“Manufacturing is witnessing a radical change”

By OEM Update Editorial August 1, 2020 12:07 pm IST

Indian manufacturing industry should now leverage the opportunity to make themselves ‘AtmaNirbhar’ by creating a long-term plan and build a sustainable business.
Ninad Deshpande, Head – Marketing & Corporate Communication, B&R Industrial Automation Pvt Ltd

Current situation provides an opportunity for many organisations to identify gaps in their existing processes and plan for bridging gaps, observes Ninad Deshpande, Head – Marketing & Corporate Communication, B&R Industrial Automation in an interview with OEM Update.

The Indian government has expressed its commitment of making India ‘AtmaNirbhar’ in manufacturing. What will it take for India to reach its indigenisation goals?
Albert Einstein said, “in the midst of every crisis, lies great opportunity”. Likewise, the current situation has bought many opportunities for our Indian manufacturing sector. In 2014, when Government of India announced ‘Make in India’, it laid a foundation for growth, enabling manufacturing to build on available advanced technologies such as Industrial IoT and digitalisation, in the process helping Indian manufacturers amplify their presence across horizons. Now, with the commitment of making India ‘AtmaNirbhar’, government has rolled out additional schemes, which are intended to help manufacturers tackle challenges such as shortage of growth capital and revenue. This will also help manufacturers address some immediate needs such as operations and logistics, thereby opening up opportunity to revive businesses. To promote technology, innovation, enrich in-house skills, and to build a sustainable ecosystem for SMEs and MSMEs, our government launched the strategic ‘Make in India’. Indian manufacturing industry should now leverage the opportunity to make themselves ‘AtmaNirbhar’ by creating a long-term plan and build a sustainable business. Making in India and ‘AtmaNirbhar India’ can certainly help in boosting the economy.

In addition, for making the vision ‘AtmaNirbhar Bharat’, a reality it needs time and a collaborated effort right from raw material, supply chain, manufacturing, delivery to consumers. It is essential for consumers to change buying patterns, manufacturers to changes supplier amongst many more. Thus, throughout the entire value chain there needs to be a paradigm shift for a truly ‘AtmaNirbhar Bharat’.

What are the major bottlenecks in creating an efficient nation-wide manufacturing eco-system?
Manufacturing is witnessing a radical change. Emergence of new technologies, trends and growing global competition are key drivers of this change. However, when creating an entire ecosystem there are numerous challenges. When we talk about manufacturing ecosystem, it starts from availability of raw materials and suppliers, technology, products, vendors, delivery mechanisms and knowledgeable consumers. Moreover, in the entire ecosystem, it is essential to have a focus on technology and quality over costs, which play a vital role in global competitiveness. All these factors in some way or another are deterrents and bottlenecks while implementing a nation-wide manufacturing ecosystem.

Now that the government has raised the FDI limit in the defence manufacturing from 49% to 74% under automatic route, how do you see the opportunities for domestic manufacturers?
Such decisions always act as game changer and with this decision, it encourages major global defence players to set up their manufacturing hubs in India and bring niche technology in the processes. Apart from this, government has also encouraged domestic production of military equipment. With these initiatives, our government is promoting domestic manufacturers to make our defence industry self-reliant. Moreover, new manufacturing setup will lead to job creation as well as enable smaller businesses to thrive in such condition.

How automation and robotics can play a role in empowering domestic manufacturing?
Automation and robotics solutions have been instrumental is supporting domestic manufacturing for many years. Indian manufacturing is a mix of manual labour, semi-automatic machines and fully automated machines. However, we witness advanced manufacturing setups increasingly deploying automation and robotics, thus, transforming conventional mass production to mass customisation at the same time enhancing efficiency and productivity. Such systems also reduce downtime, increase quality, and produce less waste at the same time offer greater visibility of the shop floor. Connected shop floors enable organisations to leverage their shop floor data converting it to valuable information and reports. This fuels increase in productivity, improve asset utilisation and aid decision-making. Complete utilisation of technologies will enable domestic manufacturers to become competitive globally.

How shop floor activities will evolve and embrace digital post COVID-19?
In this VUCA (volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity) world, there is constant and unpredictable change and current situation has definitely further added to uncertainty. With non-availability of labour, uncertain supply of raw material, issue with health and safety management manufacturing industry is already facing challenges. However, advanced automation technologies such as autonomous production lines, robotics, predictive maintenance, remote access and diagnostics enable efficient functioning of machines and factories. In order to work smoothly and avoid such plant shutdowns, all Indian manufactures irrespective of their size and scale of operations, need to leverage these advanced technologies to be sustainable and competitive.

Do you foresee increased adaption of automation and robotics post COVID-19?
Current situation provides an opportunity for many organisations to identify gaps in their existing processes and plan for bridging gaps. This will definitely accelerate adoption of automation and robotics in such organisation. The entire world has already shifted to remote working, home schooling, virtual meetings and experiencing technology benefits in day-to-day lives. Our government has stepped up efforts for further promoting digitalisation and making a true Digital India. With little redesign, reorganisation of shop floor couple with minimum or no investment, these technologies can help organisations to reduce dependency and make any shop floor safe and efficient.