Japanese tech holds key to boost mfg units: Experts

Kolkata: Manufacturing units — from automobile, toys to electronic gadgets — can reap benefits from Japanese

Kanban

applications to enhance production capacity by putting a cap on wastage of raw materials. The idea on multiplying business came from Ravi Prasad, vice president and product head of RSB Transmissions, during the 13th edition of the

MSME Conclave

2019, organized by the CII recently.

On being asked about its implementation, Prasad told TOI, “The concept of Kanban (visual cards) is applicable for any manufacturing sector in Bengal and other states of India. If the unit runs in a systematic and disciplined way, it can optimize the Japanese system to step up manufacturing efficiency. Using Kanban is very easy and not much investment is needed for infrastructural development.”

At present, Kanban is being used mostly in automobile industry. While Indian business sectors have been going through a slowdown, demands for products are also on the rise. I think Kanban is the best way to roll out more products and check wastage of raw materials, according to Prasad.

The chairman of West Bengal Small Industries Development Corporation, Biplab Roy Chowdhury, said more Bengal youths ought to be encouraged to get into entrepreneurship. When the country is yet to rid of the bleak job market, the micro, small and medium enterprises play an important role in creating new opportunities for employment, he added.

However, many small business units or startups face problems to get loans from banks. “Banks look at the viability of a business proposal and we want the enterprises to adapt to market changes and be transparent with us, considering us as partners in their growth,” said Ranjan Kumar Mishra, chief general manager, State Bank of India (Kolkata circle).

SBI has moved from balance sheet-based assessment to model-based evaluation of business proposals to chip in with faster sanction of loans. “We are conducting various outreach programmes to help them connect directly with business entrepreneurs and eradicate the intervention of middlemen,” Mishra added.