VDMA recognizes Indian workshop of SMS group with Manufacturing Excellence Award

The 8th VDMA Mechanical Engineering Summit, held on September 6, 2019 in Bangalore, India, saw the presentation of the Manufacturing Excellence Award for Working Conditions and Work Safety in the small and medium industries category to SMS group’s manufacturing workshop in Bhubaneswar, India. In a wide range of aspects − such as health and safety of employees, staff facilities, plant administration, environment, and contributions in support of the welfare of neighboring communities − the workshop was recognized as the best in class of German manufacturing companies in India.

Operating with an integrated quality management system to ISO 9001 and 140001 (in the revised version of 2015) and ISO 45001-2018 (in the revised OSHAS version: 18001-2007), the workshop produces high-grade equipment components to global quality and delivery reliability standards.

With over 700 skilled staff, the workshop – in addition to the manufacturing of components – also performs extensive repair and refurbishment services for its customers, promoting the “Make in India” initiative established by the Indian government.

Commenting on the future vision of the workshop, Ulrich Greiner, CEO of SMS India Pvt. Ltd., explained: “To me the most important thing about our workshop’s positioning is the fact that we are the leading supplier in terms of manufacturing quality and customer satisfaction in the Indian manufacturing sector. This is the only viable basis for us to expand our customer base in the primary industries sector, in which we fulfill the extremely exacting requirements of OEMs and provide highly value-adding services. This is a key focal area for us because, while the steel sector in India is currently in a cyclical downturn, other industries require products and services of the kind we can supply.”

The VDMA award honors the company’s excellent order processing performance, which has been rated by numerous SMS group customers as outstanding. In particular, the company’s high dependability, straightforward communication channels, and excellent welding skills are definitely far beyond standard. Also in manufacturing processes involving copper or stainless steel, for example, or in build-up welding of wear-resistant special alloys including subsequent machining, the manufacturing workshop fulfills the most exacting customer requirements.

The workshop’s commitment to the continuous enhancement of its operational excellence has proved to pay off in the form of excellent working conditions and highest occupational safety standards.

Workshop safety initiatives

For SMS group, the health and safety of its employees − throughout the world − has always been a key concern. Therefore, the Bhubaneswar workshop has set up an EHS (Environment, Health and Safety) group which organizes regular safety courses and other specialized training sessions to promote the workforce’s awareness and knowledge of safety regulations.

Safety committee meetings, with participation of the plant management, are held on a monthly basis to discuss safety issues observed and decide on appropriate remedial action. Additionally, a system has been established which ensures that all incidents at the facilities are reported and logged on a daily basis. A safety manual, a safety awareness campaign, and an “on-site emergency plan” have been put in place to ensure general safety of the workers. The prize received for the – on global standards − best Working Conditions and Work Safety testifies to the efficiency of all these measures. As well as the safety award, the workshop also scooped the “Surakshit Sramik Bandhu” (Safe and Dedicated Employees) award for its workers from the government and associated agencies of the state of Odisha.

During a visit of the manufacturing workshop in Bhubaneswar, Dr. Martin Ney, German Ambassador to India, congratulated the SMS group staff on their success: “Thank you for the excellent briefing and the highly interesting tour of the plant. I wish SMS every success as they continue on this impressive path here in Bhubaneswar.”