PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, June 7: Manufacturing has evolved over the centuries, from human-centered methods to machine-reliant assembly lines to the highly automated factories we’re beginning to see more of today. And the industry continues to evolve. Indeed, several trends are combining to transform manufacturing, and, together, these trends can be referred to as “Industry 4.0.”
Against this backdrop CII Jharkhand organized its fifth edition of Manufacturing Conclave at the Beldih Club here today on the theme “The Future of Manufacturing”.
The conclave deliberated on the best practices in manufacturing and discuss the latest trends that are available in the industry to enable manufacturing excellence and covered important topics of discussion including “Driving the Future of Manufacturing with Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)”, “Robots & Cobots: Human-Machine Partnerships and Work of the Future” and “Advances in 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing Technology”.
Tapas Sahu, chairman, CII Jharkhand State Council, and managing director, Highco Engineers Pvt said that India is at the forefront of the next technology revolution through a thriving startup ecosystem is likely to further spur growth and innovation.
He said that Industry 4.0 in its various forms is making its way into the ‘Indian way’ of doing business. Digital technology, Augmented Reality, the Use of Robots, Artificial Intelligence, Machine learning, etc. are areas of great intrigue and significant investment that are being made by companies across sectors. Manufacturing will be transformed from single automated cells to fully integrated, automated facilities that communicate with one another and boost flexibility, speed, productivity, and quality, he explained.
Ram Phal Nehra, convenor, CII Jharkhand manufacturing, and engineering panel and director, Tata Cummins Pvt Ltd said that in order to remain globally competitive, the Indian manufacturing sector will have to strategise and plan how to take advantage of automation to leapfrog over the present labour intensive and uncertain manufacturing paradigms to a “smart” set up. Manufacturing companies will have to earmark additional investments and skills to take this leap and be a part of the “smart” world.
Ranjot Singh, chairman, CII Jamshedpur Zonal Council and managing director, Emdet Jamshedpur Pvt Ltd said that MSME manufacturing firms have been imperative to the growth of the Indian economy. These small to medium-sized ventures have always contributed largely to the country’s GDP, and to different aspects of its development.
Ravish Sharma, chief operating officer, ESL Steel Ltd said that hand-holding the startups in the present times will act as a building ground for the future of manufacturing. For the future of manufacturing the importance of skilling the youths in-country should be the focus which would act as a building milestone, he said.
Several other experts on manufacturing addressed the conclave. Over 120 delegates participated in the conclave.
