Dr Kalam Urges TAGMA to Consolidate Experience

The Die and Mould industry needs to consolidate the experience it has gained so far and use modern technologies to boost manufacturing in sectors like automobile, agriculture, electronics, medical products, home goods, precision fabrication, renewable energy, according to eminent scientist and former President of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. He made this observation while delivering his inaugural address at the 9th Die & Mould India International Exhibition held in Mumbai recently. “Very rarely the experience is documented and transferred to youngsters as well academic institutions. I would urge your association to take up this venture by way of bringing up several publications.

Dr Kalam also pointed out that the market size of the India Tool Room Industry reached Rs. 17,000 crore in 2012-13, despite the decline in the automotive sector. “However, about 35% of this came from imports. The challenge we have now is how we can increase the domestic quality and production ability to reduce this import reliance and emerge as an overall net exporter in the sector”, he said.

Further he said, “The recovery of Indian economy requires innovation in Indian manufacturing sector. It has to focus on creative products for the 600000 villages of the country. And these products in a mass scale would require out of box thinking from your profession. We have so many engineering colleges and I understand that many graduates are not employable and they take to menial jobs. We cannot allow this to happen particularly when we need them in their profession for our national vision. You have a role to correct this situation in the mechanical and manufacturing sector.”

Dr Kalam also put forth a Five Point vision for the Tools, Die and Mould Industry and an Economically Developed Nation. These include:

1. The Industry should aspire to grow from the present Rs.17000 crore size to over Rs.35,000 crore by 2020.
2. Advanced product technologies such as Nano technology and robotics should be encouraged across the spectrum.
3. Product quality should be enhanced to international standards with zero waste principles such as just in Time with continuous improvements on shop floor based on the idea of “Kaizen”.
4. The sector should aim to emerge as a net exporting industry by 020, by understanding and catering to international industrial needs.
5. The industry should forge at least 20 unique partnerships with technological and management institutions across India to promote, design and run industry specific courses to generate the next generation techno-leadership in the sector.