a research on mumbai dabbawala

1. A case study on

2. What is a Dabbawala……
A dabbawala is a person ,whose work is to serve fresh
food from home to office.
For the efficiency of their supply chain, it has been claimed
that this virtually achieves a Six Sigma performance rating
(i.e. 99.9999%) of deliveries are made without error).
The dabbawala began functions during British rule and it is
still prevalent.

3. Started in the year 1880.
Registered in year 1959.
Average qualification = 8th grade schooling.
Total area coverage=60 kms.
Employee strength = 5000 (approximately)
Time taken = 3 hrs.
*

4. • No alcohol drinking in business hours .
• Wearing white cap during business hours.
• Always keep i-card .
*

5. *

6. Achievements and Recognition
*Featured in “Ripley’s believe it or not”.
*Documentaries made by BBC,UTV,MTV and ZEE TV.
*Name in “GUINESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORD” for “BEST TIME
MANEGMENT”.

7. LOGISTIC
Logistic is happening 24 hrs a day , 7 days per week,
and 53 weeks per year.
Follows a fluent and divided network chain.
Effective and updated information system.
Cost effective and on-time transportation.

8. Coding :

9. 10.30 am – 11.20 am – journey time.
11.20 am – 12.30 pm – unloading takes place at the destination. Here
rearrangement takes place as per destination area and buildings.
1.15 pm – 2.00 pm – dabbawalas start collecting all the dabbas from where they
delivered .
2.00 pm – 2.30 pm - Group members meet for the segregation as per the destination
superb .
2.50 pm – 3.30 pm – return by train.
3.30 pm – 4.00 pm – sorting and dispatching of dabbas takes place as per the
origin areas.

10. *

11. Management by Dabbawalas
*By keeping cost as less as possible:
Dabbawalas use cycles , hand cart, local train .
No big office to maintain.
Avg. monthly service at Rs.250.
*Keep capital investment bare minimum.
low cost offices.
Use public space for sorting.
Means of transportation is very cheap.

12. *Customer is not Raja- but Maharaja.
Dabbawalas always deliver foods even during heavy rain.
On time without wearing a watch.
Don’t try to impress/bother the customer with unsolicited offers.
Not completely dependent on technology.
For 116 years ,dabbawals , not even use any technical things, yet got six sigma and
is.
Today only mobile phones are used to communicate , only incoming .
Logistic is still manual.

13. *Co-operation inside, competition outside.
There are 2-3 dabbawala group in each segment.
Collection in dabbawals is groupwise ,but transportation is shared with other group.
Compition is only upto collection.
Profit is shared equally each group after deducting expenses .
World’s most democratic organisation.
*Commitment matters , qualification doesn’t.
Almost 80% dabbawals are illitarate.
15% are class 8 failed.
Still they offer world class services to customer as they are committed to do so.
If commitment is there ,qualification can built.

14. *Know the implication of failure.
If customer don’t get delivery on time then work will suffer.
Problem may arises with BOSS and WIFE.
If a vegiterian gets non-veg food, it’s a major mistake.
Knowing the implication of failure makes you more responsible.
*Build your service around existing infrastructure.
Dabbawalas use fast, reliable , cheap existing local train for transportation .
Many companies use their own infrastructure , which tough to maintain.
3- sigma ,out of six sigma most be given to local train.
Built infrastructure increase cost to server.

15. *
Less dependent on technology.
Have not evolved their business .
Functional area is limited, only operates in Mumbai.