The NIQR – Dr. V.K Medal was instituted in 2022 to motivate MSMEs, often referred to as the “Engine of Growth” of the Indian economy. The award ceremony for this year was held on 23rd November 2024 and recognized Prakash Techno Plast India Pvt. Ltd. of Hosur and Venkateswara Steels & Springs India Pvt. Ltd. of Coimbatore. The event featured a distinguished panel of speakers, including S. Ganesh Mani, President & Chief Operating Officer of Ashok Leyland; Dr. N. Ravichandran, Chief Mentor, UCAL Fuel Systems; and P. Kanniappan, Managing Director, ZF Commercial Vehicle Control Systems India.
S. Murali Shankar, National President of NIQR, welcomed the gathering. Dr. S. Rajasekaran, Chairman of the Award Committee, outlined the details of the Medal, and Dr. V. Swaminathan, Senior National Vice President of NIQR, elaborated on the examination criteria for the NIQR – Dr. V.K Medal.
S. Ganesh Mani, the Chief Guest of the event, praised Dr. V. Krishnamurthy for his remarkable contributions to the Indian economy and shared his personal experiences working with him in various capacities at companies such as BHEL and Maruti Udyog. Highlighting Ashok Leyland’s achievements, Ganesh Mani expressed pride in being associated with the 75-year-old, indigenous technology-driven company. He detailed several key initiatives undertaken at Ashok Leyland to ensure quality in manufacturing, including a program called IMPROVE, which monitors product quality enhancements. He also shared insights from his visit to the ZF WABCO plant in Chennai, lauding its innovative approach.
Ganesh Mani further emphasized the critical role of MSMEs in India, stating, “Since 90% of the workforce in India comes from MSMEs, compared to the global average of 66%, there is immense potential for their growth.” He encouraged MSMEs to leverage this opportunity by focusing on quality and manufacturing excellence.
P. Kanniappan, Guest of Honour, spoke about the inspiration he drew from NIQR’s quality initiatives and the learnings he gained from Dr. V. Krishnamurthy, a stalwart of the Indian automotive industry. He described the NIQR – Dr. V.K Medal as “a ticket to a journey that must continue.” Reflecting on ZF WABCO’s journey, he noted that their Indian operations began the pursuit of excellence in 1987. Under his leadership, WABCO India has become a “Centre of Excellence” for global operations. He proudly shared that one-third of India’s production is now exported, with WABCO India receiving a global quality award from ZF. He emphasized, “For India to become a global leader by 2047 and an export hub, MSMEs must play a pivotal role.”
In his keynote address, Dr. N. Ravichandran delivered an optimistic message, stating, “India is a great country, and we have the capability to achieve anything.” Highlighting the potential of India’s over five crore MSMEs — four crore of which are micro-enterprises—he urged them to “think big” and deliver world-class quality products. He outlined the six C’s that leaders must build: Competence, Courage, Concept, Culture, Confidence, and the ability to Conquer the world. Dr. Ravichandran also commended Dr. V. Krishnamurthy for his numerous contributions, calling him an outstanding personality.
The winners of the NIQR – Dr. V.K Medal, Prakash M. Valecha, Managing Director of Prakash Techno Plast India, and R. Naveen Raja, Head of Business Development at Venkateswara Steels & Springs, shared detailed insights into their companies’ journeys of excellence and future plans.
MOTORINDIA was the Media Partner for the award ceremony.