How manufacturing and automation can lead India to become an economic superpower

From listening to a virtual assistant’s news updates to brainstorming ideas on a video call, the technology underlying the fourth revolution has already been entrenched into our daily lives. Digitalisation or Digital adoption is pervasive and will last forever as it meets an end user’s convenience and wellbeing. On the flip side, pandemic stressed the need for urgent and innovative business actions and emphasised setting the stage for a lasting recovery.

Seeing post pandemic world as an opportunity to become the manufacturing capital of the world: Change in mindset matters

Our front-line warriors and government have given a resolute response to the covid-19 pandemic in the country. The economic mayhem caused by the pandemic has exposed many weaknesses in Indian manufacturing space and questioned our claim of an inclusive journey to become an economic superpower. As various Indian states gradually eased the curbs on business activities, the economy began regaining momentum and while most companies have lost revenue and earnings in this period , it is the small businesses , especially in service industry, that were worst hit and most are unable to recover. Every manufacturer should use the learnings to recalibrate, adopt actions to address their identified weaknesses, and then improve core strength, which will improve their competitiveness in future. The Indian manufacturing, including electronics contract manufacturing (EMS) , has an immense pool of talented professionals, which has steered their operations well during this crisis and shows our ability to plan and create preparedness.

Manufacturers are the urban innovators who find ways to make their businesses perform better and give themselves an advantage of realignment. They should take it upon themselves that it is the time to stretch themselves, look beyond the defined contours and take calculated risks.

India is geographically well positioned to cater the future economies of African continent and also many countries in the Middle east and Central Asia. How India can become the global manufacturing hub has been a topic of national discussion for years. To make this happen, there are certain pointers on which the national leadership as well as the government machinery must work on. The manufacturing industry needs strong and continuous political will, larger social strength, stronger monetary foundation and a steady financial framework to enable this realisation.

Every Indian entrepreneur and the CEO of an Indian entity is a believer in India’s future and wants to invest in creating Technology, build up people skills, create physical and digital infrastructure. But, they need an assurance on the continuation of Policies, Incentives and Social stability. Creation of a high quality and efficient Public Infrastructure viz, Airports, Sea ports, Logistic hubs, Metro stations etc , is equally critical to accomplish our objective of empowering India to become a manufacturing capital.

Fast-tracking the Smart & Sustainable living

Our becoming a developed country and an economic superpower will be incomplete if we do not enable a comfortable, safe and sustainable lifestyle for our Country’s people. It is imperative that the government again brings in the focus back to the Smart Cities Mission. Under this mission, many cities have already benefitted through improved civil infrastructure, Green energy, Smart & brighter street lights , Surveillance with centralised monitoring , better sewage treatment and solid waste management , Electric vehicle charging infrastructure, smart metering etc . These initiatives will also drive large scale economic growth apart from improving the quality of life by empowering local area development.

Panasonic has been a pioneer in creation of sustainable smart cities, having created two cities (Fujisawa and Yokohama) on its erstwhile factory land, in Japan. We have a similar mission in India with locally designed and manufactured products and systems.

Our IOT range of automation products, integrated on a common platform , MirAIe (future homes in Japanese) , caters to homes, offices and other commercial infrastructure for enabling a Comfortable living & working, a Safe living & working and Energy saving. Panasonic MirAIe at present integrates various electrical devices viz. Switches, Sockets, Sensors (Gas, Smoke, Motion) , IR controls , Camera and various appliances including AC, Refrigerator, Washing machine and Microwave oven; all of which are designed and made in India.

Panasonic India’s newly formed Spatial Solutions Division will further this platform and extend it to many areas including Commercial space like office, Hospitals etc and Public infrastructure like Airport, Auditorium, School etc.; and provide integrated and intelligent products for Comfort, Safety and Energy saving.

India stands at 65th rank in the global standard of living index at present. Our claim to be a developed economy will not just be dependent on our becoming a global manufacturing hub but also how well our people are living, safe, comfortable and healthy.

At Panasonic, this is what drives us, every day.

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