The 5th Samurai Awards and Conference, held from November 7 to 15, 2024, brought together visionaries, innovators, and policy makers to showcase India’s manufacturing prowess. Successful. Held at the majestic Taj Miramar in Goa and complemented by virtual sessions, the event saw over 2,000 attendees across the globe both physically and digitally, and an astounding 200 attendees through online channels. It reached an audience of over 10,000 people.
This landmark five-day event highlighted the evolving landscape of manufacturing, with a focus on advanced technology, sustainability, and employee empowerment. Each session provided valuable insights into India’s manufacturing vision for 2030, strengthening its path to global leadership.
A visionary beginning
The event kicked off on November 7th with the following inspiring keynote sessions: Dr. Sachin SabnisBelgaum Ferrocast (India) Pvt. Managing Director Ltd. India Manufacturing Vision 2030: Leveraging technology and talent to achieve global leadership. Dr. Sabnis set the tone for the conference by highlighting the transformative potential of technology and human capital.
Following this, Sameer JindalDirector MG Motor India Ltd. gave a virtual keynote speech. Driving the future: Innovation in electric mobility and sustainable vehicle solutions. He shared about MG Motor’s strategy to improve India’s position in electric vehicle (EV) innovation and sustainable vehicle practices.
Accelerating the EV revolution
A long-awaited panel discussion was also held on this day. Driving change: India’s journey towards a sustainable EV ecosystem. moderator Yogesh UmbalkarVice President Mobility, Valtech Mobility GmbH
- Uday NarangChairman of Anglian Omega Group and Omega Seiki Mobility
- Raghu KelakatiCo-founder and CEO of Touche
- Raman UpmanyuIndustry Manager – EV and Biomedical, Marposs India
- Randhir SinghForeSee Advisors CEO
- Yuvraj SardaHead of Strategy, Brand Marketing & Communications, Volvo Construction Equipment
Panelists delved into the challenges and solutions for EV adoption, focusing on policy frameworks, charging infrastructure, and fostering cross-industry collaboration.
Aerospace excellence attracts attention
On November 8th, Leap Forward: Uncovering Growth and Opportunities in India’s Aerospace Industry The session highlighted the country’s progress in aerospace manufacturing. moderator B. ShekharRaghu Udyog Bharati, Secretary General – Karnataka, the panel included;
- Seenivasan BalasubramanianInternational Aerospace Manufacturing Pvt. Chief Executive Officer Ltd. (IAMPL)
- UMA Maheshwar DChief Consulting Engineer, GE Aerospace India
- Hardik J. SomeshwarSenior Manager – Strategy and India Customer and Account Management, Collins Aerospace
- mayanku dalmiaco-founder of Wave Mechanics
- Venkatesh MudragalaCo-Founder and COO of Jeh Aerospace
Discussions centered around research and development, public-private partnerships, and policies that promote growth in the aerospace sector.
Strengthening the supply chain
The afternoon panel exhibition Strengthening the chain: Building a resilient supply network We brought together supply chain leaders to address post-pandemic disruption and digitalization strategies. moderator Sunil BharadwajManaging Partner, ImpactEazer Consulting’s esteemed panelists include:
- Anirban SanyalHead of Supply Chain and National Logistics, Century Ply
- Atul AnandDirector – Business Strategy, XRE Consultants Pvt. Ltd.
- Nihar ParidaDirector – Strategic Development, Uniworld Logistics
- dhritiman chakrabortyDirector of Operations, Ingram Micro
- Raheman SayadRuzain Energy Pvt. SCM Director Ltd.
- Jay Deepak ShahCEO and MD of Jay Wood Industries
Women’s empowerment and sustainability in manufacturing
In the session on November 11th, From the factory floor to the boardroom: Empowering women in manufacturing Prominent female leaders shaping the industry. moderator Gayathri SharmaVice President of Communications, Rolls-Royce APAC, the panel covered:
- Shwetanbari Jagtap BhanushaliSenior Manager, Tata Motors Passenger Cars
- Neelam Pandey PathakRozgar Dhaba and Founder and CEO of Social Bay
- Ameeta NehraVice President, Corporate Strategy, Nico Nanobubble India Co.
- pankti agarwalLaser Technologies Pvt. Executive Director Ltd.
- Pallavi MisraFractional Marketing Consultant
- Nitika SharmaHead of Marketing, Marposs India
Afternoon session Building a greener tomorrow: The role of sustainability in manufacturing I saw experts like amit kapoorCMD, IOTA Group, and Dr. Ravindra Utgikaruan independent director, talks about integrating sustainable practices in manufacturing and the importance of a circular economy.
semiconductor opportunities
Session focused on semiconductors on November 12th Overcoming opportunities and challenges for semiconductor manufacturing in Indiaunderlined the country’s readiness to lead in this important industry. moderator Yogesh UmbalkarValtech Mobility GmbH Vice President Mobility, panel discussion included:
- Santosh KMManaging Director of Semicon Fab Technologies
- Ashok MishraIndependent Technology Advisor
- Hanish AroraKey Account Manager – Marposs India
- Professor Shweta SrivastavaHead of Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, JP Information Technology University
Driving innovation across industries: Insights from Marposs leaders
November 13, 2024 samurai award And the conference featured some very engaging sessions with the following titles: Driving innovation across the industry. The discussion brought together prominent leaders from Marposs to share their expertise in navigating technological advances, fostering innovation, and driving transformation across diverse sectors.
- Luca MatteucciManaging Director, Marposs India
- Raman UpmanyuIndustry Manager – EV and Biomedical, Marposs India
- Hanish AroraKey Account Manager – Head of Marposs India
- Fabian VincentsDirector, Aerospace Business Unit, Marposs
This session offered a master class leadershippanelists will explore advanced strategies and practical applications that demonstrate Marposs’ commitment to excellence. Discussions ranged from pioneering advances in electric vehicles and aerospace to leveraging technology to transform industries.
The grand finale of smart manufacturing
On November 15, the conference concluded with two persuasive arguments. first, Driving the future: The rise of smart manufacturingthe moderator is Dr Ranjit PatilDean, ME, BITS Pilani Goa Campus summed it up as follows:
- Uday NarangOmega Seiki Mobility
- Dr. Sachin SabnisBelgaum Ferrocast
- amit kapoorIOTA Group
- Dr. Ganesh KakandikarAssociate Dean, MIT University of World Peace
In the evening’s closing session, Empowering the workforce: adapting to the new manufacturing environmentthe moderator is Preetesh Singhfeatured
- Mr. Luca MatteucciManaging Director, Marposs India
- Mr. Rakesh AgarwalLaser Technologies Pvt. Managing Director Ltd.
- Mr. Hardik SomeshwarCollins Aerospace
- Dr. Nikhil AgarwalManaging Director, FITT-IIT Delhi
unforgettable milestone
The 5th Samurai Awards and Conference 2024 highlighted resilience and innovation in Indian manufacturing. A comprehensive blend of knowledge sharing, networking and a celebration of excellence, the event left an unforgettable impact on participants and audiences around the world. This has strengthened India’s resolve to transform into a sustainable, inclusive and globally competitive manufacturing powerhouse.
As the curtain fell, it was clear that the Samurai Awards and Conference had not only envisioned the future of Indian manufacturing, but promoted it.
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