UL Group - Industrial Products

I N T E R F A C E
Doing Business
in India
MNC
UL Group of Companies
Lalit Jankinath Sahani
Managing Director
…We have technology
as our foundation
Q & A
India has emerged as the 2nd most attractive FDI destination. Outline your Company’s investment and
expansion plans in India.
True. FDI inflow in the country is increasing. India is now ushering in the second
generation reforms aimed at further and faster integration of Indian economy. Due to our
changes from being resistive to Liberal , FDI is encouraged in almost all economic activities
under the automation route.
U L Group has always strived to reach to the customers both physically and also to
make our products reach as nearer to them . Our immediate investments are having offices
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in all Key Markets with state of Art Infrastructure. We have already started in Bangalore and
other metros are in pipeline. We also are investing in logistics in regions and minimising the
supply time of at least the fast moving products.
UL also is looking at the prospects of UL-E-shop , as a step to take care of the
emergency needs of customers. This shop will carry adequate inventory, the best possible
logistics supported by custom built software to give all the tracking details. The target is to
have this E-shop opened by 1st April 2012.
U L Group always has “Technology” as our foundation. Upgrading ourselves with new
Technologies is not our need but our way of life. We have our new R &D centre and
technology centre coming up in Pune which will be well equipped with various
requirements for developments along with demonstration kits, Training programs and
communication technology set ups for hand-on experiences for our customers , which will
include various Fieldbus Technologies such as Profibus, Foundation Fieldbus (FF), Devicenet
, Ethernet , Fiber Optics and Wireless technologies and engineering services. For those who
are not aware, we also offer Certified Engineer training courses for the above Field Bus
technologies.
As you can see FDI is freely allowed in all sectors including Services. We too at UL Group
have huge investments planned in our Engineering services company and by the end of
year are expecting a pool of not less than 100 engineers for the services.
As you might have seen we are “B to Y’ Products, Services & Solutions (PS&S) provider,
I.E if A- is a controller and Z- is field, we offer everything between B-Y. We always
compliment with our customers and not compete with them. In nutshell , the Investments
are all around B-Y.
Q & A
Elaborate on your Company’s Manufacturing Locations , products and R & D Setups.
U L Group is head Quartered in Pune. We have our Distribution and Engineering
company as well in the same vicinity. Our three state of the art manufacturing units are also
in City of Pune . The manufacturing includes , Electronic assembly Unit, Cable Harnessing
Unit and third unit is dedicated to control & automation solutions right from Kick of Meeting
with the customer to engineering , programming and manufacturing of automation
equipments like control cabinets , junction boxes to up to Factory acceptance test support
to the end customer, can be availed from one stop..
Our manufacturing units are located in vicinity at Industrial estate of Hadapsar where
we are into services of Control and wiring cabinets, junction boxes, Building control
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automation panels etc. Looking at the
future expansion we have one moiré
unit at around 50KMs from Pune where
we undertake panels for special
applications like wind, Excitation etc. We
also do lots of work of special cable
harness pertaining to Wind and solar
sector. At present our R & D centre and
Technology centre is in Katraj , but as
mentioned above it will soon be shifted
to the worldclass premises.
Q & A
Q & A
India has the largest number of companies
outside of Japan that has been recognized for
Excellence in Quality. Outline the Product
Quality Assurance measures undertaken by
your company in India.
First and foremost we have done is
to improve the Quality in livelihood of
our people. Quality of livelihood for us
means enhancement in awareness and hence knowledge through trainings and education
which ultimately contributes to the functions people deliver . We have ensured that their
basic needs of education and medical are taken care by the company. You will be surprised,
but our HRD plays a very prominent role in our Quality Management. Finally who Drives the
Quality Quality starts at people’s mind as their outlook to deliver best .So it’s the people
who drive the Quality. So the emphasis has to be more on the Quality at the top of our
shoulder. We at U L group have taken that as a big focus. There are lots of sessions on need
of Quality, the effects of Quality etc. We have taken most of our people from shop floor to
show the usage of the product they produce at the customers end. How easy or difficult for
the customer if there is a small deviation in our product which we might be small thing for
us.
