Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) of Tiruchi should take advantage of the Lean Manufacturing Competitiveness Scheme, implemented by the Centre, by forming mini clusters to enhance their competitiveness and productivity, said M. Natarajan, Deputy Director, National Productivity Council.
Speaking on the sidelines of an awareness seminar organised by the council in association with the Tiruchi District Tiny and Small Scale Industries Association and the District Industries Centre here on Friday to propagate the scheme,
Mr. Natarajan said the Union Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises has upscaled the Lean Manufacturing Competitiveness Scheme and had planned to promote 500 mini clusters to implement the concept of lean manufacturing across the country during the 12th Plan Period.
This follows the successful implementation of a pilot project during the 11th Plan period when 100 mini clusters were promoted. Under the scheme, the Centre would provide 80 per cent subsidy for hiring a consultant by each mini cluster.
The remaining 20 per cent should come from the member units of the cluster.
Special purpose vehicle
A special purpose vehicle had to be formed by each cluster and the units should commit themselves to implement the scheme for two years.
The objective of the scheme was to improve the productivity and competitiveness of MSMEs by reducing wastages in manufacturing processes, inventory management, space management, and energy consumption.
It would lead to significant cost reduction for the MSMEs. It would also have social benefits such as training of labour, creation of knowledge, lower input costs, and better productivity.
Lean manufacturing techniques such as “5S system” (sort, set in order, shine, standardise and sustain), standard operating procedures, ‘just in time,’ ‘KANBAN system,’ value stream mapping, productive maintenance, and rapid improvement process would be promoted in the clusters, Mr. Natarajan said.
Raja Rajan, general manager, District Industries Centre, and Raju Rebero, president, TIDITSSIA, said that DIC and the association would facilitate the formation of the mini-cluster in association with the National Productivity Council, which was part of the National Monitoring and Implementation Unit of the scheme.
Earlier, B. Pattabiraman, Managing Director, GB Engineering Enterprises, inaugurated the awareness meet.
Centre to provide 80 p.c. subsidy for hiring a consultant
The scheme is expected to lead to significant cost reduction
