INDUSTRY ANALYSIS
Transforming Indian welding industry with digitalisation The third CII Conference on Welding Technology 2019 discussed upcoming technologies and trends in the welding industry, with a focus on digital transformation as the key solution to the industry’s challenges. need to also adapt to the changing times and improve their welding manufacturing processes to enhance product quality and cost competitiveness. This can be achieved through emerging technological innovations such as digitalisation, IoT, automation and artificial intelligence (AI). However, to save on costs in the short term, they do not invest in manufacturing excellence, leading to losses and stagnation in the long run. Satish Bhat, Conference Chairman and Managing Director, Ador Welding Limited, said, “A recent survey by the National Association of Manufacturers, wherein about 500 manufacturers participated, revealed that 65 percent of the leaders of these organisations plan to increase capital injection in digitalisation of their plants in the next few years. According to experts, most manufacturers will be looking to revamp their production facilities in order to cater to the demands of today’s advanced and demanding digital world.”
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he 3rd edition of the Confederation of Indian Industry’s Conference on Welding Technology 2019 was recently organised by CII Naoroji Godrej Centre of Manufacturing Excellence in Mumbai, where manufacturers, users, researchers, and educators in the welding industry shed light on the latest trends, technological innovations, challenges, and solutions in the industry. Several sessions were organised such as “Digital Transformation and Advanced Manufacturing/ Welding Process Technology”, “Strategies and Plans for making ‘Make in India’ Successful: The Welding Perspectives”, “Latest Advancements in Welding Technology: New Challenges and Opportunities”, “How Safe is your Welding?”, and “Future of Additive Manufacturing and Welding”. Need for MSMEs to adopt digitalisation Eminent industry leaders shared their views and experiences on how companies can think, adopt and improve welding manufacturing processes and that too in the Indian context, which has become increasingly crucial. One of the subjects discussed was how MSMEs
If the industry does not adopt digitalisation and industrial automation, it will soon find itself stagnant and lagging behind. Anil Parab, Executive Vice President – Heavy Engineering and Nuclear, Larsen & Toubro Limited
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He added that Industry 4.0 or smart manufacturing is the key to help manufacturers transform from mass production to customised production via a digital supply network to adopt the ever changing needs of customers. Digital transformation helps accelerate manufacturing while addressing inadequacies in the current situation by amalgamating traditional manufacturing processes with new advanced technologies. This industrial revolution will transform manufacturing and reshape businesses, creating greater efficiency and better relationships between the producer, supplier, and customer. By adopting smart and advanced technologies, companies can increase productivity, attack inefficiencies, and promote sustainability. Simply put, advanced manufacturing can increase production throughput, performance and uptime, while simultaneously reducing operating capital and overhead costs. Smart manufacturing is not limited to production only. It is a mixture of digital transformation in product development, the entire supply chain and customer experiences, powered by enabling real-time data-based decision making across all business operations. With
We need to start our digital transformation journey now in order to cope with the challenges that Industry 4.0 will throw at us. Alakesh Roy, Vice Chairman, CII Pune Zonal Council and Managing Director, Zamil Steel India
February 2020 n OEM Update
