NORTHERN REGION

MEETING WITH PRESIDENT & VICE PRESIDENT, ACMA: 8 OCTOBER 1999

ACMA (NR) introduced the newly elected President Mr V K Mehta, Vice Chairman & Managing Director, Clutch Auto Ltd and Vice President, Mr L Ganesh, Managing Director Rane Engine Valves Ltd, to the 35 CEOs of the northern region membership. The meeting was followed by a cocktail dinner hosted by Mr Deep Kapuria Chairperson ACMA (NR) and Managing Director Hi-Tec Gears Limited.

Mr Kapuria, presenting the year's activity and future work-plan, made special mention of the membership survey conducted by ACMA (NR) as a cohesive method to receive feed back on the effectiveness of a work plan and useful in collating the perceptions of members

Mr V K Mehta in his interaction, referring to the gloomy forecast made for the Indian automotive industry by the two Experts at the ACMA AGM in Pune, reminded members of the repeated advice from ACMA to gear up and meet these challenges, including the WTO impact with its major thread to the Indian Industry.

Mr L Ganesh, focused his attention on the tiering system and the crucial thrust needed for exports.

Special Invitee and Past President Mr K Mahesh, Chairman & Managing Director Sundaram Brake Linings Ltd, shared the implementation, in his company, of Lean Manufacturing which is the removal of 'Muda' or wastage in production, movement and processes and creating value by looking down - starting at the top going down to the shopfloor and not in reverse - and shifting focus from the Organisation and Assets to the Product.

The citing of examples bringing change to his organization, made the "Sharing of Experiences" more interesting, particularly, travelling with Mr Mahesh through difficult paths, overcoming obstacles to the ultimately reach the winning post- the successful implementation of Lean Manufacturing in Sundaram Brake Linings Ltd.

ACMA (NR)- JETRO FOLLOW - UP VISIT OF CASTING EXPERTS : 11-14 October 1999
Mr K Tamura and Mr T Myojin, visited a few select organisations to assist and further support in the implementation of certain techniques and best practices, seen and learnt by the company representatives on their study mission to Japan earlier in the year (March 1999).

ACMA (NR)- JETRO PROGRAMME ON AUTOMOBILE FORGING : 17-27 October 1999
The first phase of the project saw Mr T Yamaguchi, Forged Machining Expert, visit select forging companies to be given assistance. A total of seven companies were visited in Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Noida and Kanpur to enable assessment and understanding of the production system, namely the processes followed and problems faced by manufacturers.

VISIT TO EICHER TRACTORS LTD, FARIDABAD : 30 NOVEMBER 1999

Profile: a multi-locational and multi-product Group with 11 manufacturing plants in various parts of India. Set up in 1959, the Faridabad plant was the oldest. Eicher Tractors Ltd was the first tractor company to receive ISO 9002 Certification as early as 1993.

Technology: a transfer agreement was signed with Valtra Inc of Finland in 1997. In 1998, a new unit was set up in Bhopal with state-of-the -art technology for the manufacture of higher horse power tractors. ACMA was invited to visit this plant in Bhopal.

The Group: has a vision of being truly global in its operations. This means not merely exporting products (the company exports tractors to the U.S) but having a presence as a Seller in all the relevant locations in the world and wherever practical and economical, as a Manufacturer.

Mission: high on the agenda is its mission to educate India's children with special emphasis on the girl-child. Starting with primary education for the rural poor 500 schools in Uttar Pradesh were receiving help.

Mr. Alok Mam, Deputy General Manager (materials), made a presentation on "Challenges & Opportunities". Mr Subir Chowdhury shared with the Delegates, Eicher's implementation of TQM.