'Lean manufacturing, practical approach for productivity stressed'

For enhancing competitiveness of the Indian manufacturing sector, the Union MSME department has launched ‘Lean Manufacturing Competitiveness Programme for MSMEs’, said K P Ashwin, Director of Bengaluru-based National Productivity Council, here, recently.

Addressing representatives of MSMEs from Mysuru and Nanjangud during a session organised by CII-Mysuru, in association with QCFI Mysuru chapter, MSMEs will be assisted in reducing their manufacturing costs, through proper personnel management, better space utilisation, scientific inventory management, improved process flows, reduced engineering time and so on under this programme.

“The scheme was launched in July 2009 on a pilot basis, covering 100 clusters across the country. Owing to the success of the pilot phase, the scheme has been upscaled for 500 more clusters. The results from the pilot phase have shown 10% increase in production capacity; 10% working space reclaimed for productive work; 25% increase in inventory turnover; 10-30% reduction in manufacturing lead time; 15% improvement in OEE (model machines) and 7500 Kaizens generated,” said Ashwin.

The approach involves engagement of Lean Manufacturing Consultants (LMC) to work with selected MSMEs in the chosen clusters for one year with financial support by the government. A maximum of 80 % of the project cost for each cluster will be borne by the government.

N Muthukumar, chairman of CII-Mysuru, said, the real success and competitiveness can be achieved by the skill and the quality of a worker.

“MSMEs face lack of information and awareness on the schemes and policies such as Lean Manufacturing Competitiveness Scheme, which is a boon to MSMEs in reducing waste, enhancing productivity, introducing innovative practices for improving overall competitiveness, imbibing a culture of continual improvement and also   motivation and employee involvement in enhancing overall productivity and improving the quality of products and services,” said Muthukumar.

CII and QCFI Mysuru chapter have come together with an objective to form a minimum of four to five Lean Manufacturing Clusters and urged the MSMEs to join hands and take advantage of the scheme, which would expire in March 2017.