Tushar Bhotica of Shri Arun Packaging and a leading member of the Bombay Master Printers Association has been working on setting up a special interest networking group amongst its carton producing members for the past six months. There is a need for enhanced self-belief and branding by the carton producers – the need to see themselves as packaging solution providers and not merely as converters who work on a cost plus basis for the brand owners. On 13 June 2015 the BMPA launched its Carton Forum at a well attended event that included some of the veteran leaders of the industry including Pranav Parikh and Ramesh Kejriwal. Tushar Bhotica outlined some of the practical objectives of the new group and ended by quoting Henry Ford, “Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress and working together is success.”
Ashok Goel of Essel Propack articulately recounted the growth of his India-based US$ 6.6 billion global company. Highlighting lessons that may be useful to the carton industry, Goel spoke about continuous innovation at Essel Propack – how the company has come from its first 330 micron laminate to 180 microns today. “Documented and replicable improvements can raise jugaad to the level of innovation,” said Goel. More recently by formalizing its innovations, the company has achieved 100 patents in just two orthree years.
“We also believed we were converters,” Goel said. “However, our demanding but price-sensitive customers, a challenging distribution system and a volatile political and economic environment strengthened us for our global foray.” He urged the gathered converters to have an industry-wide strategic vision, “Perhaps this strategic vision could be that as an industry not to call ourselves converters. You also need to set a vision for your company – an external one that you can share with your customers and another that is internal for your own people.”
While reflecting on some of the milestones of his company, Goel advised the carton producers to challenge the status quo, to challenge both machinery and material suppliers and even to challenge customers. He urged the development of strategic partnerships and most interestingly to foster a company culture of equality and fairness, to encourage decision making even at the cost of making mistakes. While speaking of the many breakthroughs that the company has made, Goel admitted that in several instances or aspects the management of Essel Propack had made mistakes or failed. This is a by product of innovation and growth he implied, “We need to encourage mistakes and celebrate our failures.”
With some of the other informative presentations and support from suppliers, the BMPA Packaging Forum has got off to an interesting and impressive start. An active association
has launched a purposeful platform for the sharing of mutual experience and concerted action. – Naresh Khanna, editor@ippgroup.in
