Priya Panchal, the Chief Operating Officer of Panchal Engineers, lives by a straightforward and powerful belief: it’s not about outdoing others but being the best you can be. Priya champions a leadership style that values inclusivity and personal merit. She believes that management is pivotal in nurturing an ecosystem where gender is irrelevant, and everyone’s contributions are valued equally. Her vision extends to encouraging youth involvement in manufacturing, which is essential for the sector’s robust future.
Nestled in Nashik, Maharashtra, Panchal Engineers Pvt Ltd is a leading name globally in the field of precision engineering excellence for over 45 years. Since its inception in 1979, the company has cultivated a reputation for delivering high-quality engineering solutions globally, supported by an arsenal of advanced machinery and a suite of prestigious certifications including ISO, EMS, OHSAS, and AEO. Under the leadership of Priya and Nikhil Panchal, Panchal Engineers aspires to make significant impacts by empowering its team and promoting an eco-friendly and corruption-free ethos. The company’s commitment to teamwork, continuous improvement, and customer focus fuels its ambition to become a global brand in various fields, ensuring that innovation, creativity, and excellence are at the heart of everything they do.
Priya Panchal’s journey with Panchal Engineers Pvt Ltd began with a shift from Pune to Nashik. With a solid academic background in commerce and a Master’s in finance from Pune University, Priya was well-equipped for the corporate world. However, life had a different plan post-graduation as she transitioned from education to marriage and relocation. In Nashik, opportunities to work with MNCs were abundant, but her husband, Nikhil Panchal, presented an alternative path — a chance to dive into the family’s manufacturing industry established by her father-in-law. With a mix of encouragement and reassurance from Nikhil, Priya chose to explore this new world. Embracing the complexities of finance within the company, she stepped into the office that had already set a benchmark of quality with ISO certification.
Priya’s early days in the office were challenging. She navigated through different systems and took the helm of leadership, which she found especially daunting given the responsibility of managing a team. But these very challenges fueled her journey in manufacturing, marking the beginning of an enduring commitment to the industry that has spanned over two decades. Priya grew up in a family that knew the ins and outs of manufacturing, a unique childhood that gave her an edge later in life. When she started working at Panchal Engineers, it felt like stepping into familiar territory. She quickly got a grip on the family business.
Creating Inclusive Workspaces: Management’s Role in Fostering Equality
Engineering fields don’t always welcome women with open arms, but Priya’s experience was refreshingly positive. She believes that it’s the workplace culture that makes the difference. At Panchal Engineers, respect for women in the industry comes from the top down, influencing even the factory floor. As a kid, Priya didn’t see many women in production roles at her father’s factory, just a few in office jobs. But times have changed at Panchal Engineers. Now, Priya sees women working alongside men, taking charge of machines, inspecting products, and even managing international customer relations. “There’s no field where women can’t be,” Priya states. She’s proud to have built a team that proves women have an equal place in manufacturing.
Priya has crafted an environment that turns manufacturing into an attractive workplace for women. At Panchal Engineers, the rules are clear, particularly regarding women’s working hours. With a firm policy that no woman stays past six in the evening without her direct permission, Priya empowers her female employees to manage their time efficiently and balance work with home and family commitments. “I know they’re balancing work with obligations at home and with their children, so I set a clear boundary: work ends at six. This isn’t just about efficiency but also respect and safety. We have strict policies against harassment and clear guidelines for a safe, supportive workplace,” explains Priya. By establishing these boundaries and protective measures, Priya ensures women can work confidently and without the pressure to overextend their hours.
Priya believes the shift towards a gender-neutral work environment stems significantly from the attitude of the management. “When the management has a clear and right mindset, everything falls into place,” Priya says. “In today’s world, there’s a greater consciousness around gender neutrality and the potential for women’s empowerment in the workplace. But it’s not about ‘giving’ power to anyone—it’s about individuals empowering themselves through their own thoughts and actions.” According to Priya, whether it’s a large multinational corporation or a smaller enterprise, every organization has the responsibility to take proactive steps to foster an inclusive and equitable working environment. “Building an ecosystem that supports inclusion and equality isn’t just for the big players. It’s a fundamental move every company should undertake, regardless of size,” she asserts.
