May 16, 2013: Apollo Tyres’ Chennai plant has bagged the platinum (first) prize in the large size category of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) Quality Systems Awards for Manufacturing 2012. The award was presented to Apollo Tyres by Saurabh Chandra, Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, government of India.
Satish Agarwal, chief, Corporate Manufacturing, Apollo Tyres Ltd, who received the award, along with John Devadason, Unit Head, Chennai, Apollo Tyres, said, “While planning this manufacturing facility, we have ‘questioned’ existing practices, studied benchmarked systems within Apollo and outside with a desire to create an iconic manufacturing facility. Recognition like FICCI Quality Systems Award strengthens our resolve towards further improving our quality systems across manufacturing locations.”
FICCI Quality System Awards have been institutionalised to recognise the robustness of quality systems in organisations. Companies that display high performance quality systems, leading to systematic improvement in their performance, are felicitated. The Quality Council of India is the knowledge partner for these awards.
Speaking on the occasion, Sanjay Bhatia, Jury Member and Chairman, FICCI Manufacturing Committee, said, “Apollo Tyres’ Chennai plant is a state-of-the-art facility, with very high standards and consistent quality systems. We would be keen to share the best practices of Apollo Tyres with other applicants and also with the industry at large, which would act as a catalyst to encourage other manufacturers to adopt robust quality systems and thereby face competition in the global market.”
Apollo Tyres’ Chennai plant is spread over 128 acres and was built with an investment of Rs 2100 crore. This all-radial plant has the capacity to produce 16,000 passenger car tyres and 6.000 truck-bus tyres every day.
Photograph (L-R): Satish Agarwal, chief, Corporate Manufacturing (3rd from left) and John Devadason, Unit Head, Chennai, Apollo Tyres Ltd (2nd from right) receive the award from Saurabh Chandra, Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion, government of India (4th from left).