Industrial Automation in India, is in its adolescence phase. Since the real drive for automation started only in early 90s we are still trying to play "catch-up” with the absorption of product technologies and manufacturing processes, with geographies that have had over 100 years to learn and deploy automation, while China has rapidly closed the gap in skills development and industrial deployment of highly automated processes” said Mr Vijay Paranjape, President AIA and Director & Member Managing Board (Siemens Ltd)
He was speaking during the “Excellence Awards for Innovation and Creative Automation” held during the “Automotive Engineering show” being organised by Automation Industry Association (AIA) and M/s Focussed Events, at Chennai.
These awards are specially focused towards celebrating the pioneering role played by mid-level operational management teams. The Show highlighted various technologies for “Manufacturing and Operational Excellence” in the Automotive sector, including advanced industrial Automation technologies.
The awards were envisioned to highlight how today’s automotive industry operates in a dynamic and increasingly competitive climate. Component suppliers, manufacturing equipment OEM’s and vehicle manufacturer’s are challenged with Rising consumer demands for quality and selection, Shorter product life cycles, Increasingly stringent environmental and safety standards and Fierce global competition among others . These factors drive improvement strategies and raise the bar continuously for plant engineering and production teams. In India, particular emphasis is laid on Lowering Life Cycle. Costs, Increasing Productivity, Enhancing Functional Safety, Optimising Energy Use, Simplifying Plant and Machine Visualisation.
“India’s 8- 9% GDP growth saga, is not a strong reason for jubilation, since the growth percentages are derived over a low base denominator (GDP). The fact that we have one of the lowest GDP ‘per hour worked’ also means that we are doing a chunk of the lowest- end jobs in our Manufacturing sector; and that too, rather inefficiently” cautioned Mr Paranjape.
At the presence of a large section of the industry, Dr. Ethirajan Bhaskaran - Deputy Director Dept. of Industries & Commerce, Govt. of Tamil Nadu, said “ Innovative fora such as this provides direct interaction between government, administration and the industry thus shaping the future of Chennai’s Auto Industry, which is the base of nearly 1/3rd of India’s Automotive Industry, to strengthen direct interaction.
Adjudged on the basis of innovation and creative Automation, the five winning cases were SIEMENS ENERGY EFFICIENCY AWARD - Mr. Neelakandan V, Deputy Manager - Body Shop, Ford India Pvt Ltd for Energy saving in robot systems, KENNAMETAL ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AWARD - Mr. Piyush Thakar, Manager Paint Shop, Mahindra Vehicle Manufacturers Ltd for Intelligent Automation for Green Paint Shop, SIEMENS PRODUCTIVITY AWARD - Mr. Ramanathan Srinivasan, General Manager Manufacturing, Tata Cummins for Quick Changeover Cylinder block Machining Line, DEMAG SAFETY AWARD - Mr. S. Nagaraj, Manager Electrical & Electronics, Maintenance Dept. Ashok Leyland Ltd for Safety Improvement & Operation Scrap Elimination in “H” Series Cylinder Block Machining, EMERGYS VALUE IMPROVEMENT AWARD - Mr. Ashok Virmani, Manager Welding, Honda Siel Cars India Limited for 100% Spot Weld Assurance.
“Flexible, synchronised & efficient production system controlled through benchmarking & shopfloor management is the way to acheive excellence in manufacturing,” said Mr. V.K. Bhalla - Chief Executive Officer (Ashok Leyland Nissan Vehicles Ltd.), while commenting on the role of Automation in the Industry.
Jury Members at the event also included Mr. Balasundaram R. -Vice President -Powertrain Operations (Ford India), Prof. Nilesh. J. Vasa - Head Of Dept. Engineering Design (IIT Madras) and Mr. Jacques Foulquier - Sr. VP, Director (Renault Nissan Technology & Business Centre India.
While India has imported robotic systems or occasionally built automated machinery, the country has not proactively taken to higher research or commercial innovation, and done little to BUILD A CULTURE that would SUSTAIN Automation”.
In-house innovation and creative ways to knit-together Automation solutions, is integral to the mission of an Industrial economy. And the Automotive industry, known as the mother of innovation, has rightfully stepped in to take the lead. The Automotive Engineering Chennai show, now in its 4th edition, has consistently carried the message of Industrial Automation.
Highlights of the show also included participation from over 125 leading Automotive and Industrial Automation companies including showcasing Manufacturing enhancers, IT solutions in Design, Development, Planning and Manufacturing, World renowned Manufacturers of Automation systems and Factory Control, Assembly Line System Integrators and Line builders, Machining Centers and Metal Cutting equipment including Laser cutting, Productivity Enhancers, latest concepts in Tools, Jigs and Fixtures, Specialized solutions in Welding including Laser welding, Automotive Testing, Metrology & Quality Inspection providers and End to end In-plant (Material) Handling systems.
AIA also had a dedicated Automation Learning Kiosk for working professionals and students which had 3 zones earmarked for hands on demos on emerging automation concepts such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Machine Vision ( Contour and 3D sensing), Energy Optimisation with the help of young volunteers from IIT Madras and NIT Tiruchy and MVGR University.
Source:-http://www.business-standard.com/article/press-releases/-india-must-accelerate-use-of-industrial-automation-111061500111_1.html
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