Empowering Shop Floor Women: Breaking Barriers and Building Confidence
Priya Panchal’s leadership at Panchal Engineers is about changing perceptions and creating opportunities. She narrates the transformation of women on the shop floor, who began with roles traditionally deemed ‘appropriate’ for their gender, like cleaning. But Priya saw the potential for more. With a gentle nudge, she encouraged these women to step onto the manufacturing floor, a space predominantly occupied by men. “Are you OK with working on the shop floor?” she asked, signalling a significant shift in their career options. The response was a resounding yes. With basic education, these women were ready to defy stereotypes, learn, and grow.
Priya promised to match their courage, stepping forward with resources and support to facilitate their journey. “If you’re ready to take two steps, I’ll take five from my side,” she pledged. It was about breaking barriers, about empowering these women to convince their families and themselves that they could thrive in this new environment.
As time passed, the results of this empowerment became evident. Women who had once stayed in the background were now active, engaged, and integral parts of the Panchal Engineers team. They were attending functions, contributing to events, and working alongside men without hesitation. Their evolution from hesitant newcomers to confident members of the shop floor was a testament to the power of belief and the importance of taking that first step towards change. Priya takes pride in this cultural shift within her company, witnessing firsthand the remarkable journey these women have undertaken, making every effort in the direction of inclusivity and empowerment truly worthwhile.
Priya Panchal strongly advocates the necessity of work-life balance, emphasising that something inevitably gives way without it. But it’s not just about keeping a schedule; it’s about managing time with savvy tools and techniques, like the Pomodoro method, which can significantly boost efficiency. She believes in continuous learning, mastering new software, and staying abreast of the latest technologies. This philosophy of being open to learning and adapting helps one become more proficient in personal and professional life.
“Recognizing that you don’t know everything is the start of wisdom,” Priya asserts. There’s always room for growth, new knowledge to be acquired, and new frontiers to explore. The key is to remain receptive to new ideas and willing to venture beyond your comfort zone. By maintaining this mindset, the journey of learning and balancing becomes much smoother.
Future is Manufacturing
Priya Panchal is a proponent of introducing the younger generation to the manufacturing sector early on. To her, it’s crucial to start at the grassroots level, even partnering with schools to establish internship and mentorship programs. “It’s vital to engage children in manufacturing, to show them that engineering can be a thrilling and viable career path,” she explains.
At Panchal Engineers, they also collaborate with engineering colleges, encouraging students to undertake practical projects that spark their interest and innovation. Priya emphasises the importance of the existing workforce in this endeavour: “The youth can learn a great deal from the seasoned professionals in the field. Their experiences could greatly inspire the younger minds poised to step into engineering and contribute to its evolution.”
Priya believes in striving for personal bests over competing with others. “Aiming to be the best version of myself is my primary goal,” she states, underlining that abilities matter more than gender. Priya recognizes every person’s inherent value and encourages a clear understanding of one’s abilities. She criticises the disproportionate attention given to women’s ‘first’ achievements. “It’s great to celebrate women’s successes, but we shouldn’t just highlight when a woman is the first at something. Her accomplishments stand on their own,” she advises. Priya advocates looking beyond gender biases to focus on what really matters—individual achievements and growth. “Women’s remarkable contributions to engineering are not only inspirational but transformative for the field,” she proudly shares.
Priya Panchal, mother to two girls, consistently reinforces a vital message: “You’re not in a race against men. It’s not about competing at all. The world isn’t a contest. Sure, there will always be people and places with outdated views on women’s roles, but that doesn’t mean you have to limit yourself or your thinking. Keep your mind open to possibilities; opportunities abound.” She also dispels the myth that manufacturing is exclusively a man’s domain or that success in engineering requires a purely engineering background. “Manufacturing is just one facet of a much broader process that spans from planning and execution to design. You don’t need to be an engineering major to dive into this field. There’s a world of potential in manufacturing waiting to be unlocked,” concludes Priya affirming that the landscape of engineering and manufacturing is rich with possibilities, ready to welcome and nurture the talents of all who are willing to explore, learn, and grow.
