Driving excellence in production, sales, and innovation with expertise in Six Sigma, lean manufacturing and Industry 4.0, Harshada Lokhande, empowers a diverse workforce including 70% female to achieve manufacturing success. She is also a passionate advocate for women in engineering and impactful communication.
Harshada Lokhande is the Senior Technical Engineer in NMDC Dredging & Marine. She started her career in 2013 with Mahindra and Mahindra Limited, beginning with the Nashik plant, then moving to the Zaheerabad and Kandivali plants. So she basically started her career on the shop floor. She has worked with machinery, CNC PLC machines, robotics and automation, gaining expertise in areas like the Xylo manufacturing process, production and machinery installation.
She has completed her master’s in Business Management and in data analytics, with an interest in machine learning and AI applications. This combination of manufacturing and data analytics led her to National Marine Dredging Company (NMDC) in the UAE, where she works in Smart AI Initiative Champion. She assists in implementing AI solutions, process planning and strategic management, with the knowledge of manufacturing, AI and data analytics.
At Zareerabad plant, she worked on Greenfield projects related to machinery commissioning and at the Kandivali plant she led a team of more than 150 males in engine assembly, achieving high production numbers. She has also worked in industrial engineering and later moved to John Deere where she led a team of almost 70 women and managed production and planning during the challenging COVID period. During this time she achieved record production, exceeded KPIs and received excellent employee engagement ratings.
She says she is still learning, “for me ten years in the manufacturing and again jumping back to some other organization where again I’m starting from basics. But definitely not zero. My experience is worth helping me to grow in my current role”
Harshada also actively contributed to the Society of Women Engineers, organising events like Women’s Day celebrations and promoting gender diversity in manufacturing roles. She expanded her expertise into diagnostic authoring, troubleshooting and customer support, addressing post- delivery product issues and improving processes.
Exploration of other Hobbies
During the college days, for Harshada, it wasn’t just about studying she says, it was about learning new things. Even now, while balancing her job and taking care of the kid, whenever something she gets a chance to learn, it triggers her to take action.
She says, “When I was interviewed for my current job, it was initially about strategy planning. However, later when I started digging deeper, I found myself more towards involvement in AI manufacturing”. Her interest in these areas grew more which led her to involvement in the projects of AI.
With a passion for public speaking, she has also hosted many events, including at John Deere. The CEO of Mahindra and Mahindra Limited, also appreciated her for her skill, and so did the managing director of John Deere, Shailendra Jagtap.
Along with her work, she also enjoyed event planning, giving training and sharing her knowledge. She even got invited by her college in Nashik, where she had completed her diploma in Mechanical Engineering, as a guest speaker on Women’s Day a couple of years ago.
Harshada believes it to be difficult, managing both work life and personal life. She shares, “when I was working in John Deere in Pune and my husband was in UAE, my child was with my parents in Nashik. So it was difficult for me to manage everything”. However, recently she got the opportunity to shift to UAE along with her son and husband.
According to her, there is a need for sacrifice and adjustment. And she feels fortunate to have good support from her family for which she was able to continue her job along with taking care of the child. And also she appreciates the support she got from her organisation on a personal level, like allowing her work from home. She states, every one has passion and some dreams to fulfill. “I am very passionate about my work plus equally I am happy to give time to my kid as well”.
Harshada acknowledges that initially there were times when she felt that the manufacturing industry is indeed a male dominating sector. Her managers who were much older than her would advise her not to take on certain tasks, like working shifts and also there were no female washrooms for which she had to use which were at a distance. This made things difficult for her.
However, she always tried to focus on the positive sides as she made quite good male friends. Being the only female supervisor among the group of 20 men didn’t stop her from prioritising herself and her work. She shares, “there were times when no one called me, as I was the only female. But even if no one called me or acknowledged me, I made sure to show up and be present.”
Over time she built strong connections and earned the nickname ‘superwoman’ from her colleagues because of her ability to manage both work and life with eagerness. She says that she did face some biases with people not always including her of forming their own separate groups. But she used that time to focus on her growth, learn new things and connect with positive and supportive people. She chose to surround herself with people who will encourage her and uplift her.
There was one instance where she was questioned by her manager in Mahindra and Mahindra Limited that why would she stay in a male dominated environment and suggested she quit and enjoy her life at home since she was married.
In response, Harshada said that her family is very supportive and didn’t see it in that way. And now her manager is happy for her as has made a mark in her journey. For her, the manager’s comments were challenging but it also motivated her to push forward and prove herself. She says, “It reminded me that sometimes, making friends with rivals or critics can push you to achieve even more”.
It’s Okay to Fail as Experience is Key to Learn
According to Harshade, to bring more women empowerment in the manufacturing field, the focus should be on creating growth opportunities for women, especially at higher levels. She believes that many companies hire females for diversity’s sake at the entry level, but there should be more opportunities for them to rise to leadership roles.
She says, “A common misconception is that women cannot manage higher positions due to family responsibilities, but I have seen many women with 10-15 years of experience successfully managing top roles while balancing family life. In fact, women are often excellent managers due to their multitasking and organizational skills”.
Harshada believes that the manufacturing sector is a core field where actual presence of mind is required and is a very open field. Rather than focusing more on remote jobs or work from home, it’s essential to invest time in learning, especially as a fresher.
She further adds, it is essential to focus on learning at an early age, rather than just deciding where to go. Gaining at least 3-4 years of experience before making major life decisions can shape a career. This is the age to explore, learn and build a strong foundation.
“Passion matters, but sticking to your core field of interest is crucial”, says Harshada while agreeing that there are indeed some misconceptions regarding the manufacturing industry. She continues that while many shift to IT for comfort, core industries like manufacturing still need skilled professionals.
Harshada’s inspiration is her mother. The person who always encouraged her to never give up. “Never leave your job because it is your own identity”, she reminisces about her mother’s words. Another role model of Harshada is Lata Variawa from John Deere, whose journey in manufacturing motivates her. She believes in continuous learning, accepting challenges and never settling.
Starting the day with yoga, even if just for a few minutes is something she follows every day and suggests to others as well. She loves exploring nature, going for walks and occasionally watching movies.
