Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) must raise their standards to international level and work towards achieving ‘zero-defect’ in their production process, said B.T. Bangera, Managing Director, Hi-tech Arai.
Inaugurating the third edition of a buyer-seller meet here on Thursday, he said that the globalised world, even while threatening, offered opportunities for small industries. The three-day meet, being held to promote Madurai as an industrial hub, is organised by Madurai District Tiny and Small Scale Industries Association (MADITSSIA), National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) and the MSME Development Institute, Chennai.
Work culture
Manufacturing products of high quality with zero-defect had to be a culture among the people behind the machine, he said, alluding to the Japanese work culture. The workforce had to be sensitised and MSMEs must go beyond the expectations of customers. Getting orders was not a problem for the industry, rather it was all about the profit margin. Even large industries were dependent on MSMEs to remain competitive and cut costs.
Mr. Bangera said that automobile industries were having problems in creating and maintaining a vendor base to supply components. The MADITSSIA could consider forming a cluster of industries and giving intensive training to meet the industry’s expectations.
Vision and innovation
S. Sivagnanam, Director of MSME Development Institute, said that small industries needed vision and innovation for fast growth, which were imperative for survival.
Quality management systems and waste elimination were areas that needed attention through in-house training. The MSMEs must also make use of the extensive support provided by State and Central governments for growth.
Tamil Nadu, he said, was the first State in the country to announce a separate policy for MSMEs. The State had also enacted an MSME Act. The schemes offered a wide range of support from providing common facility centre to infrastructure. In the Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-12), Rs. 973 crore had been allotted to National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council, he said.
The Institute, which functions under Union Ministry of MSME, has provided details of all schemes offered by various ministries on its website (www.chennaimsmedi.com), he said. P. Sitaraman, MADITSSIA vice-president, and V.S. Manimaran, secretary, spoke.
