Opera'22 - The Annual Operations Conclave

Panelist Details:

These were the opening notes given by Mr. Sudhir Kumar Agarwal.

He built up the flow and created the connection by stating “An economy that puts back what it takes out, that is sustainable by design”. The objective of circular economy is to extract the advantage of materials, energy and wastes of an industry. The circular economy associates the supply and demand of supply chain industries to improve resource efficiency.

Important points in the panel discussion:

Mr. Anand Rao Moram

India’s energy requirements are expected to surpass that of any other country in the next two decades, thanks to the rapid and steady growth of Indian industries, be it manufacturing, IT, or chemical, thereby having a profound proportionate effect on pollution and global warming. Industries continue to use toxic chemicals, wasteful packaging, and transportation practices and ignore their environmental effect.

Mr. Birajeev singh

He depicted the mutual give and take method in any organization between the employees as well as with the authorities. He shared his experience and came to a statement that everybody in the world is connected to each other. He stated that the trading of information to build a relationship with the clients.

Mr. Kamlesh Kumar

He emphasized on building our brand in the corporate world. He stated the difference between real and virtual personalities. He also advised to build own leadership thoughts, thereby unlocking the synergies in the key leadership roles. Supply chain sustainability is increasingly important for the future of business and the world. Companies are investing more money into sustainability initiatives, seeking to reduce waste and carbon emissions.

Ms. Parul Arya

Circular economy is a model that aims for continuous reuse of the materials, which minimizes the use of inputs, reduces waste, and decreases the carbon footprint, making the supply chain green. She shared her insights on the fundamentals like trust and authenticity in assessing the value chain of a company. Advised to maintain the networking with the industry very well and illustrated her experience.

Ms. Akanksha Shrivatsava

From procurement & manufacturing – to packaging, logistics and distribution, every step of the supply chain offers the chance to reduce waste and pollution. This is where green supply chain management and the concept of circular economy comes to the rescue. She advised to maintain healthy social networks and have a thought always on what is my purpose and goal. She emphasized her point on exchanging human experiences. Thereby, creating personal bonds with the colleagues.

Mr. Dhawal Moghe

An analysis on supply chain industry has been conducted with the focus on 6Rs such as Recover, Reuse, Remanufacture, Recycle, Redesign, Reduce. Sir highlighted the opportunities available in the transformation from linear economy to circular economy, which improves social, economic, and environmental drivers of the organization. In addition, he also discussed the opportunities available in industry 4.0 for circular economy.

Mr. Samir Kumar Chaturvedi

Developing circular economy has important practical significance in improving resource development and utilization rate, relieving pressure on the environment, achieving sustainable social and economic development, and realizing the harmonious development of human society.

Mr. Subhankar Chatterjee

With the definition of the connotation of circular economy and green supply chain and further comparison of the distinction between green supply chain and traditional supply chain. Then, analysis mainly made about the contents of green supply chain management based on circular economy.

Mr. Nihar Medh

In recent years, organizations have started focusing on sustainable and green practices to address environmental, social, and economic concerns that form an approach which strives for the growth of an organization to encourage adapting the circular economy.

Q&A Session:

“How can firms set up and sustain their green energy targets?”,

“What instrumental changes are required in a business’ way of thinking to fight the global

challenge?” and

“What are the challenges associated with the implementation of the green supply chain?”

Panelist Details:

“You have got to start with the customer experience and work back toward the technology, not the other way around.”

Industry 4.0 is upon us, and this brings us to recognition of the customer-centricity and accelerating digitalization. If we truly want to comprehend the power of Industry 4.0, we need to understand how it is helping the organizations to focus on their customers, making them more customer-centric, and getting them ready to stand at par with their competitors in the digital world.

These were the opening notes given by Mr. Rahul Jindal.

He built up the flow and created the connection. He focused on the dynamic nature of the company’s strategy and its dependence on the digitalization He referred that the graduates are getting into industries which are ready for digitalization. He emphasized that the rapid reskilling is needed.

Important points in the panel discussion:

Mr. Mohit Sharma

Explained about the 1^st industry revolution took place 100 years back, what lead to second revolution in the assembly line inventions and then leading to the third revolution in the 1970s involving the computers and electronics. Then the last two decades the AI, IOT and the internet revolution. He emphasized the statement that “Data is the new currency of business”.

Mr. Sanjay Kukreja

Started with referring Industry 4.0 as Digital 2.0.and emphasized on the drivers of the next decade like the cyber security and Augmented Reality. He explained why they call it 4.0 because of the pace of delivery and strategic changes that brought on to the industries. These quantify as the new revolution. Stated the empowered work force and integrated product portfolio with pervasive data.

Mr. Amit Narula

Biggest Impact of digitalization can be identified on the reshaping business models. Stated that Customer Centricity can be improved by technology platform. And also emphasized that Impact of choice reduces the operating cost. And how sir’s company is focusing on the cost optimization.

Mr. Rakesh Narang

Cost optimization has become a management discipline and is the best possible value creation with the lowest possible cost. Plan for the bad times in good times, that’s where your company’s philosophy stands out. He stated that “At the end, it’s not about cost rather it’s about enabling value”. He explained about the case of Augmented reality of the Xerox Company. If you have a strong bond with your clients, then they need you both in right time at right cost.

Mr. Akshat Harbola

He insisted the major impact of the digitalization on the product developments and services. He emphasized on the importance of personalizing the products to the customers which is of utmost importance in today’s world.  Given examples of Spotify and YouTube personalized services and also referred AI and IoT’s role on personalizing the marketing. Shahrukh khan becomes the ambassador of Local Kirana with help of technology in apps.

Mr. Raghav Murthy

Inferred the importance of the mindset and soft skills required in the operation department of an organization. Emphasized on:

• Intellectual capital is something that will add value to the company.
• Ability to identify patterns and contextualize it in terms of business problems.
• Learn through experimentation with the digitalization and upcoming technology.
• Agility is of extreme importance in such times.
• Collaboration is another key area.

Ms. Sullekha Sen

Data and analytics are key support to solving today’s challenges both in and outside of crisis situations. We need to treat the customers as colleagues, and we need to question that are we giving customers the omni channel presence.

E.g.: WhatsApp as a technology for building empathy for customers and meet them and make it more personalize to them

Mr. Kaushik Gohain

Think of Digitization vs Digitalization, they are two different things. Digitalization is a given think how your company will address the future as it is changing. He stated the Customers at 3 levels like:

• End customer
• My client
• Internal clients

Mr. Chetan Kalyan

Organizations working with the government can become major suppliers and supporters of solutions during crises like pandemics. Solving these local issues also opens global markets. AI is not a rocket science and not very hard to learn and stated that it is better to update yourself to the technology in the market.

Advice by panellist for the students:

• Akshat Harbola – Make learning experimental and constant learning is imperative
• Amit Narula – Embrace the change and be mindful of the change.
• Chetan Kalyan – Outside Industry every day is an Exam
• Kaushik Gohain -Don’t look sight on Integrity
• Mohit sharma – Make empathy key aspect of business style
• Ragav Murthy – stay curious, built clarity (internalize the message), and continue to collaborate
• Rahul Jindal – Collaboration and Empathy
• Rakesh Narang – Focus on improving the value creation
• Sanjay Kukreja – Learn to prioritize and pursue to achieve it.
• Sullekha Sen – Use your EQ at the forefront. Be all about disruption.