While the wider market has witnessed a slowdown in the last few months, CV majors have faced it for a lot longer this decade; multiple firms have even invested heavily in focused consulting projects to drive cost savings and profitability. Such has been the focus on cost-saving that no facet has been left unexplored. Even items like the thickness of tyre walls have been the subject of discussion around whether a small reduction that didn’t impact quality could yield upsides.
Similarly, there has been tremendous investment in research to drive fuel efficiency, weight reduction, etc. In metals particularly, there has been a focus on micro-alloys and special alloys that reduce costs without compromising quality – e.g., reducing weight while retaining/increasing strength, driving better fuel efficiency or substituting expensive alloying elements with lower-cost ones while not compromising material characteristics.
These efforts have run parallel with the ceaseless focus on ensuring that all materials are of the highest quality in terms of toughness, weight, corrosion resistance and strength while also being the most economical. The two pursuits seem not just at odds with each other, but also antithetical at times. Yet, the nature of the industry makes it impossible to take either one lightly or even weigh either as being more important. This is where smarter quality management helps firms across in driving value – meeting all quality objectives while simultaneously reducing costs.
Quality management – The toughest balancing act
Denne historien er fra August 2019-utgaven av MOTORINDIA.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra August 2019-utgaven av MOTORINDIA.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
ATS ELGI launches new range of equipment for CV segment
GARAGE EQUIPMENT
VECV delivers 50 CNG buses to PMPML in Pune
VEHICLE ZONE
Lucas TVS chosen as one of India's best workplaces in auto industry
The certification was done by The Great Place to Work Institute which works with the purpose of giving companies an opportunity to benchmark their practices that make every workplace unique for employees
JAMNA AUTO launches new trailer air suspension, bullish on market success
Understanding the pulse of the Indian customers, drivers and operating conditions, the home-grown company has come up with an ‘Indian product for Indian roads at Indian price’, reports N. Balasubramanian
Bridgestone drives Saabri Logistics' advancement with top-notch end-to-end tyre management
It is never easy for a fleet operator to strike the right balance between tight revenues and rising fuel and parts’ costs. However, if chosen wisely, important elements such as tyres can help in business advancement. Rajesh Rajgor finds this to be true in the case of Saabri Logistics
ZF to invest Euro 200 million as part of ‘Refresh India' strategy
ZF has announced a significant investment of around Euro 200 million as part of a strategic consolidation of its business domains with renewed impetus to drive growth in the Indian market over the next decade.
Chasing records, making roads, with Tata trucks
Jagdish Kadam, Chairman & Managing Director, Raj Path InfraCon shares details with MOTORINDIA about striving to create a world record for the longest road constructed in 24 hours, his company operations, and his fruitful association with Tata Motors.
IPL-Shaw JV for DEF solutions takes flight!
Commenting on this development, Gautam Venkataramani, Director, IPL Shaw Solutions India, said, “India Pistons Limited’s customer experience, local manufacturing strength over 60+ years with research and development and application engineering expertise will be used to provide DEF system solutions with light-weighting, performance-oriented approach leading to CAFE focus.”
What COVID has taught the resilient auto retail industry
In this special Guest Column, Vinkesh Gulati, President, Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA), shares his observations and views on how the Indian automotive retail sector has weathered the COVID storm and the key learnings and takeaways from the experience
“Cautiously optimistic on growth as COVID continues, emphasis on strong exports and aftermarket” - Vinnie Mehta
Contributing more than 6% to the nation’s GDP as per reports in April 2021, the Indian automotive industry in its entirety provides employment to about ‘37 million people’.