Challenges

And what are the key challenges faced by Katare as the plant head, on the shopfloor as well as off it? And how is he overcoming them? "The prime challenge is the mindset while adopting changes in the form of reforms. Most people love their comfort zone, follow traditional practices and resist any change. However, since change is inevitable, we have to adopt it willingly to fuel growth and remain competitive in the market. We have a unique positioning in the marketplace as a manufacturer of highly reliable products which comes from reliable processes and people. We constantly work on the employee engagement and empowerment."

Katare also believes that the 'Plant Head' has evolved over the last decade or so. "Yes, the role of a Plant Head has advanced significantly from the early days. Keeping the staff motivated, maintaining positive energy, customer centricity, HSE initiatives, cultivating culture of excellence, etc. have become a necessity. With the changing world and business models in most of the industries, a manufacturing organisation needs to transform its plant operations as well."

Of course, before signing off, Katare rightfully acknowledges the part played by supply chain partners. He understands that the success of an organisation is much dependent on its supply chain and trust between the firm and its vendors. "They play a major role in the end-to-end process. We treat our vendors & suppliers as our partners, and everything is done in common interest. The processes at partners are designed to support to our main processes. Partners are evaluated periodically for Quality, Cost, Delivery, Safety and Environment. Our partners are thoughtfully chosen and always rate high on these criteria."

END