The Rane Group comprises seven companies with 25 plants and a varied product portfolio, with aggregate sales of Rs. 2,650 crore in 2011-2012.
Starting in 1991, there were dramatic shifts in the policy environment. An economy closed for 45 years opened up. Major car companies from across the world set up manufacturing operations in India despite high import tariffs for parts. Some of them even encouraged their suppliers to come to India. These developments called for a total reappraisal of Rane’s competencies and business processes.
An important decision was to adopt Japanese management principles considering the cultural similarities between the two countries. Rane felt embracing the Japanese management principles would help in its objective. A one-day TQM workshop by Dr Washio from JUSE in December 1999 confirmed Rane’s belief that the holistic input of TQM would address the group’s concerns.
The commencement of the Japanese way of TQM (in 2000) was a watershed in the evolving history of Rane. Pursuit of excellence through total quality management (TQM) became an integral part of the Group’s Mission & Value.
With continuous improvement now an inseparable part of each and every business process, Rane created an environment that encouraged acknowledging problems.
|
It was accepted that thinking was not the prerogative of senior management and Rane created transparency through communication. This resulted in “open culture”, “breaking of functional silos” and “a sense of organisation-wide ownership”.
A structured system has been developed at the plant, companies and the group with clear responsibilities to promote and guide TQM. Based on reviews, specific improvements are taken up in the practice of TQM.
A structured training programme on DRM (Daily Routine Management) is imparted right at the induction stage.
Enumerating the benefits of TQM in the last 4 years, Ganesh said,
|
Implementation of TQM for business excellence resulted in the Deming prize for 2 companies and the Deming grand prize for 4 companies.
Rane's last decade focused on “Operational & Business Excellence” through people, processes, system creation and continuous improvement.
Rane's theme for the next decade is Profitable Growth.
An inspiring leader His brilliant tour-de-force of the Rane Group's TQM programme at the Sanmar GAD gave ample evidence of the reasons for the outstanding achievements of the group. L Ganesh is a shining example of how much the total involvement of the leader matters to any programme of transformation initiated by a business enterprise. It came as no surprise when the audience stood up as one man to applaud his well-structured, thought-provoking, enlightening presentation. |