Apart for the basics, we have set up processes , by having strong considerations
towards Safety, Documents & Records, work, Instructions ,being as Lean as possible. The
quality Manual is very user friendly and we have tried that there is an explaination for the
Work Instructions. We find that this has also made a difference as it’s an instruction with a
purpose and not just because a standard demands it. The team is regularly following tools
like CAPA, 8-D analysis etc. Importantly the QA is having direct access to Top management
as well.
We are Quality Certified Organisations and all the companies, including the Distribution
company, this is seldom, is ISO certified. We have undergone various International Audits
from leading MNCs with good scores. We also work with SAP , as our ERP to make the
supporting processes more universal and systematic.
In short, Quality Assurance is a process and not a destination. We strongly believe in it
and are in tune to the same.
The issues, Challenges and advantages of doing Business in India.
Well, with regards to Issues and Challenges working in India, the basic thing which come
in my mind is FLEXIBLITY. Everything , I.E Time, Planning, Schedules are very Elastic.
Now this leads to a huge disruptment of all your actions. I also find the bureaucracy in all
levels to be a big issue.
You see, we are caught in a mix of cultures. The Indian Entrepreneur works in one
environment and faces the customer of different culture altogether . Our bringing does not
permit us to say “ NO” and even if you dare, the acceptance to “NO” is just not possible.
This at times becomes very dangerous as you tend to take more work or project which is
beyond your scope just for the reason of avoiding to be in bad books. As management it is
therefore very important to create an environment
To add to the woes is the Infra Structure. There is a need to plan Redundancy in all
levels, be it Power, water, transport , the list can go on. These finally are the costs which one
recovers from someone and thus making the compete supply chain costly. This is not
giving productivity or benefit to anyone. It’s purely a non productive cost.
I also find that lots of unwanted things are blown out of proportion and the interest
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Q & A
levels are very high in those directions. The net loss is productivity.
Inspite of all above, I guess there are loads of other advantages of doing business in
India. The Friendly and affectionate environment always keeps the spirits of togetherness
alive. In our company, we have tried our best to avoid the hierachy levels. We have allotted
Responsibility with Authority and have sown the seeds of product patriotism. It’s quite
competitive environment but very Healthy as well. This according to me is a much Desired
atmosphere to work with. I can see the Reluctance to change attitude getting over and
there is much openness to understand the new technologies, applications.
As you rightly mentioned , great amount of FDI is increasing in India , that itself is a big
bonus for doing Business in India.
I see whole lots of opportunity in Contract Manufacturing. Its important that you are
prepared to turning out high volumes, set the correct processes, ensure training to be on
line , and have optimum resources. We at UL Group foresee some big contracts whereby we
then will have a product mix of projects and OEM international Markets.
The Indian economy is with GDP of 9%. This fact should never be forgotten.
With FDI in India growing, the shortage of skilled technical manpower is a big challenge for multinationals
investing in India. Your views and solutions to tackle this issue.
I appreciate that India insptie of their huge man power is facing the shortage of skilled
professionals. The wage rates are going higher which once was one of the great
advantages which had served us for quite some time. Today the advantage seems to be
diluting. We at U L Group are aware of the situation and I can see that this is just the
beginning.
I am convinced that the wide spread under employment or unemployment does not
exists due to the sluggish growth in job opportunities but the fact that the segment of
population does not possess the necessary skills to tap existing opportunities. We are using
all sort of possible resources to fully recognize the necessary skill sets that would address
the issue. We are very closely monitoring the skill matrix and getting people join the
requisite trainings. In short the first step is to improvise the internal skill Matrix. The target is
set for the person to move forward in the Matrix plan.
As I mentioned , we have a factory 50 KM away from Pune , this also was one of the
steps to pool man power from other sectors, train them and create more opportunities.
This defiantly yields mutual dividends.
Our recruitment and retention plan is based on many factors apart from only the wages
and salaries. Its important that the patriotism and affection is created towards the work and
company. Its simple, you take care of the person, he will struggle for the Company. Our
Profits lies not on the product but how happy my man power is. Just to site few examples,
the Company sponsors education of children of all our employees. We have given a clear
message that no child in family of UL Group will be deprived of Learning, be it sports,
technical , instrument etc, due to money reasons.. We have ensured that not only the
employee but his compete family is medically insured. Mind you, it is not part of the
remmunerations, but a social responsibility , a step for them to feel the importance of
education and concern for the future and development of nation.
Q & A
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