PLANT VISITS
Plant visits are being organized on Thursday 19 August 2004 to Sona Koyo Steering Systems Ltd. and SRF Limited (Chemicals Business). This is being offered on a 'first-come-first-served' basis for a maximum of 25 delegates to each plant. Registration is essential. Sona Koyo Steering Systems Ltd The Sona Koyo group, with a turnover of USD 80 million stands for dynamism and multifaceted growth in the Indian automotive component industry. The group offers to its customers a diverse range of quality automotive components such as steering systems, propeller shaft assemblies, rear axle assemblies and differential sub-assemblies for passenger cars, jeeps and commercial vehicles. The group's flagship company, Sona Koyo Steering Systems Ltd, with ISO / TS - 16949 and ISO-14001 certification, promoted in 1987 and has technical and financial collaboration with Koyo Seiko Co. Ltd., Japan. In 2003, Sona Koyo became the first steering system manufacturing company in the world to win the coveted Deming Application Prize. Sona's customers include Maruti-Suzuki, Toyota, Hyundai Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra and Tata Motors. The company is a certified and approved vendor of Koyo. It exports components and steering systems to Japan, Europe and USA. SRF Limited (Chemicals Business) SRF's Chemicals Business was established in 1989. The plant is located at Bhiwadi, about 75 kms from Delhi. In 1995, the installation of a facility for the manufacture of chloromethanes made the plant fully integrated. This plant employs 200 people and has a turnover of USD 45 million. Production and sale of refrigerant gases are controlled through the Montreal Protocol, to which India is a signatory. There is thus an agreed phase-out programme. Through vigorous product and process development, the plant has developed substitute gases, and extended the product range to fluorine-based specialty chemicals for the pharmaceutical industry. Through the practice of TQM, the business has achieved a sharp customer focus, reduced plant stoppages and generated 100% people participation in improvements. The ISO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001 and SA 8000 certifications bear testimony to its commitment to quality, safety, health, environment and society. Mindarika Mindarika is a joint venture between Minda Industries of India and TokaiRika & Sumitomo of Japan. It has an annual turnover of 15 million US dollar and is growing at ~ 33 % annually. It is a market leader in automotive switches, heating ventilating air conditioning panels & cigarette lighters for 4 wheelers. Is enjoys more than 40% market share, despite of high dependence on import (Up to 30 %). Mindarika has imbibed Japanese manufacturing philosophy and practices into its work culture and is actively implementing lean manufacturing practices. It has halved its new product development time, achieved single digit changeovers (SMED) and significantly reduced breakdowns during its TQM journey. It has achieved 100 % employee involvement. Besides ISO/TS16949 & ISO14001 certification, it has also got FORD-Q1 certification. Its employees are gearing themselves to challenge the Deming award in the near future.