Smart Manufacturing Inflection
- By Bhushan Mhapralkar
- August 12, 2021
Helping to gauge an enterprise’s maturity, about where it stands in its ability to respond to a disruption like the current, Industry 4.0 is being successfully scaled upon. This, despite difficulties in cash flow and low sales. Informing that the way to look at technologies under Industry 4.0 is changing, a McKinsey analyst said that Industry 4.0 is truly at an inflection point. It has, in view of the ability to help mitigate a disruption of this scale, assumed much importance, he added. McKinsey conducted a survey of 400 manufacturing companies worldwide to gauge the progress of Industry 4.0 through its annual survey model. The outcome of the survey put those companies that have embraced Industry 4.0 in a good position to tackle the pandemic-led disruption. For companies scaling up, the need to embrace it faster was even more evident. For companies who have not yet embraced Industry 4.0, the pandemic proved to be a wake-up call. Pursuing transformation plans in the wake of their ability to tackle the pandemic’s challenges, companies, as per the McKinsey report, are finding the progress difficult in view of cash flow restrictions, however.
Expecting manufacturing and supply chain recovery in the next six to eight months, companies are keen to adopt Industry 4.0 technologies to ensure operational agility and flexibility. Treating productivity and minimising costs as the top priority areas, they are investing the most in technologies that enable remote working and collaboration. They are, under Industry 4.0, prioritising technologies that aid collaboration and visibility across the supply chain as well. A convergence between sectors is evident, in fact, as manufacturing companies focus on remote working abilities, supply chain connectivity and operational transparency. This is happening for the first time that the priorities of a tyre and an electronic components manufacturer to embracing digital technologies are the same. A close second are technologies that help up manufacturing efficiency.
The value of Industry 4.0 in terms of smart manufacturing is being endorsed by the pandemic-induced disruption. It is visible, and is in-line with demand suppression, period of suppression anticipated and cost pressures. With sales in sectors like pharmaceuticals and medical equipment going through the roof, while staying low or moderate in sectors like automotive, the inflection point of Industry 4.0 as a smart manufacturing platform is currently influenced by an amount of volatility in supply chains. Taking an ambitious but pragmatic approach, companies are looking at cloud-based solutions or standardised Internet of Things (IoT) platforms. They are looking at the right people and the right processes to put in place to support their Industry 4.0 ambitions. The quest to accelerate the adoption of agile ways of working is proving to be an inflection point for Industry 4.0 technologies, albeit with a renewed focus on what is essential and what is not.
Industry 4.0
With every step further, Industry 4.0 is attracting more and more attention. It is, however, yet something that many find confusing when it comes to defining in actual practice. A simple way to define it, therefore, is to describe it as digitisation of the manufacturing sector. Delve deeper, and it could be described as a force that is about the astonishing rise in data volumes, computational power, connectivity (especially in new low-power wide-area networks), emergence of analytics and business-intelligence capabilities, new forms of human-machine interaction (like touch interfaces and augmented-reality systems) and improvements in transferring digital instructions to the physical world (such as advanced robotics and 3D printing). While the lean revolution and outsourcing phenomenon has contributed much to the growth of Industry 4.0, it is automation that is currently the big factor in it reaching the inflection point. The inflection point will soon get redefined as technologies like 3D printing cut down on manufacturing time and effort.
Cedric Ratinaud Becomes New Global Brand Head Of Nissan Motor Corporation
- By MT Bureau
- August 24, 2026
Japanese automaker Nissan Motor Corporation has announced the appointment of Cedric Ratinaud as the new Global Head of Brand, Nissan.
Ratinaud previously served as the Director of Creative and Campaigns for Global Communications at Nissan Motor Corporation, a role he held from April 2024. Prior to that position, he worked as General Manager of INFINITI Global Communications. His background includes two decades in the automotive sector across communications, marketing communications, and brand management roles.
His career at Nissan spans operations across Europe, Asia, and Oceania. Most recently, he served as General Manager of Brand, Marketing, and Communications for Nissan Motor Asia Pacific, operating out of Thailand.
