Gopalakrishnan Chathapuram Sivaramakrishnan, Whole-time Director and Chief Manufacturing Officer of Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL), is a renowned name in the industry. Engaging in a candid conversation with Outlook, he shares insights into the manufacturing operations of HMIL
How is HMIL embedding sustainability in its manufacturing?
We have integrated sustainable practices into our value chain, from planning and design to procurement, operation and disposal.
At HMIL, we are committed to strengthening our ESG initiatives. We have focused on environmental sustainability by implementing Environmental & Energy Management Systems in accordance with ISO 14001 & ISO 50001 standards. At the HMIL Chennai Manufacturing Plant, we source renewable power from our in-house 10 MW solar power plant, the Indian Energy Exchange and other offsite power purchase arrangements, which has resulted in the plant’s renewable energy utilisation rate to be 63% as of March 31, 2024. HMIL Chennai plant is also currently 80% water self-dependent through rainwater harvesting. We constantly monitor and reduce direct and indirect emissions from manufacturing processes by maximizing renewable sources in our power portfolio and energy conservation, aiming to achieve the RE100 benchmark by 2025. We are also working on expanding our eco-friendly Electric Vehicle product portfolio. These efforts are helping us move closer to our goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045.
Can you brief us on HMIL’s manufacturing facilities and capabilities?
Currently, our annual production capacity stands at 824,000 units, as of March 31, 2024. To meet the ever-growing market demands, we are expanding our operations with the establishment of a third plant in Talegaon, Maharashtra.
This expansion is set to significantly augment our production capacity in the coming years.
We utilize cutting-edge technology to manufacture passenger cars across various segments.
The HMIL Chennai Manufacturing Plant is equipped with advanced automation, including state-of-the-art robotics, real-time quality monitoring systems, and advanced vision technologies.
With rising automation and introduction of AI, how has HMIL incorporated new technology in its manufacturing practices?
At HMIL, we are committed to using advanced technologies to continuously improve our manufacturing operations. Since 2019, we have taken significant steps to establish a digital infrastructure, upskill our workforce, adopt Industry 4.0 technologies and implement agile manufacturing processes among others. In addition, to promote the adoption of advanced manufacturing practices such as Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, Big Data Analytics and VR / AR across the manufacturing value chain, we have embraced the concept of ‘M-CHoRD’. It is a five-pillar approach, central to our long-term vision of becoming a smart and sustainable factory in the future.
Being a major player in the Indian automobile industry, how does HMIL approach automation and digitalization of workforce?
To boost manufacturing efficiency and reduce employee strain, we use robotics for a large part of our manufacturing operations. Robots perform welding, assembly, painting, inspection, production facility organization, component process management and the likes.
We use suitable technologies to support our personnel to further enhance their productivity and safety at the workplace. Our priority at HMIL is to nurture the workforce through various upskilling initiatives that are undertaken in collaboration with prestigious academic institutions such as Indian Institute of Technology Madras.
We offer virtual certification programme titled ‘Digital Transformation & Digital Technologies’ to heads of departments. We have also curated learning programmes on data analytics, smart factory awareness, industry tools and evolution of mobility among others, for all cadres.
