The Automation Industry Association (AIA) is gearing up to host the next edition of its “Automation for Smart Manufacturing” seminar in Peethampur, Madhya Pradesh, on 18th October 2024. Under the guidance of the Ministry of Heavy Industries, Government of India, the event is part of a larger initiative led by the Foundation for Smart Manufacturing—a collaboration between IIT Delhi and AIA—to promote “Samarth Udyog.” This initiative aims to accelerate automation adoption among MSMEs in India’s manufacturing sector, empowering them with advanced technologies and strategies to enhance productivity and competitiveness.
For the past two years, the Automation Industry Association has organized a series of nationwide seminars, “Automation for Smart Manufacturing,” to help Indian manufacturers navigate and implement automation technologies. These events provide a platform for MSMEs to understand the value of intelligent manufacturing and encourage them to embrace digital tools and techniques that enhance productivity, efficiency, and sustainability.
Peethampur, known for its strong industrial base, is a key region for the upcoming seminar. With its diverse range of manufacturing sectors, the region stands to benefit significantly from the push towards intelligent and automated manufacturing solutions. The seminar will bring together industry experts, automation leaders, and MSME entrepreneurs to explore the latest innovations and real-world applications of automation technology.
The “Automation for Smart Manufacturing” seminar in Peethampur, Madhya Pradesh, will begin with on-the-spot registrations from 9:15 to 9:45 AM. The inaugural session will commence with the traditional lamp-lighting ceremony, followed by a welcome address from Sunil Mehta, President of the Automation Industry Association, and the Guest of Honour, Pratik Patel, Founder & CEO of Jash Engineering Ltd, will deliver a keynote address on the theme “Journey from SME to MNC: Blending Technology and Human Excellence.” This will be followed by a presentation of the conference highlights by Anup Wadhwa, Director of the Automation Industry Association, with a tea break scheduled from 10:50 to 11:15 AM.
The second session, “Leveraging Automation for Smart Manufacturing,” will begin with Parag Kulkarni, Senior Manager at Mitsubishi Electric India, discussing the Kaizen approach to digital transformation initiatives. Harinder Singh Negi, DGM at Mahindra and Mahindra, will provide an end-user perspective, followed by Pravin Jujagar, ODIN Sales Head at Jendamark India, who will speak on the ease of implementing digitization. The session will conclude with a panel discussion on “Overcoming Challenges in Building a Smart Manufacturing Enterprise,” moderated by Vineet Saxena, Director and CEO of Dalisoft Technologies.
Session three, “Adoption of Digital for Improving Competitiveness,” will begin after the lunch, with Kamlesh Makwana from Eplan Software Pvt Ltd, who will present on standardized engineering for accuracy and efficiency. Ajay Khanna, Vice President of IT at Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles, will provide another end-user perspective. This session will close with a panel discussion on “Measuring Impact on Productivity, Quality, Cost, Delivery,” moderated by Kalyan Ram, Founder & CEO of Indxo.Ai.
The final session, “Creating India’s Future: Samarth Ecosystem,” will start with an interactive session titled “Managing Emotions to Drive Quality and Inspire Culture,” moderated by Anup Wadhwa, Co-Architect of the IITD-AIA Foundation for Smart Manufacturing. This will be followed by a live digital quiz, awards presentation, and outcomes session moderated by Hari Shanker, Founder and Managing Editor of Machine Maker. The seminar will conclude with a vote of thanks by Tushar Alekar, Founder & Director of Unipro Communications.
Empowering MSMEs with Knowledge and Tools to Embrace Automation
Anup Wadhwa, Director of the Automation Industry Association, emphasized the critical importance of automation for the growth and competitiveness of MSMEs, stating, “We aim to empower MSMEs with the knowledge and tools to embrace automation. Peethampur, with its vibrant manufacturing ecosystem, is a perfect place for us to continue driving the ‘Samarth Udyog’ mission. Automation is a technological shift and a strategic necessity for manufacturers looking to thrive in the modern economy.”
The seminar will give local businesses insights into the latest automation technologies and their practical applications, further supporting India’s push towards building a globally competitive manufacturing sector. The Automation for Smart Manufacturing Seminar, managed by Unipro Communications, promotes “Samarth Udyog,” which encourages MSMEs in Indian manufacturing to adopt automation and Industry 4.0 technologies. Over the past two years, the series of seminars have successfully fostered awareness about the benefits of intelligent manufacturing across various industrial regions, with Peethampur’s strong industrial belt being the latest to benefit.
