CII Institute of Logistics organised the 2^nd Edition conference on “Solution de Technology Automation and Robotics” with the theme of “The North STAR of Logistics” on 30^th August 2024 in Mumbai.

The conference captured key themes related to the evolution of Supply Chain and Logistics functions in India, including government policy support, modern industry practices and technological interventions, The conference drew significant participation with 240 influential figures and thought leaders from all over India.

(L-R) Mr Farhaan Mukadam, Senior Director, Alvarez & Marsal, Dr. Rahul Marathe R, Professor, Department of management studies, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Mr. Vinit Majgaonkar, Chairman – STAR Committee and Chairman, Armstrong Dematic, Dr. Raut Pandurang K, Deputy Director General of Shipping, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India, Mr. Nitin Vyas, Member -CII Institute of Logistics Advisory Council & Chief Executive Officer – Cluster ASIA,BEUMER Group, Dr Bhanumathi, Chief Operating Officer, CII Institute of Logistics.

During inaugural session, Dr Raut Pandurang K, Deputy Director General of Shipping, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India, delivered the inaugural address, focusing on the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, emphasizing the pivotal role of technology, automation, and robotics in enhancing port operations and efficiency. He stressed the need for adopting world-class technology and equipment with a focus on sustainability. Dr. Raut outlined key initiatives to boost port productivity, including automating warehouse inventories to improve accuracy and efficiency. He also highlighted the Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) for streamlining logistics and the Sagar-Setu National Logistics Portal (Marine) for optimizing port systems.

The session also highlighted that India is expected to become the world’s third-largest economy by FY28, shifting from service exports to focusing more on manufacturing and merchandise exports. The Indian government aims to increase the manufacturing sector's GDP contribution from 16% to over 20% within the next 2-3 years through initiatives like Make in India and Production-Linked Incentive schemes. To compete with global export hubs, India needs to improve efficiency and quality in manufacturing and logistics, as logistics currently account for 10-20% of production costs. With changing domestic consumption patterns, a strong logistics system is crucial for managing diverse SKUs, fast deliveries, and better tracking. Additionally, the state of technology in cold chain logistics was discussed.

Knowledge report on “Logistics Automation: A strategic imperative Managing Director to India’s growth” released during the inaugural.

(L-R) Mr. Ram Bhadouria, General Manager of Engineering and Projects, South Asia, Unilever, Mr. Rohit Mantri, Head ImpACT of Unified S&OP & Connected Planning, Tata Motors, Mr. Harish Lade, Vice President Supply Chain, Asian Paints, Mr. Asim Behera, President, Daifuku Intralogistics India Pvt. Ltd, Mr. Arpit Raj, Head of Logistics and Customer Service, Godrej Consumer Products Limited, Mr Farhaan Mukadam, Senior Director, Alvarez & Marsal.

“Session1: Automation triumphs from the horse’smouth” focused on the rising urgency of automation in today's fast-paced world, highlighting how technological advancements have lowered the barriers to entry while also introducing complexities in implementation. Industry experts shared compelling success stories of supply chain transformation. The session explored how they conceptualized their automation strategies, planned budgets, and calculated ROI, offering practical insights into the financial aspects of the automation journey. It emphasized the importance of organizational readiness and strategic alignment as key prerequisites for enterprise-level technology adoption. Tangible benefits achieved through automation, such as improved efficiency, resource management, and operational flexibility, were also highlighted. Additionally, challenges and failures encountered during the automation process were discussed, with valuable lessons learned and advice on navigating common pitfalls. This comprehensive discussion provided actionable insights for businesses looking to harness technology and drive innovation in their supply chain operations.

Mr. Satish Shukla, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer, Addverb Technologies, Mr. Janakiram Annam, Founder, Hachidori Robotics Private Limited, Mr. Ponraj Periswami, Head of Supply Chain Management, Wahl Clipper Corporation, Mr. Vinod Kumar, Head of Supply Chain, CEAT Limited, Mr. Punit Modi, Director Global Supply Chain Analytics (Benchmarking), Mondelez International, Mr. Shakti Choube, Senior Vice President & Business Head of Intralogistics Automation, Craftsman Automation Ltd

Session2 “Fixed Flexible or Fusion Discovering the ultimate truth” focused on the future of automation, examining whether businesses should invest in fixed automation, adopt flexible solutions, or combine both through a multi-agent orchestration platform. It emphasized how integrating fixed and flexible automation with advanced orchestration can boost efficiency and agility. The session also explored the potential of Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) and its synergy with flexible automation, demonstrating how these technologies can transform operations and drive future success. Through real-world examples, the discussion highlighted the benefits and limitations of both fixed and flexible automation systems, showcasing their impact on industries. The session also included insights from experienced users and suppliers, exploring future automation trends and how the fusion of these technologies can foster innovation and operational excellence in supply chains.

(L-R) Mr. Mahidhar, Senior Managing Consultant, Supply Chain Leader, IBM Consulting, Mr. Venktesh Kumar, Co-Founder and Managing Director, StackBOX, Mr. Harshad Bhat, Head of Logistics, Wurth India, Mr. Krishna Kumar Singh, Director Supply Chain Management, South Asia, Hafele India Private Limited, Mr. Sreenivas Rao Nandigam, Global Head of Supply Chain, Sun Pharma, Mr. Satish Karunakaran, Director of Transformation, Pepe Jeans India Limited, Mr. Ajit Jangle, Managing Director , FM Logistic India.

