In an exclusive interaction with Industry Outlook,ReshuMadan, CEO of the Global Products & Services (GPS) business at Sterlite Power, discusses how the power wire and cable industry can leverage lean principles to enhance supply chain resilience, improve cross-functional collaboration, minimize environmental impact, and align manufacturing processes with sustainability goals. With over 25 years of expertise in the power and infrastructure sectors, ReshuMadan is known for driving innovation, business growth, and strategic initiatives, earning accolades for his impactful contributions to industry-leading organizations.
Given the recent geopolitical tensions and their impact on global supply chains, how can the power wire and cable industry leverage lean principles to enhance supply chain resilience and mitigate risks associated with material shortages?
The Power Wire and Cable industry can effectively use lean principles to bolster supply chain resilience and manage risks associated with material shortages, especially in times like the recent geopolitical ones. Minimizing dependency on single-source suppliers, collaborative planning, efficient inventory management, and streamlining operations to reduce waste are a few of the lean methodologies that can be adopted.
Moreover, lean principles encourage diversification across the supply chain, which is critical in times of geopolitical uncertainty. By sourcing materials from multiple, geographically dispersed suppliers, companies can mitigate disruptions from specific regions. Companies should continually refine their supplier network to strengthen their supply chain's adaptability to volatile market conditions. These lean-driven strategies will help in moving towards a shockproof supply chain that is better equipped to manage risks related to supply interruptions and support consistent production, which will ultimately lead to the fulfillment of client demands despite challenging external conditions.
In the context of increasingly complex projects requiring diverse expertise, what innovative approaches can power infrastructure manufacturers adopt to promote cross-functional collaboration in lean initiatives, ensuring holistic improvements in manufacturing efficiency?
The evolving energy landscape coupled with challenges like land scarcity and stringent environmental norms necessitates innovation and solutions that require diverse expertise. Collaboration through lean initiatives is key to enhancing efficiency and achieving holistic improvements. Manufacturers can adopt innovative digital tools and platforms that enable real-time data sharing and communication across departments. For instance, implementing integrated project management software helps streamline workflows and ensures that teams from production, quality control, supply chain, and engineering have synchronized access to project updates. This fosters seamless collaboration and allows for quick response to issues, ultimately optimizing the manufacturing process.
Additionally, cross-functional teams must focus on collaborative planning which aids in efficient use of resources and better risk management. Lean practices such as value stream mapping can be employed to identify and eliminate inefficiencies across the entire production cycle. Regular interdepartmental reviews ensure that feedback is gathered from every function involved in the project, leading to continuous improvements. Emphasis should be laid on creating an empowering culture that will help teams to co-create better solutions. This lean-led approach helps in maintaining a high standard of quality and efficiency, which is crucial in delivering on the stringent requirements of today’s power infrastructure projects.
As the power infrastructure sector faces increasing pressure to reduce carbon emissions, what role do lean innovations play in minimizing environmental impact during the manufacturing process, and how can companies quantify these improvements?
Lean innovations play a significant role in minimizing environmental impact during the manufacturing process by focusing on efficiency and waste reduction. Lean principles like waste reduction help in eliminating waste in all forms which will thereby reduce the environmental footprint of manufacturing operations. Embedding of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives into operations will ensure that business is carried out in a responsible way. Companies can quantify the improvements of lean innovations through methods like Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Environmental Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and Environmental Value Stream Mapping (EVSM). By leveraging these methods, companies can not only reduce their environmental impact but also track and quantify their progress toward sustainability goals.
In a time when sustainability is a central focus for stakeholders, how can wire & cable / OPGW/ Conductor manufacturers align their lean innovations with environmental goals to drive resource optimization and waste reduction in their production processes?
Wire and cable manufacturers can actively embed Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives into their operations which will ensure adherence to responsible business practices. Companies can align lean innovations with sustainability objectives by integrating resource optimization and waste reduction strategies into their production processes. Lean principles encourage efficient material use and the elimination of non-essential production steps, which directly supports sustainability goals by reducing excess waste and conserving resources. For instance, optimizing raw material utilization and streamlining production flows will help in minimizing waste output. Such initiatives not only improve operational efficiency but also contribute to reducing the environmental impact associated with manufacturing.
Furthermore, incorporating sustainability-focused KPIs and sustainable practices like recycling scrap materials and renewable energy adoption through integrated rooftop solar systems and water harvesting technologies will bolster the manufacturers in progressing toward sustainability goals. By embedding lean principles into their environmental strategies, wire and cable manufacturers can demonstrate their commitment to eco-friendly manufacturing.
