New Delhi: The government on Wednesday launched
'Lean Manufacturing Scheme' for the micro, small and medium
units to enhance the manufacturing competitiveness of the
sector, battling the global demand recession.
The objective of this scheme is to enhance the
manufacturing competitiveness of the micro, small and medium
enterprises (MSMEs) by applying lean techniques to identify
and eliminate waste in the manufacturing process.
"The scheme would be implemented initially in 100
clusters (in the industries having potential for improvement
in competitiveness and productivity) on pilot basis in one
year," Minister of State, Independent Charge, MSME, Dinshaw
Patel said.
He said, initially, under this scheme the government has
made a provision of Rs 31 crore.
The clusters, each a group of about 10 units, would be
selected from different parts of the country and would undergo
lean interventions for about a year, MSME secretary Dinesh
Rai said.
During the end of the first year, an impact assessment
study would be carried out for these 100 clusters and the
outcome of the report will form the basis for upscaling this
programme to cover another 300-500 clusters in the subsequent
year, Rai said.
Consultants would be deployed to identify cluster-
specific needs who will suggest specific lean techniques for
intervention in the selected mini-clusters.
As engaging consultants is quite expensive for MSME
units, the government will contribute up to 80 percent of
this fee while the remaining charge will have to be borne by
the beneficiary units as part of the scheme, Rai said.
The purpose of the lean techniques would be to assist
MSME units in reducing their manufacturing costs through
proper personnel management, better space utilisation,
scientific inventory management, improved process flows and
reduced engineering time.
Lean Manufacturing Programme will also lower costs and
improve the quality of products, which will enable these
products to compete in national and international markets, Rai
added.
There are about 13 million MSME units in the country
which employ over 42 million people. The sector contributes
over 45 percent to the country's industrial production and 40
percent to the total exports.
Bureau Report
First Published: Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 13:13