SHAPING INDIA’S HIGH-TECH FUTURE

In an engaging interview with MMI’s Editor-in-Chief, Soumi Mitra, Partho Kar, Joint Managing Director, Jaykay Enterprises Ltd, reflects on the company’s evolution into a cutting-edge technology player. He delves into its efforts to localize supply chains, expand through its JK-Phillips LLP partnership, and lead with a philosophy inspired by Krishna’s teachings.

Jaykay Enterprises has evolved significantly over the years. How would you describe the company’s current strategic direction and its alignment with India’s new industrial growth narrative?

Jaykay Enterprises Ltd, formed in 1943, was formerly known as JK Synthetics Ltd. It began as a synthetic fibre, cement, and allied products company. Today, it has transformed itself into a futuristic organization operating across Defence, Aerospace, AI, Digital Services, Digital Manufacturing, and MedTech industries. It has effectively reinvented itself as a 21st-century high-technology company.

Please share your views on the role of advanced manufacturing technologies such as automation, data analytics, and AI, playing in Jaykay’s operations and productivity roadmap?

We are constantly striving to integrate automation into our manufacturing plants, including 3D printers, high- end CNCs, and robotics. Our technology arm is undertaking cutting-edge innovation in AI through our proprietary platform, JIVA. We are also working with various customers to replace forged titanium parts with titanium 3D-printed components.

Could you kindly elaborate on the company’s efforts to localize supply chains or build strategic collaborations within India’s industrial clusters?

We work closely with our customers to identify critical, import-dependent components and bring them into indigenized production. Some of these initiatives could be game changers for local manufacturing. We have a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru that continually develops new adaptations and localization of technologies and products.

Jaykay, through its joint venture JK-Phillips LLP, recently secured a major contract to supply advanced and conventional machine tools — including CNC and EDM systems — for MSME training centers across India. Could you tell us more about this initiative?

JK-Phillips LLP has been established to address the growing demand for advanced manufacturing systems in India. The MSME contract is a step in that direction. If India aspires to become a manufacturing powerhouse, it will require a large pool of skilled talent. JK-Phillips aims to play a critical role in setting up and operating these centers by making cutting-edge software and hardware accessible, along with easy-to-use training and services in advanced technologies. Our combined strengths in manufacturing and services make it a formidable force.

How do you measure the RoI of innovation, especially when outcomes are not immediately quantifiable?

Defence and Aerospace are long-term programs. Success lies in partnering with DRDO and other organizations at the development stage and then benefiting from successful field trials. The measure of success ultimately depends on one’s contribution in terms of quality, capability, and consistency. Technology and innovation are continuous processes, and we believe they require investment and a progressive mindset to deliver long-term value.

What lessons have shaped your leadership philosophy the most through your tenure at Jaykay, and how do you balance strategic patience with the urgency that today’s competitive market demands?

Technology requires patience, perseverance, and continuous application. Leadership must remain steadfast in its commitment to people, processes, and cost. As the Mahabharata teaches, the focus must be like Arjuna’s — unwavering and precise. I am guided by Krishna’s advice: “Perform your duties without attachment to the results.” I firmly believe that good work ultimately succeeds, and this philosophy helps me balance strategic patience with the urgency of a competitive market.

Which industry sectors do you think define the next growth wave in India’s manufacturing story and how do you foresee global trade dynamics influencing Indian manufacturers’ competitiveness?

The next wave of growth will come from Defence, Aerospace, EVs, data centers, and small nuclear power plants, among others — technologies that are sustainable and deliver precision, efficiency, and cost advantages.

SOUMI MITRA Editor-in-Chief Modern Manufacturing India soumi.mitra@magicwandmedia.in