The 5th Edition of the Samurai Awards and Conference, held from November 7 to 15, 2024, successfully showcased India’s manufacturing prowess, bringing together visionaries, innovators, and policymakers. Hosted at the majestic Taj Miramar in Goa, complemented by virtual sessions, the event witnessed participation from over 2,000 delegates globally, both physical and digital, and reached a phenomenal 2 million-plus audience through online channels.
This landmark event, spanning five days, highlighted the evolving landscape of manufacturing with its focus on advanced technologies, sustainability, and workforce empowerment. Each session offered invaluable insights into India’s manufacturing vision for 2030, strengthening its path to becoming a global leader.
A Visionary Beginning
The event commenced on November 7 with an inspiring keynote session by Dr. Sachin Sabnis, Managing Director of Belgaum Ferrocast (India) Pvt. Ltd., on India’s Manufacturing Vision 2030: Leveraging Technology and Talent for Global Leadership. Dr. Sabnis emphasized the transformative potential of technology and human capital, setting the tone for the conference.
Following this, Sameer Jindal, Director of MG Motor India Pvt. Ltd., delivered a virtual keynote on Driving the Future: Innovations in Electric Mobility and Sustainable Automotive Solutions. He shared MG Motor’s strategies for advancing India’s position in electric vehicle (EV) innovation and sustainable automotive practices.
Accelerating the EV Revolution
The day also featured the much-anticipated panel on Driving Change: India’s Journey Toward a Sustainable EV Ecosystem. Moderated by Yogesh Umbarkar, Vice President – Mobility, Valtech Mobility GmbH
- Uday Narang, Chairman, Anglian Omega Group and Omega Seiki Mobility
- Raghu Kerakatty, Co-Founder & CEO, Toutche
- Raman Upmanyu, Industry Manager – EV & Biomedical, Marposs India
- Randheer Singh, CEO, ForeSee Advisors
- Yuvraj Sarda, Head Strategy, Brand Marketing & Communications, Volvo Construction Equipment
Panelists delved into challenges and solutions for EV adoption, focusing on policy frameworks, charging infrastructure, and fostering collaboration across industries.
Aerospace Excellence Takes Center Stage
On November 8, the Soaring Ahead: Unpacking India’s Aerospace Growth and Opportunities session illuminated the nation’s advancements in aerospace manufacturing. Moderated by B. Shekhar, Executive Secretary of Laghu Udyog Bharati – Karnataka, the panel included:
- Seenivasan Balasubramanian, Chief Executive Officer, International Aerospace Manufacturing Pvt. Ltd. (IAMPL)
- UMA Maheshwar D, Chief Consulting Engineer, GE Aerospace India
- Hardik J Someshvar, Senior Manager – Strategy and India Customer & Account Management, Collins Aerospace
- Mayank Dalmia, Co-Founder, Wave Mechanics
- Venkatesh Mudragalla, Co-Founder and COO, Jeh Aerospace
Discussions revolved around R&D, public-private partnerships, and policies driving growth in aerospace.
Strengthening Supply Chains
The afternoon panel on Strengthening the Chain: Building Resilient Supply Networks brought together supply chain leaders to address post-pandemic disruptions and digitization strategies. Moderated by Sunil Bharadwaj, Managing Partner, ImpactEazer Consulting, the esteemed panelists included:
- Anirban Sanyal, Head – Supply Chain & National Logistics, Century Ply
- Atul Anand, Director – Business Strategy, XRE Consultants Pvt. Ltd.
- Nihar Parida, Director – Strategy & Development, Uniworld Logistics
- Dhritiman Chakraborty, Director – Operations, Ingram Micro
- Raheman Sayyad, Director SCM, Ruzain Energy Pvt. Ltd.
- Jay Deepak Shah, CEO & MD, Jay Wood Industry
Empowering Women and Sustainability in Manufacturing
On November 11, the session From Factory Floor to Boardroom: Empowering Women in Manufacturing celebrated women leaders shaping the industry. Moderated by Gayathri Sharma, Vice President – Communications, Rolls-Royce APAC, the panel featured:
- Shwetambari Jagtap-Bhanushali, Senior Manager, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles
- Neelam Pandey Pathak, Founder & CEO, Rozgar Dhaba and Social Bay
- Ameeta Nehra, VP – Corporate Strategy, Nico Nanobubble India Co.
- Pankti Agarwal, Executive Director, Laser Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
- Pallavi Misra, Fractional Marketing Consultant
- Nitika Sharma, Marketing Head, Marposs India
The afternoon session Building a Greener Tomorrow: The Role of Sustainability in Manufacturing saw experts like Amit Kapur, CMD, IOTA Group, and Dr. Ravindra Utgikar, Independent Director, discussing the integration of sustainable practices and the importance of circular economies in manufacturing.
Semiconductor Opportunities
The semiconductor-focused session on November 12, Navigating the Opportunities and Challenges of Semiconductor Manufacturing in India, highlighted the country’s readiness to lead in this critical industry. Moderated by Yogesh Umbarkar, Vice President – Mobility, Valtech Mobility GmbH, the panel included:
- Santosh KM, Managing Director, Semicon Fab Technologies
- Ashok Mishra, Independent Technology Advisor
- Hanish Arora, Key Account Manager – Marposs India
- Prof. Shweta Srivastava, Head – Dept. of Electronics & Communication Engineering, Jaypee Institute of Information Technology
Driving Innovation Across Industries: Insights from Marposs Leaders
On November 13, 2024, the Samurai Awards and Conference hosted a highly engaging session titled Driving Innovation Across Industries. The discussion brought together distinguished leaders from Marposs, who shared their expertise on navigating technological advancements, fostering innovation, and driving transformation across diverse sectors.
- Luca Matteucci, Managing Director, Marposs India
- Raman Upmanyu, Industry Manager – EV & Biomedical, Marposs India
- Hanish Arora, Key Account Manager – Head, Marposs India
- Fabien Vincentz, Aerospace Business Unit Director, Marposs
This session offered a masterclass in leadership, with panelists exploring forward-thinking strategies and practical applications that exemplify Marposs’ commitment to excellence. Discussions ranged from pioneering advancements in electric vehicles and aerospace to leveraging technology for industrial transformation.
A Grand Finale on Smart Manufacturing
On November 15, the conference concluded with two compelling discussions. The first, Driving the Future: The Rise of Smart Manufacturing, moderated by Dr. Ranjit Patil, Head of ME Dept., BITS Pilani Goa Campus, brought together:
- Uday Narang, Omega Seiki Mobility
- Dr. Sachin Sabnis, Belgaum Ferrocast
- Amit Kapur, IOTA Group
- Dr. Ganesh Kakandikar, Associate Dean, MIT World Peace University
The evening’s closing session, Empowering the Workforce: Adapting to a New Manufacturing Landscape, moderated by Preetesh Singh, featured
- Mr. Luca Matteucci, Managing Director, Marposs India
- Mr. Rakesh Agarwal, Managing Director, Laser Technologies Pvt. Ltd.
- Mr. Hardik Someshvar, Collins Aerospace
- Dr. Nikhil Agarwal, Managing Director, FITT-IIT Delhi
An Unforgettable Milestone
The 5th Samurai Awards and Conference 2024 underscored India’s resilience and innovation in manufacturing. With a comprehensive blend of knowledge-sharing, networking, and celebration of excellence, the event left an indelible impact on its attendees and a global audience. It reinforced India’s resolve to transform into a sustainable, inclusive, and globally competitive manufacturing powerhouse.
As the curtains fell, it was clear: the Samurai Awards and Conference had not just envisioned India’s manufacturing future but had catalyzed it.
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