ACMA promotes engineering kaizen

In an effort to encourage junior and middle management in the automotive industry to generate simple breakthrough and innovative ideas, the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) Southern Region organised its first ever kaizen contest and conference in Chennai. Complimenting the association for providing such a platform, Shekar Viswanathan, deputy managing director, Toyota Kirloskar Motors and the chief guest for the valedictory session for the event, said that improvement efforts at all levels should be continuous and should not be triggered or heightened only in the event of a crisis.

Referring to the global downturn over the past year, he said that many large companies suffered, primarily due to a systems failure. A crisis on the shopfloor can be averted through improvements and teamwork through quality circles and kaizen, which he said are the key factors for Toyota’s success.

Earlier welcoming the participants to the contest, Harish Lakshman, deputy chairman, ACMA (SR) and convener of the contest and managing director, Rane TRW Steering Systems, said that the event was aimed at providing a forum for cross-learning and an exchange of ideas with a spirit of competitiveness.

Kaizen for all seasons Inaugurating the conference, chief guest B Venkat Subramaniam, special director, future vehicle development programme, Ashok Leyland, said: “Kaizen plays an important role both in times of prosperity as well as adversity. While the boardrooms get more excited with breakthrough and innovation, everyone should have a role to play everyday in continual improvement. Kaizen should be embedded into the education system and nurtured as a culture.” Delivering the keynote address, C Narasimhan, chief mentor, ACMA Centre for Technology and Advisor, Sundaram Clayton, said: “While kaizen means change for the better, it should be practiced company-wide.” Srivats Ram, chairman ACMA-SR and managing director, Wheels India, said: “Toyota has been the benchmark world-wide for its quality and improvements and is an inspiration to many companies in India. Let me compliment the teams and the management of the companies who nominated them for supporting the kaizen movement. This contest would take the shape of a national event and would be circulated in all the regions.” The event saw 25 contestants from 18 companies and participation from over 50 delegates from ACMA (SR) members. Jose Jacob and Lokesh of NTTF Industries were the winners and bagged a trophy and Rs 10, 000. Shriram Pistons & Rings, represented by Saurabh Garg and Parveen, were second, followed by T Anil Kumar and R Rajinikanth of Sundaram Clayton. The next edition of this event is to be held in Bangalore