The Automation for Smart Manufacturing (ASM) initiative, organized by the Automation Industry Association (AIA), is a flagship program to promote automation and digital transformation among MSMEs in India. In its third edition of 2024, the ASM series has already made impactful stops in Ahmedabad and Rudrapur, with Peethampur, Indore, now hosting the next phase of this vital seminar. Backed by the Ministry of Heavy Industries, this event provides MSMEs practical tools and strategies to embrace smart manufacturing technologies and enhance their competitiveness.
The Automation for Smart Manufacturing seminar, a flagship initiative by the Automation Industry Association (AIA) in collaboration with IITD-AIA Foundation for Smart Manufacturing, commenced in Peethampur, Indore, on October 18, 2024, with a ceremonial lamp-lighting. The event, part of a series of seminars promoting automation and digital transformation among MSMEs in India, was graced by key industry leaders and experts. The inaugural ceremony saw participation from Sunil Mehta, President of AIA; Anup Wadhwa, Executive Director of AIA; Suresh Patel, Executive Director of Jash Engineering Limited; Harish Jain, Chief Technology Officer of ITL; Vinay Patel of BVM Anand; and Tushar Alekar, CEO of Unipro Communications.
In his opening address, Sunil Mehta emphasized the role AIA, along with partners like Mitsubishi Electric, has been playing in driving the adoption of automation among MSMEs in India. He highlighted the need for small and medium enterprises to embrace technology to stay competitive in an ever-evolving global marketplace.
Anup Wadhwa, Executive Director of AIA, provided an overview of the day’s proceedings and shared insights on the government’s commitment to promoting automation through the Samarth Udyog initiative. Wadhwa explained how the Ministry of Heavy Industries has been pivotal in driving this transformation, which aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of integrating high-end technology and automation across industries. He remarked that the Samarth Udyog initiative, which began almost nine years ago in 2015-16, has become a key enabler for Indian industries to leverage Industry 4.0 technologies.
Bhuvanesh C Pandey, COO of Jash Engineering Limited and Director of Waterfront Fluid Controls Ltd, UK, delivered the keynote address, which delved into the seminar theme—Journey from SME to MNC: Blending Technology and Human Excellence. Pandey shared his experiences and the strategies that helped Jash Engineering evolve from a small enterprise into a global player, underscoring the importance of combining technological advancements with human resource excellence.
As part of the day’s engagement, Hari Shanker, Managing Editor of Machine Maker, introduced the Digital Quiz, which will run throughout the event. This interactive activity encourages delegate participation between sessions, with prizes for the highest scorers, fostering a dynamic and engaging learning experience. Shanker explained that two planned quizzes during the seminar will further enhance interaction between speakers and attendees, encouraging dialogue and reflection on key automation topics.
The seminar’s agenda includes insightful sessions focused on helping MSMEs navigate their digital transformation journey. Parag Kulkarni, Senior Manager at Mitsubishi Electric India, opened the technical sessions by discussing the Kaizen approach to Digital Transformation initiatives, offering practical examples of how continuous improvement methodologies can enhance digital transformation in manufacturing. This was followed by Pravin Jujagar, ODIN Sales Head at Jendamark India, who presented a session on the Ease of Implementing Digitization, outlining simple and scalable solutions for MSMEs to adopt automation.
Kamlesh Makwana from Eplan Software Pvt Ltd led a session on Standardized Engineering for Accuracy and Efficiency, showcasing the importance of consistency in engineering processes to enhance productivity. Ajay Khanna, Vice President – IT at Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles, also provided an end-user perspective, sharing real-world insights on how his organization has leveraged digital tools for manufacturing improvements.
The event also featured two-panel discussions that delved into the practical challenges of building smart manufacturing enterprises. Moderated by Kalyan Ram, Founder & CEO of Indxo.Ai, the discussions focused on Measuring the Impact on Productivity, Quality, Cost, and Delivery and overcoming key challenges in adopting automation. These sessions provided actionable takeaways for MSMEs seeking to integrate smart manufacturing solutions effectively.
One of the day’s highlights was an interactive session moderated by Anup Wadhwa on Managing Emotions to Drive Quality and Inspire Culture. Mr Wadhwa emphasized the human side of technology adoption, stressing the need for a balanced approach that combines automation with nurturing a robust organizational culture. A special digital quiz on Change Management was organized to increase the delegates’ meaningful participation in the seminar.
The day will conclude with the technical Digital Quiz, with the announcement of quiz outcomes and distribution of awards to the highest scorers, adding an element of fun and competition to the event. Finally, the event will close with a vote of thanks delivered by Tushar Alekar, Founder and director of Unipro Communications, who expressed gratitude to all participants, speakers, and partners for their contributions to making the seminar a success.
The Automation for Smart Manufacturing initiative, backed by the Ministry of Heavy Industries, has been instrumental in promoting the adoption of advanced technologies among MSMEs across India. With earlier editions in Ahmedabad and Rudrapur and previous events in cities like Pune, Hosur, and Coimbatore, the seminar series continues to play a vital role in building a stronger and more competitive manufacturing ecosystem in India.