Session3 “Mastering the tech stack the backbone of digital supply chain” focused on the pivotal role of the technology stack in cyber-physical systems, highlighting it as essential for successful transformation. It explored how automation and robotics are reshaping supply chains and the need to integrate advanced systems and emerging technologies such as IoT, GenAI, control tower planning, and risk management. The discussion highlighted the essential components of the tech stack that drive efficiency and enhance workflows, while also addressing the challenges of implementation. Key future trends in supply chain technology were examined to help navigate these complexities, with a focus on how a well-integrated tech stack can be the linchpin of a digital strategy, ensuring a successful investment and long-term success.

CII Institute of Logistics organised the 18th Edition conference on “Building Warehousing Competitiveness” with the theme of “Unlocking growth through intelligent warehousing” on 21st June 2024 in Mumbai.

The Conference addressed three key aspects of modern warehousing namely Enhancing customer experience through modern warehousing, transforming operations through smart warehousing and building a robust warehousing ecosystem to drive growth.The conferencedrew significant participation with 250 influential figures and thought leaders from all over India.

(L-R) Mr. Manish Saigal, Managing Director, Alvarez & Marsal, Mr. Vinit Majgaonkar, Chairman – STAR Committee & Chairman, Armstrong Dematic, Mr. Pramod Kumar Agrawal, Principal Chief Commissioner of Customs, Mumbai Customs Zone-I, Mr. Shyam Jagannathan, Director General of Shipping Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India, Mr. Pavithran M Kallada, Managing Director Indian Subcontinent, BDP UGL Global Logistics India Pvt.Ltd. Dr Bhanumathi, Chief Operating Officer, CII Institute of Logistics.

“Session1Enhancing Customer Experience Through Modern Warehousing” focused on the evolution of warehousing in India from traditional 'godowns' to organized, technologically advanced logistics parks with multiple warehouses and value-added services. It was emphasized that modern facilities ensure efficient space utilization, smooth vehicular movement, and ESG compliance. This transformation is driven by changing customer needs, the establishment of a robust logistics ecosystem, and efficient supply-chain models like the 'hub-and-spoke' system. The session highlighted how increased capital investment and government schemes like the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) are boosting production and demand for larger warehouses. Initiatives such as the National Logistics Policy, PM GatiShakti, Sagarmala, Bharatmala, and Multi-Modal Logistics Parks (MMLPs) are contributing to an efficient logistics infrastructure. The session also highlighted the growing importance of sustainable warehousing in line with India's decarbonization goals, resulting in a growing need for large logistics parks that offer cost leadership, better infrastructure, value-added services, reduced risks, scalable operations, enhanced go-to-market strategies, innovative business models, free trade warehousing zones, and ESG-compliant facilities.

(L-R) Mr. Sagar Raghorte, Deputy General Manager Strategy & Supply Chain Management, The Belgian Waffle Co, Mr. Piyush Jain, Vice President – Soutions, Addverb, Mr. Dhirendra Das, Head of Supply Chain, UltraTech Cement, Mr. Ranjan Sharma, Chief Information Officer and Head of Supply Chain, Bestseller India, Mr. Vijay Shetty, Senior Vice President - Global Distribution and Supply Chain, Alkem Laboratories Ltd., Mr. Sreerangarajan Srinivasan, Head of Logistics and Customer service, NIVEA INDIA, Mr. Ajit Jangle, Managing Director, FM Logistic India.

“Session2 Transforming operations through smart warehousing” delved into the transformation of warehouse operations through smart practices, discussing the trend towards larger and more complex facilities. It emphasized three key drivers for enhancing efficiency. Global examples on implementations of fully automated, multi-modal logistics parks, which provide significant returns on automation investments in larger warehouses. The session stressed the crucial role of “Planning and Control” in boosting productivity through strategic planning and ERP system integration. “Mechanization and Machine Automation” were highlighted for their ability to enhance human capabilities using tools like cranes, forklifts, and automated systems. “Digital Enablement” was discussed with technologies like RFID and IoT for real-time data capture and analysis to optimize operations. Overall, the session emphasized the need for adopting smart warehousing practices to meet evolving industry demands and achieve operational excellence across supply chains.

(L-R) Mr. Sai Sridhar, Principal Counsellor, CII Institute of Logistics, Mr. Farhaan Mukadam, Senior Director, Alvarez & Marsal, Mr. Mandar Kulkarni, Head of Warehouse and Logistics, Sun Pharma, Mr. Nitin Joshi, Head Warehousing & Logistics, FABINDIA LIMITED, Mr. Dhritiman Chakraborty, Director Operations, Ingram Micro, Mr. Girija Shanker, Chief Product Officer – Logistics and Service, India/South Asia A.P. Moller – Maersk

“Session3 Building a robust warehousing ecosystem to drive growth” focused on the changing landscape of warehousing in India amid economic growth. The discussions highlighted a shift towards decentralized warehousing, emphasizing the growing importance of regional centers in distribution logistics. The session underscored the necessity for a strong warehousing ecosystem, driven by increased investor interest and governmental initiatives to improve business conditions. The emergence of large-scale, multimodal logistics parks with advanced warehouses was identified as crucial for India's future warehousing trends over the next 5-10 years. Key challenges addressed included land acquisition, regulatory approvals, logistical connectivity, construction timelines, strategic location selection, supplier management, and workforce preparedness. The panel also explored how multimodal logistics parks streamline goods movement, impact regional warehousing and transportation sectors, and anticipated future developments in the warehousing industry.