The Process Plant & Machinery Association of India (PPMAI) held a panel discussion themed at ‘Challenges and opportunities for process plants’ at the Godrej and Boyce Manufacturing Company in Mumbai. The panel discussed ways to overcome challenges in the process plants industry and making businesses competitive at par with the global standards. 

 

Topics like skill development, unemployment, quality of products, global standards, infrastructure, logistics and warehousing were some areas that the panel discussed. In order to achieve goals of being 10 trillion economy by 2025, India needs to develop in all the above key areas. 

The discussion observed that more the adoption of the global standards, more will be the avenues to discover. K Nandakumar, Chairman & MD, Chemtrols Industries Pvt Ltd, said, “Many in the process plants industry successfully compny with the global standards but there is a need for more businesses to adopt it. Currently, many in the industry manufacture for the domestic market which is due to high consumption rates in India. If any processing business wants cater to a large market and build their business, manufacturing products adhearing to the global standards will be a key. Additionally, this will only be possible with skill development from the grass-root level to reach optimum productivity.”

 

Indian industry have started developing products based on global standards but misses on to the aspect of aesthetics. “Many companies are seeking international certifications which are accepted globally. We have come across many from the industry who have developed really efficient products but they tend to ignore the look and feel. Sometimes just a proper paint finish and some design elements can lend you an extraordinary look,” observed Manish Bhuptani, MD, TUV India. 

 

P D Samudra, CMD & MD, Thyssenkrupp, said, “The domestic industry focus more on the cost, which impacts over quality. Globally products are more sustainable and quality conscious. If the domestic demand is sluggish and the manufacturers are suffering, one can easily try and push for exports. But this will only happen of the products manufactured are of global competence.”

 

The panel held discussions on the automotive sector, concerns over automotive industry renewable energy adoption and massive slowdown. The panel quashing concerns over electric vehicle's(EVs) introduction to hamper business, suggested that there will be a gradual shift and will slowly move to towards EVs. Infrastructure too will have to match up equally to speed up the process of development in India. It is a well known fact that every developed country has a powerful logistics network. Dr Sharmila Amin, MD-South Asia, Bertling logistics, said, “In terms of roadways, 70 per cent of the truck owners are single truck owners with turnover less than 10 million while European countries have a minimum of 30 million. Building last-mile connectivity like bridges, rail and logistics network through warehousing.” 

 

Further some worrying stats are that of employability, discussing on which, Anil Parab, Vice President, L&T, said, “The rate of unemployment in 2014 was 4.2 per cent and today it has increased to 6.2 per cent. A staunch rise of 57 per cent is recorded. More focus over practical training will impart skill development on a larger scale.”