TVS Supply Chain Solutions, Japan’s Sankyu Inc. Ink Strategic MoU
- By MT Bureau
- August 24, 2026
TVS Supply Chain Solutions has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Japan-based Sankyu Inc. to collaborate across supply chain and engineering services.
As part of the agreement, Sankyu intends to acquire a 0.5 percent equity stake in TVS Supply Chain Solutions, subject to regulatory approvals.
The partnership combines TVS Supply Chain Solutions' logistics network in India with Sankyu's engineering capabilities and corporate connections in Japan. Initial operations will focus on serving manufacturing and industrial clients in India, where over 1,400 Japanese companies operate.
Future plans include expanding joint operations into regions across Asia, the Middle East, Africa and additional international markets where both firms hold established infrastructure.
To manage operations under the agreement, the companies will form a joint steering committee with representatives from both organisations to identify operational opportunities and oversee joint initiatives.
R. Dinesh, Chairman, TVS Supply Chain Solutions, said, “This partnership represents an important step in our strategy to strengthen our capabilities and create greater value for customers. Sankyu's engineering expertise and deep relationships across the Japanese industrial ecosystem complement TVS Supply Chain Solutions' integrated supply chain capabilities, strong customer relationships and market presence. We share a strong commitment to long-term value creation, and together we are well positioned to deliver more comprehensive solutions, support the evolving needs of manufacturing and industrial customers, and unlock new growth opportunities across India and other strategic markets.”
Kimihiro Nakamura, President and CEO, Sankyu Inc, said, "Since our inception in 1918, Sankyu has been dedicated to supporting the progress of the manufacturing sector, underpinned by our core philosophy of valuing our people. We are profoundly honoured to enter into this partnership with TVS SCS, an organisation that shares our philosophy and commitment to the highest ethical standards. Our two companies possess a strong strategic alignment, and by integrating and complementing our respective strengths, we look forward to achieving collective growth in the global market and contributing to sustainable industrial development."
VinFast Elevates India Head Tapan Ghosh To Oversee Operations In Indonesia
- By MT Bureau
- August 18, 2026
Vietnamese automotive company VinFast has expanded the role of its India Chief Executive Officer, Tapan Ghosh, to oversee operations in Indonesia, uniting the company's management structure across both regional markets.
Interestingly, Ghosh becomes Chief Executive Officer for VinFast Operations across both countries, making him the first executive from India to manage multiple markets for the Vietnamese company.
Since joining the Vietnamese brand in 2025 from Hyundai Motor India, Ghosh has managed local manufacturing setups, dealership distribution expansion and product strategies. His new responsibilities will include overseeing the development of a complete knock-down (CKD) assembly operation in Indonesia.
The dual-country manufacturing and distribution setup establishes operational hubs for VinFast across South Asia and Southeast Asia, supporting its strategy to expand production beyond Vietnam.
An Cong Hui Succeeds Li Shu Fu As Chairman Of Geely, Gan Jia Yue Becomes CEO
- By MT Bureau
- August 18, 2026
Chinese automotive major Geely Automobile Holdings has announced changes to its board of directors and executive leadership structure, effective 18 August 2026, as part of its succession planning framework.
Li Shu Fu has resigned as Chairman of the Board and Executive Director to focus on other business commitments. He has accepted an appointment as Honorary Chairman for Life, a role outside the formal corporate governance structure. Li remains a controlling shareholder of the company and confirmed that he has no disagreement with the board regarding his departure.
On the other hand, Executive Director An Cong Hui has been appointed Chairman of the Board. The board cited An's operational experience within the group and strategic alignment with the controlling shareholder entity as factors supporting the appointment. Independent non-executive directors will continue to oversee potential conflict management protocols under Hong Kong Stock Exchange listing rules.
Further board adjustments include the resignation of Li Dong Hui, Daniel, from the role of Vice-Chairman. He retains his seat as an Executive Director. Gui Sheng Yue has stepped down as Chief Executive Officer and assumed the role of Vice Chairman while remaining an Executive Director.
Following Gui's transition, Executive Director Gan Jia Yue has been appointed Chief Executive Officer. Gan assumes responsibility for managing the group's operational activities and executing long-term business objectives.
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