize the fact that we acutely need to be competitive and it does not matter which industry one is in. A very classical approach is through robust processes that get enhanced by the use of technology,” he stated.

“We must essentially focus on growth because if the GDP per capita income is growing and if 85 percent of our business is within the defined geography of India, we need to necessarily grow and be competitive. Our targets need to be higher than the GDP growth,” he further added.

He also stressed on the importance of having the right talent and cash flow to make a business successful. “Another point to focus is the quantum of profit and cash flow which has a direct bearing on efficiency. Being frugal with enhanced cash flow gives us an even better opportunity, especially in a country like India,” noted Murugappan.

Speaking on the ‘Pathways to Productivity for Indian Manufacturing,’ Dr Sumantran, said, “It is imperative to leverage the combination of quality and productivity to meet the competitive demands of the industry. Manufacturing units need to embrace modern technology including Industry 4.0 to raise the collective input in manufacturing and boost India’s share of medium and high-tech activities in manufacturing exports so that manufacturing activity can be sustainable and contribute further to GDP.”
P Ramadas, President, IMTMA, said, “It is imminent now for companies in India to enhance competitiveness in manufacturing by reducing costs and improving productivity, by building a sustainable competitive advantage. Summits such as these are platforms that address learning and best practices requirements of manufacturing industry and to raise its competitiveness.”

Insightful Keynotes

As part of the summit, seasoned industry players, rich in experience and expertise, offered their take on things. A ‘360o perspective on Manufacturing Competitiveness’ was presented by AK Taneja, Managing Director & CEO, Shriram Pistons & Rings Ltd. The way to ‘Drive Growth through Productivity’ was shown by VN Vijayaraghavan, Managing Director, IM Gears, and Dattatri Salagame, Vice President & Head of Digital Business, Robert Bosch Engineering & Business Solutions, offered his take on ‘IoT implementation in Indian manufacturing’. Abhay Dixit, Senior General Manager, Mahindra & Mahindra, Farm Equipment Sector, listed ‘Innovative Ways of Improving Paint Shop Productivity’.

Rewarding the Worthy

NPS 2018 featured case study presentations on productivity improvement projects from various companies such as Bajaj Auto, Akurdi; Hero MotoCorp, Haridwar; L&T MHPS Turbine Generators, Surat; L&T MHPS Boilers, Surat; Mahindra & Mahindra, Foundry Division, Kandivali; Toyota Kirloskar Auto Parts, Bengaluru; and TVS Motor Company, Hosur, all of which contested for the IMTMA-Ace Micromatic Productivity Championship Awards 2018.

The awards acknowledge outstanding efforts from the shortlisted case studies of companies that have excelled in achieving superior performance and reward them with cash prizes worth `10 lakh.

Irrespective of the size of a manufacturing organization, boosting productivity is essential to enhancing profits and sustaining competitiveness. IMTMA, in its capacity, is being instrumental in their endeavor to achieve their best.

Winners of the IMTMA-Ace Micromatic Awards 2018 with IMTMA members and seasoned manufacturing players.

 “We must realize the fact that we acutely need to be competitive and it does not matter which industry one is in. A very classical approach is through robust processes that get enhanced by the use of technology.”
MM Murugappan
Executive Chairman
Murugappa Group

“Manufacturing units need to embrace modern technology to raise the collective input in manufacturing and boost India’s share of medium and high-tech activities in manufacturing exports so that manufacturing activity can be sustainable and contribute further to GDP.”
Dr. V Sumantran
Chairman
Celeris Technologies

The awards acknowledge outstanding efforts from the shortlisted case studies of companies that have excelled in achieving superior performance and reward them with cash prizes worth 10 lakh.

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