In conversation: G Parthipan, President, RTSSL
What is your current PPM level for the pump and rack & pinion? How do you plan to contain it further?
On an average, we maintain less than 70 PPM in the power rack & pinion while it is around 80 PPM for pumps. Customers express issues on noise as the cabin is becoming much quieter now. This is in spite of individual products, in our case the rack & pinion and the pump, meeting customer specifications. We discount these issues classifying them as ‘No Trouble Found (NTF)’ cases. However, we have begun accounting NTF too since the last two years as it helps to improve quality further.
Tell us about the initiatives taken at the shop floor and the benefits accrued?
Improving robustness of manufacturing processes is a priority since adherence to parameters will improve quality. Customer complaints have been given the highest priority. Sensitivity within the organisation has significantly increased. Even the smallest concern is taken seriously by even the operators and discussed at shop floor meetings to resolve it. Secondly, it helps in implementing the
best practices across the company and
its products.
How are you managing the current slowdown while optimising a robust manufacturing process?
We go the whole hog on every day output, and reduce the number of working days as it helps in optimising the fixed costs. Besides, we reduced the shifts to two. These steps will help us become a leaner organisation.
What is your mantra to optimise slowdown and the peak demand conditions – by resorting to automation or banking on people?
Difficult to say which one is the right recipe. Our philosophy has been to adapt low-cost automation since it has to gel well with men and machines. However, from the quality perspective, we do not mind going high on automation.
Can you tell us about the new programmes that you are working on?
Being a dominant player in the CV space holding more than 50 percent market share, we continue working with almost all our customers for their new programmes in LCV, ICV and MHCVs. Ditto with passenger cars for the hydraulic power steering segment. For instance, we are working with Renault on a high volume programme and with Isuzu. We are working with our partner TRW to enter Russia.
Can you tell us about your sales performance and share of exports?
Currently, 23 percent of the total sales come from exports. Our turnover last year was Rs 558 crores, and this year it may drop by five to seven percent. ACI
Story & Photography: T Murrali
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