Leading Manufacturing Companies – Godrej consumer products (GCPL)

“We invest in automation to improve our competitive edge on critical parameters. Since our supply chain strategy is based on innovation and agility, we continue to look for new technologies that enable these pursuits,” says Dr Sinha. Unless a new technology helps the company become more innovative or agile, it doesn’t get priority.
For example, GCPL used IoT for debottlenecking certain production lines and improving their effective output. It is implementing robotics in some production lines. Flexible operations and faster response, the two bedrocks of agility, are common themes running across its choice of technologies. It is important that new technologies are compatible with existing platforms. That is not a problem as most new technologies are compatible with multiple platforms. However, GCPL works with specialist partners who help adapt a particular technology on to its desired platform.
The team keeps abreast of new technologies through conferences, publications and continuous dialogue with technology partners. Once the essence of a new technology is understood, its usefulness is discussed.
Use of Artificial Intelligence in demand sensing has been one such application. There are new technologies which may prove to be critical in the future. These include 3D printing, IoT, machine learning, AI, Blockchain and Robotics. GCPL is currently at various stages of evaluating and implementing them.