Powering Productivity Together

With an accentuated impact and a remarkable display of India’s manufacturing prowess, the 18^th edition of National Productivity Summit (NPS 2024) successfully unfolded in Pune, drawing together over 260 delegates from over 100 companies. Organized by Indian Machine Tool Manufacturers’ Association (IMTMA), from December 3-4, 2024, in Pune, the summit served as a melting pot of innovative ideas and transformative discussions, driving a concerted push towards excellence.

Themed ‘Showcasing Excellence in Manufacturing’, the two-day summit kicked off with enlightening plant visits to industrial giants including Bajaj Auto  Ltd, Gabriel India Ltd, Forbes Marshall Pvt Ltd, Aakar Foundry Pvt Ltd, Tata AutoComp  Systems Ltd, and Mahle Anand Thermal Systems Pvt Ltd. These visits set the tone for what would become a comprehensive exploration of manufacturing excellence.

The event was inaugurated by Ashwin Shastri, Chief Transformation Officer, Tata AutoComp Systems and Avinash Chintawar, Managing Director, Bosch Chassis Systems India Pvt Ltd. Sharing the dais were key IMTMA names, including Rajendra S Rajamane, President, IMTMA; Mohini Kelkar, Vice President, IMTMA; and Guru Prasath KR, Executive Director, IMTMA. TK Ramesh, Managing Director, Ace Designers Ltd, delivered a special address.

Speaking on the occasion, the IMTMA President said that IMTMA instituted the AceMicromatic Productivity Championship Awards in 2006 to showcase the best Productivity Improvements in the Manufacturing sector. Over the years, NPS has played a key role in bringing forth some groundbreaking productivity improvements.

Kelkar highlighted that this Summit offers a great opportunity to the manufacturing community to come together and share Best Practices. It is a combination of keynote addresses, interesting case study presentations and factory visits.

In alignment TK Ramesh, stated that this summit acts as a knowledge sharing platform and helps in the process of learning through case studies. This summit has been made for everyone in the manufacturing industry and the fraternity to learn from each other and transform the industry.

Impactful Inaugural Insights

Shastri delivered a compelling inaugural address that resonated throughout the hall. “India can be predictable. India can be a very reliable partner,” he declared, highlighting India’s potential as a stable manufacturing hub. His vision for the future emphasized the critical need for “a fantastic handshake between institutes and IMTMA,” recognizing the vital role of academia-industry collaboration in fostering innovation.

Chintawar offered a fresh perspective to the sustainability dialogue. “No source is unlimited; it’s where the word resource has come from,” he remarked, emphasizing the importance of renewable, resourceable, and recyclable materials in manufacturing processes.

Voices of Industry Leaders

A key and seasoned presenter at the summit, MS Shankar, President-Future Mobility, ANAND Group India, delivered a passionate address focusing on youth empowerment, which plays a crucial role in redefining productivity. “Every part of a machine should speak to the other,” he emphasized, advocating for connected systems and urging industry leaders to spotlight young plant-level innovators, empowering the next generation.

Jitendra Lakhotia, CEO, Aakar Foundry Pvt Ltd, turned the spotlight on the people behind the machines. “It’s not just machines or materials; people are the driving force,” he affirmed, advocating for continuous workforce development and the creation of a ‘circle of safety’ for employees. His heartfelt message resonated deeply with participants, reinforcing the importance of human capital in manufacturing success.

Dr N Ravichandran, Chief Mentor, UCAL Ltd and Chief Jury for the IMTMA Awards, highlighted the transformative power of collaboration. “Individual intelligence is inferior to collective wisdom,” he noted, emphasizing the summit’s role in fostering knowledge sharing and collective learning. His reflections on the rigorous evaluation of over 70 entries illustrated the high standards of innovation showcased at the event.

Sovan Tudu Assistant Editor Magic Wand Media sovan.tudu@ magicwandmedia.in

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