RIDING THE PRODUCTIVITY WAVE

Organized by the Indian Machine Tool Manufacturers’ Association (IMTMA), the 19^th edition of National Productivity Summit (NPS) took place in Ahmedabad from November 13-14, 2025, igniting momentum that was equal parts celebration and call to action.

Establishing a dynamic beginning, Mohini Kelkar, President, IMTMA, traced NPS’ inspiring journey and how its relevance has changed over the years. She reminded participants that the Summit was built on the idea of learning and sharing. “The Summit encourages innovation, unleashes potential, and embraces new technologies and techniques,” she said, adding that the overwhelming over 100 case study submissions this year reflect a deepening commitment to excellence. For her, NPS 2025 is timely, especially when India is refining its manufacturing competitiveness in the world.

This narrative was reinforced by TK Ramesh, Managing Director, Ace Designers Ltd, who presented a strategic viewpoint. He underlined that productivity is no longer a narrow operational theme but rather an integral part of global competitiveness. “Productivity is at the heart of everything we do,” he said, urging industry leaders to embrace the use of world-class technology, data-driven decision-making, and robust processes. “If productivity is the engine of growth,” he stressed, “then ideas are the fuel that drives it.”

Adding a practical entrepreneurial perspective, the Guest of Honor, Rajendra Shah, Chairman, Harsha Engineers International Ltd, encouraged attendees to embrace possibility and bold thinking, transforming India’s future. “What seems impossible,” he explained, “actually reads, ‘I’m possible.’” Reflecting on zero-defect ambitions and early automation breakthroughs, he urged the manufacturing community to see every “challenge as an opportunity.”

Toward a Developed Nation

The Chief Guest, Mamta Verma, IAS, Principal Secretary, Industries & Mines, Government of Gujarat, in her address, brought into the spotlight the state’s industrial ambition. Calling manufacturing the “backbone of India’s economy,” she urged industries to strengthen their quality, affordability, and customer focus to remain globally competitive. Verma also invited participants to explore Gujarat’s emerging opportunities and join hands in creating an ecosystem “where innovation, entrepreneurship, and governance come together to shape a truly developed nation.”

Jibak Dasgupta, Director General & CEO, IMTMA, emphasized what truly drives productivity in manufacturing—labor, capital, raw materials, infrastructure, and technology. “We need to improve on all these inputs,” he said, pointing to both technology and management interventions such as process optimization, technology fusion, and supply chain efficiency. He also stressed that the best outcomes emerge “when industry and Government work together” and drew attention to IMTMA’s ongoing commitment to the region’s industrial ecosystem.

Taking a broader national view, the keynote speaker, Rajiv Gandhi, Former Executive Board Member, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd & CEO, International Automobile Center of Excellence (iACE), called for accelerated adoption of smart and self-reliant technologies as only 5 percent of Indian companies have implemented Industry 4.0 in a meaningful way. “We need to transform Indian manufacturing to make it the engine powering India into a prosperous nation,” he said, challenging the sector to build ‘Atmanirbharta’ in machine tools, highlighting AI’s growing influence right from predictive maintenance to automated quality checks.

Excellence on the Upward Drift

Providing a seasoned industry lens, R Srinivasan, Past President, IMTMA, underlined that economic strength and a robust industrial base go hand in hand and competitiveness remains the hinge through consistent efforts in product design and quality. “If we are to become truly ‘Atmanirbhar’, then we must continue this effort,” he said.

Adding the jury’s standpoint, Dr N Ravichandran, Chief Jury for NPS 2025, noted a “stark change” in the quality, depth, and clarity of this year’s case study submissions. For him, productivity is not a single lever but a blend— “a balance of technology, peopology (people), and methodology,” and organizations must adapt this mix to its scale and context. Capturing the spirit of the Productivity Championship Awards and the purpose of NPS, he remarked, “If your product is excellent, customers will queue before your company.”

SOVAN TUDU Assistant Editor Magic Wand Media sovan.tudu@magicwandmedia.in