http://www.manufacturingtodayindia.com Manufacturing Today | JULY 2019
COVER STORY
ANAND GROUP
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paper impregnation facility and also provides eco-
friendly fuel filters. With 1600+ employees, the
company is pushing the frontiers of technology
and innovation to develop clean mobility solutions.
- Spicer India which also is recognised as a Great
Place to Work, had the first mover advantage
when it began offering Advantek axles and also
introduced low-weight Banjo axles. With 2000+
employees, continuous R&D and collaborative
product development efforts have allowed them to
come up with more lightweight, fuel-efficient and
higher torque-carrying capacity vehicle axles and
drive shafts. - Takata India has several firsts. It introduced air
bags in the Indian market and manufactures safe-
ty products with Japanese expertise. It also offers
sophisticated seat belts and steering wheels for
passenger cars. - Mando Automotive India has been able to bring
the advantage of Korean design excellence to
customers. The 20-year partnership and a 2000+
base of employees has led the Group to offer in-
tegrated parking calliper brake assembly with ball-
in-ramp, and is the first to set up a state-of-the-art
plant with cutting-edge CNC machines. - Valeo Friction Materials is known for its unique wa-
ter-based process for manufacturing environment-
friendly clutch facings. Valeo’s G5 clutch facings –
the first green clutch facings – help OEMs promote
the cause of clean mobility. Its products are free
from asbestos, lead, organic solvents, aramid and
ceramic fibres and comply with stringent European
regulations. As a technology-oriented company, it
devises systems and solutions that enhance driv-
ing comfort, boost vehicular longevity and reduce
emissions. Using advanced IT tools, the company
continues research endeavours to make vehicles
lighter and increasingly fuel-efficient.
Manufacturing excellence is a competitive versatility
that sits comfortably with every shop floor employee.
World-class practices such as the ANAND Heijunka
production system provides a framework for shop
floor excellence. The company has created a pool
of knowledge workers called ‘Operating Engineers’.
Pioneered in the 1990s, the ANAND OE model has
been replicated across locations. Its partners too
have effectively contributed to the manufacturing
prowess. Several Six Sigma methodologies were
adopted and so also an umbrella concept of Anand
House of Quality Culture (AHQC).
Women empowerment has always been the forte
of the company. Across its companies, women are a
sizeable constituent of the shop floor work force with
some units working with 100% women on the shop
floor. The group has empowered OEs through the
Specialised Training for Operating Engineers (STOE),
since 2005. Some of them are then groomed for tak-
ing up greater responsibilities.
Likewise, training in manufacturing excellence is
a regular feature. Up-to-date training is provided in
maintenance, quality tools, supply chain, safety and
cell leadership, among others. Each plant head en-
sures that products are checked for performance
and fitment before reaching the OEM. Processes
have been automated to ensure manual oversight.
The thorough undertakings of the Group has
several takeaways on how Indian companies can
fulfil ambitions of going global, but staying relevant
to India.- The ANAND
Group has a 20-year
partnership with Mando
Automotive. - Gabriel’s Innovation
& Development Centre.
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