| | MARCH 20208EXPERTS TALKO ften ask myself what the ideal workspace of the future would look like. In my opinion, it will be highly technology-driven, with the IT team as a core business-enabler; way more sophisticated than it is today. As we enter 2020, an age where AI and VR are becoming visible phenomena, there is a dire need to adapt to newer technologies. After all, change is the only constant. And that constant is evolving like never before!The first industrial revolution in the 18th century introduced mechanisation through water and steam power. Nearly a century later, mass production and assembly lines using electricity were welcomed in the second industrial metamorphosis. This transformation led to further development of trade and necessitated quick turnaround in an efficient and economical manner. The third paradigm shift introduced technology through computers and automation, changing the fabric of manufacturing like never before. Today, fuelled by data and machine learning, the manufacturing sector is striding towards Industry 4.0, aiming to revolutionize the production processes once again - only this time digitally!Steel manufacturing has traditionally been manpower-intensive. An amalgamation of raw material selection, intricate continuous production processes, complex chemical reactions and analytical calculations, international supply chains, unique customer requirement, inter- and intra-communication, amongst other factors, make the steel industry a highly specialized and capital-intensive sector. As Industry 4.0 unfolds, these aspects automate through an efficient and precise decision-making process, reducing the need for human intervention. However, the key to a successful future digitisation depends on how the processes remain stable with higher accuracy each time.When we decided to go paperless in 2017 by digitising our entire material procurement process right from indent creation, purchase order conversion and release, to delivery follow-ups, and receipt of materials, we were merely getting our foot in the door in the vast potential of technology. Traditional manufacturing setups in India need to evolve quickly to catch-up with the rest of the world. Being a millennial, I am personally invested in digitising processes at our manufacturing setup in Jindal Stainless and have taken-up several digital reforms to improve production efficiency and increase customer satisfaction. Speed & AccuracyWith great digitising comes great manufacturing power. I believe digitisation is a pre-requisite for any manufacturing company that caters to rapidly changing consumer requirement and short life span of product innovation. The modern machinery needs to be adaptable and efficient while adhering to quality standards. TRANSFORMING THE TRADITIONAL STEEL MANUFACTURING INTO A DIGITAL ECOSYSTEM By Abhyuday Jindal, MD, Jindal StainlessHolding a BA in Economics and a Minor in Business Management from the Boston University, Abhyuday possesses profound expertise in cement, steel, wind turbine and auto components industries, and specializes in devising blue ocean strategies that strengthen the overall brand proposition, and exploring new growth avenues for building uncontested market leadership for the company.THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
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