Spark Minda is automating all its processes to improve efficiency and drive new revenue opportunities for the company
SANJIV KUMAR JAIN
SPARK MINDA
Information technology is a support function in the manufacturing industry, hence, it is a must to have buy-in from all functions for any transformation. To drive digital transformation, we have invited ideas from various functions where they will get benefited by digitisation/ digitisation of the processes and then through joint initiatives we are working on the projects to achieve the goals.
Spark Minda has emerged as one of the leading manufacturers of automotive components in the country with a turnover of `3,500 crore for FY 2015-16 and employs more than 15,800 employees in India and overseas. For over five decades, Spark Minda, Ashok Minda Group has been a major presence in India's automobile industry. These 50 years have been interspersed by technological innovations that have gone on to become industry standards. To support its growth, Sanjiv Kumar Jain, CIO, Spark Minda has been driving his own movement towards digital transformation for the company.
Jain believes a CIO's role is no more only to keep the lights on but to have multiple skills. “He has to be a strategist and a marketer. He needs to be agile in thinking and action and open to adopting changes based on today's ultra-agile business requirements. A CIO has to put-up IT initiatives in business terms or talk the language of the business, think about the enterprise's products, customers, markets and competition and understand how to translate strategic thinking into execution in conjunction with the business leaders' thoughts and goals,” Jain opines, explaining how he has put several digital transformations in place for the company in the last five years.
“In the last five years, I have undertaken projects for automation of manual process which can be categorised as digital transformation like automation of attendance system from a traditional ID card / biometric system to a mobile-based GPS fenced auto attendance system,” says Jain. Apart from this, he has deployed a vessel tracking system for logistics business based in river transport. Moreover, CCTV-based surveillance in barges instead of manned surveillance has been implemented while the production monitoring system has been automated for real-time data capturing and visualisation and performance management system from manual to online system.
“We have been able to get operational efficiencies in terms of real time project updates and focussed work on remote sites being digitally monitored. We could get the vessels' efficiency as alarms were generated on unplanned stoppages and real-time tracking,” explains Jain.
Spark Minda achieves internal customer satisfaction with real-time online information's available to them anytime anywhere instead of running around for information physically. Keeping in mind the millennials, Jain initiated a programme to start selling after-market products digitally and getting business through the digital stream along with traditional business through the supply chain.
Implementing so many projects at this scale also required a lot collaborative effort within the company.
The company is working with start-ups to have agility and implement latest ideas faster for online, anytime, anywhere, transparent, easy and fast applications availability. Jain feels that with the industry 4.0 evolving, Spark Minda will be working towards converting all the possible processes for digital enablement in a phased manner to cater to the customers to achieve their digital transformation goal.
Comments