Page 43 - MMI_MarApr 2021 (high-singles)

our goals by being a group Compact Band Filter
of fast-action compact units
working together in synergy,”
adds Udaya.
Pandemic challenges
Covid-19 and its subsequent
lockdowns posed a gamut of
challenges for all. Udaya shares Retaining talent in SMEs
the ones U-Tech had to deal
with and how were they coped
with, “With the seemingly in-
surmountable economic and
social challenges, the toughest
we realized was the respon-
sibility of taking care of our
people. Many who were tested
positive with Covid had to be
provided with the necessary
help. The office and factory re- hurdles it faced, “Apart from
mained closed for long stretch-
es due to Covid spurts. When
the units opened, there was the
challenge of making everybody
adhere to the pandemic proto-
cols. We ensured there was no
spread of the disease and adapt- SMEs cannot match packag-
ed to work from home in possi-
ble cases.”
And then, there was the finan-
cial challenge of keeping the
company afloat for months
without revenues. “Fixed costs
could not be avoided. We en-
sured that barring all senior
staff, everyone else got their
salaries on time. To our re-
lief, everyone cooperated. As
reserves were being rapidly
used up, belts needed to be
tightened. Supplier payments
were also delayed but, luckily,
we found understanding there
too,” he adds.
The recovery phase has now
begun, he further adds, “With
Source: U-Tech Group
Chip Conveyor
www.mmindia.co.in
Source: U-Tech Group overcome this issue, we hand-
pick the talent and make them
the economy picking up, the partners whenever we start a Apart from
order books are filling up. A new company.” the financial
semblance of normalcy should This has worked to a very great challenges
hopefully be seen in the com- extent for U-Tech. People who an SME fac-
ing few months.” joined the Group as engineers es, there is a
are today part owners of its challenge to
companies. It is beneficial in attract and
Although the SME sector has both ways, believes Udaya, retain tal-
grown dynamically over the “They, as owners, are eligible ented peo-
last five decades and contrib- for profit sharing and the com- ple. Since
utes a substantial portion of pany retains the talent.” SMEs cannot
the country’s exports, creating match
millions of jobs annually, it Positive outlook packages
still suffers from a burden Udaya staunchly believes offered by
of challenges. Udaya tells us that India has the potential to MNCs, they
about the way U-Tech achieved become a manufacturing pow- find opportu-
breakthroughs through the erhouse. However, he feels nities there
that those who invest and or in bigger
the financial challenges an take risks in setting up new industries.
SME faces, the other major enterprises or scaling up their
challenge is to attract talent existing facilities should be
and retain people. Good people supported by fulfilling their re-
with talent find opportunities quirements on priority.
in MNCs or bigger industries. “With the production linked
facility announced, we are see-
es offered by MNCs. So, we ing several companies invest-
find it very difficult to get the ing in India to manufacture
right people.” smart watches, mobile phones,
He adds that SMEs end up be- laptops etc. Many of them are
coming training centers, “We Indian companies. They are
hire people and train them for a investing in crores and employ-
few years. They then find jobs ing lakhs of people, which is a
in larger setups and leave. To boost to the Indian economy.
The Government needs to sup-
port them to make it all work,”
he adds.
“With the Chinese products
taking a beating the world over,
countries are looking at us to
fill the gap. It is a big opportu-
nity for India to show its man-
ufacturing mettle. If not now,
when then?,” he sums up with
a rhetoric question.
One lot of Compact Band Filters ready for Scara Chip Shredder
export to the UK
| 43March-April 2021