The Hindu : Business : Japanese delegation hails TQM system at Lucas-TVS

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 18, 2006

Business

Business

Japanese delegation hails TQM system at Lucas-TVS

Corporate Reporter

Iran unit to commence operation shortly

— Photo: K. Pichumani

QUALITY SPEAKS: Tadashi Onishi (second from left), Chairman, Central Japan Quality Control Association, talking to T. K. Balaji (extreme left), Chief Executive and Managing Director, Lucas TVS, in Chennai on Friday. Yoshiaki Kodaki (right), Consul General of Japan, looks on.

CHENNAI: A team consisting of 25 top management professionals, mostly belonging to the Toyota group and its suppliers in Central Japan area, has hailed the TQM (total quality management) system adopted by the Chennai based Lucas-TVS plant.

In a brief chat with presspersons at the plant site in Padi, near here on Friday, after studying the systems and TQM practices, Tadashi Onishi, Chairman, Central Japan Quality Control Association and leader of the delegation, appreciated the upgradation process done by the company according to the TQM standards though the plant is three decades old.

He also hailed the systematic manufacturing process even for longer periods of production plans and the introduction of efficient standardisation control aspects.

The team will make another visit to observe the further progress made by the company, Mr. Onishi said.Yoshiaki Kadaki, Consul-General of Japan, who participated the interactive session of the delegation and the company management team, highlighted the progress made by India's manufacturing industry since 1991.

The Central Japan Quality Control Association, which was founded about three and half decades ago, has 200 companies in Central Japan area including Toyota, NGK, Inax and their suppliers.

In his address, T. K. Balaji, Chief Executive and Managing Director, Lucas TVS, said there was no magic in doing work in a systematic way. It involved everyone's participation in the manufacturing process. Mr. Balaji said Mr. Onishi shared his views on achieving zero defect quality and Toyota's present TQM system.

The company had gone zero defect and had been adopting a quality integration programme with the participation of suppliers and dealers by developing innovative products and solutions of value to customers through creative skills, Mr. Balaji said.

Starter motor unit

Detailing the company's future plan, Mr. Balaji said the Iran plant for producing starter motors was expected to start in a couple of months time. During the last six months, high-level teams from the SAIPA group visited Lucas-TVS and appreciated the manufacturing excellence achieved in the plant.

It placed orders for the supply of SM82 starter motors for fitment as original equipment in Pride model cars made in Iran. During the same period, another successful auto component manufacturing company in Iran, FG Industries, came to India seeking association with Lucas-TVS to establish a factory in Iran for making auto electrical components.

The company ends the year with a turnover of Rs. 725 crore. The figure was expected to go up to Rs. 860 crore in next year, Mr. Balaji said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail