MAKE IN INDIA: Lessons From Shenzhen

Individuals can develop the expertise needed to excel in manufacture of high-quality goods only by practical exposure to the manufacturing ecosystems. Let us see if we can take some lessons from the vast Chinese manufacturing industry

Before moving to this topic, let me give you an analogy with a human body. You will understand the connection between the two soon. We are all familiar with genes in a human being, which shape our body— including the diseases we are likely to get in life. But are you familiar with the importance of epigenetics?

What science has discovered recently is that though genes are the starting point, what happens to our body eventually has to do more with your epigenome than genes. You are indeed born with a certain configuration but over the period of time that changes due to environmental factors. Today, lot of research is being done to find out ways of strengthening the epigenome.

The reason for my talking about genes and the epigenome is because everyone is essentially a product of their environment, and hence being in the right ecosystem affects you a lot.

I have lived for over eight years of my life in the silicon valley of hardware in China in Shenzhen. This environment changed my thinking about hardware manufacture and design completely. I am trying to spread in India the lessons that I learnt there and have carried back. Because India today is in the right position to take that big leap in manufacturing hardware as well, like we did in software.

Building an ecosystem

Scaling manufacturing needs an ecosystem. Other than everything a factory needs, a good ecosystem comprises investors, sellers, and traders too. These are extremely crucial to the entire manufacturing process.