The Quality Council of India (QCI) and the National Accreditation Board for Education and Training (...

1. Lean manufacturing programme on anvil to improve
competitiveness
The Quality Council of India (QCI) and the National Accreditation Board for Education and Training
(NABET) have been appointed as the National Monitoring and Implementing Units (NMIU) for the
government's ambitious project of improving the competitiveness of micro, small and medium
enterprises (MSMEs) through a programme called 'Lean Manufacturing Competitiveness Scheme'
(LMCS).
The scheme will be implemented in 500 mini clusters across the country during the 12th Plan
period, according to a news bulletin issued by Knowledge & News Network or KNN, a media
platform for MSMEs.
Under the scheme, MSMEs will be assisted in reducing their manufacturing costs through proper
personnel management, better space utilisation, scientific inventory management, improved process
flows and reduced engineering time through the application of LM techniques. The scheme is
basically aimed at reducing "waste" in manufacturing.
The government's basic rationale for undertaking lean manufacturing is to enhance MSMEs'
productivity and competitiveness through the application of techniques like reduction of wastage in
manufacturing processes, inventory management, space management and energy consumption.
The MSME ministry has launched LMCS because, with competition in the manufacturing sector
becoming more intense, enterprises need to adopt efficient practices. While big companies usually
have the resources for funding innovation and improving efficiency, SMEs have little time or
resources for this activity.
The ministry of micro, small and medium enterprises development commissioner (MSME-DC) has
conceived a three-tier structure, including a screening and steering committee (SSC), NMUI,
implementing agency and mini cluster/DPG/sub-group/special purpose vehicle to implement the
scheme.
At the highest level, SSC will guide, review, monitor and provide overall direction for
implementation of the scheme and will be headed by the MSME-DC. NMIU will be responsible for
facilitating, implementation and monitoring of the scheme.
NMIU will be required to deal with a number of mini clusters and their technical issues, take
decisions on matters of productivity, preparation of reports, recommendations of clusters for
approvals and progress.
http://www.ou.edu/price/marketing_supplychainmanagement/marketing_supplychain.html
Apart from other responsibilities as NMUI in the scheme, QCI will also be responsible for
empanelment of lean manufacturing consultants for the scheme and it is seeking partnership from
eligible individual consultants and consulting organisations.

2. The MSME ministry has launched LMCS because, with competition in the manufacturing sector
becoming more intense, enterprises need to adopt efficient practices. While big companies usually
have the resources for funding innovation and improving efficiency, SMEs have little time or
resources for this activity.
LM techniques also lead to reduced rejection rates, standardisation of processes and better layout of
machines. Implementation of LM techniques has spin-off benefits in terms of training of labour,
creation of knowledge, increased labour productivity, lower input costs to other industries,
introduction of new production equipment and methods of manufacturing, and the development of a
superior work culture.