The Foundation for Smart Manufacturing (FSM), an initiative by the Automation Industry Association (AIA) and the Indian Institute of Delhi, under the aegis of the Ministry of Heavy Industry, Government of India, successfully concluded its latest conference in Ahmedabad. This event, aimed at promoting automation and smart manufacturing processes among the Indian manufacturing community, marks the latest in a series of conferences held in Pune, Hosur, and Coimbatore last year.
The inauguration ceremony of the ASM Ahmedabad conference was marked by a series of dignified and insightful addresses that set the tone for the day. The event commenced with the traditional lamp lighting ceremony, symbolizing the illumination of knowledge and wisdom. Following this, Sunil Mehta, President of the Automation Industry Association, delivered a warm welcome address, highlighting the importance of automation and smart manufacturing in India’s industrial landscape. Ajit Shah, President of the Sanand Industries Association, delivered the opening address, emphasizing the importance of empowering MSMEs in India’s growth trajectory. “We need to bridge the large gap between the MSMEs and MNCs today, and we should have a roadmap to make Indian MSMEs into MNCs,” said Mr Shah.
Bill Shukla, Managing Director of Milacron India, delivered the opening keynote titled “Embracing the Future: The Transformative Power of Automation in Industry,” which emphasized the critical role of automation in driving industrial growth and efficiency. He projected that India is expected to achieve a consistent GDP growth rate of 6-7% over the next 30-40 years, driven by various factors, including heavy investment in physical infrastructure, a favorable demographic dividend, and progressive digitalization initiatives. “What China did in the last 20-30 years we are going to witness in India. The government understands this, and we are seeing significant investments in physical infrastructure, such as world-class airports and enhanced connectivity to ports,” Mr Shukla noted.
The combination of substantial infrastructure investments, a favorable demographic profile, and progressive digitalization efforts positions India for a transformative period of growth. Concluding the inaugural session, Anup Wadhwa, Director of the Automation Industry Association, highlighted the importance of collaboration among Indian companies. “We are always looking at collaborating with foreign companies, but now it’s time to improve our collaborations within, and this is the right time,” shared Mr Wadhwa.
The conference featured several key sessions, including “Integrating Automation, Smart Manufacturing, and AI.” Parag Kulkarni, Senior Manager at Mitsubishi Electric India, discussed the Kaizen approach to digital transformation initiatives, and Sandeep Redkar, Consultant Leader at Rockwell Automation India, shared insights on AI in smart manufacturing. Panel discussions were a highlight of the event, with one panel moderated by Kalyan Ram, Founder & CEO of Indxo.Ai, debating the reality of cyber-physical integration with contributions from industry leaders, including Niketh Patil from Siemens Energy.
The segment on Smart Modular and Scalable Production Systems included a presentation by Himanshu Jadhav, CEO & Director of Jendamark India, on the ease of digitization for enhancing efficiency. Chirag Patel, Plant Head at Tata Autocomp, provided an end-user perspective, while Hari E, Group Manager at Titan Engineering & Automation Ltd, discussed smart machines for manufacturing excellence. The second panel on sustaining operational excellence was moderated by Manish Kulkarni, Co-Founder & Director of Pro Mfg Media, featuring all session speakers.
Significant networking opportunities were facilitated through lunch and tea breaks, where attendees visited exhibits showcasing the latest advancements in automation and smart manufacturing. The event concluded with a fireside chat moderated by Manish Kothari, Managing Director of Rhino Machineries Pvt Ltd, exploring the entrepreneurial drive amidst technological advancements. Shankar Tekwani, CEO of Spectrum CableTech was part of the Fireside Chat. The vote of thanks was delivered by Tushar Alekar, Founder & Director of Unipro Communications.
In addition to the insightful sessions, Hari Shanker, Managing Editor of Machine Maker conducted an interactive Digital Quiz supported by FSM, designed and developed by Dr Sunil Jha of IIT Delhi. More than 100 delegates participated in this engaging live quiz, which was structured in 8 phases. This interactive element added an exciting dimension to the conference, encouraging active participation and knowledge sharing among the attendees. Hari Shanker in his address also spoke about the importance of empowering MSMEs in the Indian manufacturing,
FSM’s conference in Ahmedabad has once again shown the importance of automation and smart manufacturing in the Indian industry, offering a platform for industry leaders to share insights and collaborate on future innovations. The Foundation for Smart Manufacturing is dedicated to fostering the adoption of smart manufacturing practices and automation technologies in India. Through a series of conferences and initiatives, FSM aims to drive the country’s manufacturing sector towards a more efficient and technologically advanced future.
