MSMEs are facing immense challenges in deploying industry 4.0 solutions mostly due to leaderships and fiscal obstructions
Of late, India based robotics and automation firm’s CEO Mahesh Wagle has told media that there has been a tremendous alteration in the deployment and production of robotics in several stages of manufacturing processes, both abroad and in India. Several companies in the world have suffered a loss due to the pandemic, and hence their center of-attention is now practicality. According to the experts, automation in the country is soaring high even though there are various impediments in getting a skilled workforce to manage or supervise automation or to offer industry 4.0 solutions in small and medium sized industries.
Wagle said, “There were less than 100 robots made annually for industries in India about 15 years ago, and now, 5,000 to 6,000 robots are built every year. We are still around 5-6 years behind China in automation, but more are aspiring to automate and become part of the global supply chain.”
One of the key areas of investment is R&D for the Industry 4.0 solutions and to meet the same educational institutions, government, and industries are busy in crafting labs. One such instance is Centre for Industry 4. 0 (C4i4) in Pune that goes for capacity-building and engagement sessions on a daily basis with several firms, both large and small. It partners with several industrial sectors to assist them in adopting and deploying top-notch manufacturing technologies. With various startups, these intelligent agencies in India are also working on sensing technology with regular sessions.
Capegemini and Nasscom recently published a report on the Indian industry 4.0, which stated that the manufacturing sectors in the country invested between $5. 5-6. 5 billion on Industry 4. 0 solutions in the 2020-21 FY and most of the spending was carried out by pharmaceuticals, chemicals, automobiles, electronics and electricals. Most importantly, the report highlighted how MSMEs that account for third of manufacturing and half of exports are facing immense challenges in deploying industry 4.0 solutions mostly due to leaderships and fiscal obstructions.
Guruprasad Bangle, chief technology officer at SolutionBuggy told media, "The automotive and pharma industries are investing heavily in automation. The capital expenditure is high while labour is cheap, and there is always some initial inertia, but automation is almost mandatory now in order to be competitive in the global market.”
