SME Times News Bureau | 02 Feb, 2012
A team of experts on micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) auto component sector, Wednesday suggest that less wastage and continuous design improvement hold the key to survival and growth of MSMEs.

Talking about a few basic issues being faced by the MSMEs sector is lack of awareness, investment and resource, the Director of MSME Development Institute, Vijay Kumar said, "Zero wastage and continuous design improvement hold the key to survival and growth of MSMEs."

Kumar stated this while addressing the Design Awareness Seminar for Auto Components and Engineering Ancillaries Industry at Gurgaon organized by PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry in collaboration with National Institute of Design and Gurgaon Chamber of Commerce & Industry on Wednesday.

Kumar also explained how design intervention benefits the industrial sector through various real life experiences and also apprised the participants about various MSME related schemes and subsidies of the Government of India for undertaking design innovation and technology upgradation in their units.

The seminar was organized to sensitize the auto components cluster of Gurgaon about the significance of design thinking and innovation and create awareness about the Design Clinic Scheme for MSMEs, an initiative of the Union Ministry of MSMEs.

Talking about the growth prospects and promise that 2010-2020 holds for the automobile and engineering ancillaries industry, said P.K Mahapatra, Principal Resident Commissioner of Haryana.

Mahapatra emphasized upon India’s R&D potential and capabilities compared to China which has confined itself to becoming a manufacturing hub.

"India's growth story depends largely on MSME sector and it is imperative that all support, whether it is technological, financial or administrative is extended to them," said Suman Jyoti Khaitan, Senior Vice-President, PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

He also said that a majority of manufacturers in the auto components sector operate independently with a little investment and on a small scale.

"The government intervention for the automotive sector is timely and has come at a very opportune time when the manufacturer has to work on building design capability in order to win over and retain the buyer on a sustained basis in the long run" he added.

“Innovation and cost pruning hold the key to meeting the global challenge of rising demand from developed countries and competition from other emerging economies," said Vikas Jain, President, Gurgaon Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

Bindoo Ranjan, Project Co-ordinator, Design Clinic Scheme for MSMEs, National Institute of Design gave a detailed presentation about the evolution of design process and how one can benefit from it.

In her presentation, she described in detail about the various components of the Design Clinic Scheme and how a MSME unit or association can avail its benefit with minimal efforts.

She gave several examples of designed projects already implemented in India and shared that more than 400 MSME firms are now registered with the scheme.

She further said that the Design Awareness Programme conducted through a Need Assessment survey and Design Clinic workshop can be done through clusters or individual levels directly. The Design Clinic Scheme is meant for enhancing design expertise of MSMEs.