NITIE’s Lakshya – An ocean of knowledge
Lakshya, India’s only on-the-job-achiever’s contest is organized by the students of Post Graduate Diploma in Industrial Engineering (PGDIE) of NITIE, Vihar Lake, Mumbai.
The three days annual event is unique in the concept of facilitating industry-institute interaction by holding competition of the projects implemented by various companies across four modules: Supply Chain Management module, Operations module, Systems & IT and General & HR module. The event also honors Indian Business leaders for their glorious vision and exemplary success with Lakshya Business Visionary Award 2005.
Mr. Subir Raha, CMD ONGC Ltd while accepting the award emphasized that to “Conquer the markets at home to conquer the world market”. Addressing to the people Mr. Subir Raha mentioned few features of PGDIE syllabus. He said that in his time there wasn’t any dedicated course on IE and companies used to provide in house training to the staff on IE principles. He advised on addition of a subject on mind management which will be an extension of change management program in PGDIE curriculum based on the facts that it is taught to change them and make them more adaptive and beneficial to the institution.
He also stressed upon including more case studies on change management which will help the students to deal with the most difficult resource, the People. Concluding his speech he invited students from NITIE to pursue the careers in PSUs like ONGC and he assured that cost to company is better in public sector and there is tremendous creative opportunity and independence.
Mr. Ratan Tata, Chairman, Tata Group, due to prior appointments was not present at the function but his sincere gratitude was conveyed by his representative.
Mr. K V Kamath, MD & CEO, ICICI Bank, on the occasion of being awarded the at NITIE spoke at length about the vision held by ICICI bank. He believed that “Rural Market Holds Key to Consumer Revolution”.
He complemented the PGDIE students for their curriculum that is very relevant in today’s scenario and commented that many of the concepts were implemented at the ICICI Bank. He further gave example of ICICI Bank’s proactive approach in Indian Banking namely consumer credit that has grown from 20 Crore market to 200 Crore, NRI Banking requirements and latest the rural banking. He stressed on the importance of wealth creation in rural India for creating a consumer revolution. He further, elaborated on the importance of Supply Chain Management in linking the rural with urban India by removing intermediaries and wastes.
The inaugural ceremony started with welcome speech by Dr. S.D.Awale, Director, NITIE. He complemented the PGDIE students for organizing the event. He expressed his privilege to welcome award the industry icons and believed that the institute had visions set on exemplary standards of professionals.
Chief Guest Dr. Anil Kakodkar, Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission and Secretary, DAE spoke at length about youth and importance of ‘Lakshya’ in bringing radical change in world. ‘Lakshya’ brings in coherence in people’s minds and actions leading to positive outcomes. He said that balance between theory and practice is must in today’s dynamic scenario. He ended by asserting importance of institutes in changing tomorrow.
The Chairman, Board of Govenors Dr.W.R. Sherekar’s spoke on youth power in changing the world. He again stressed on importance of ‘focus’ or ‘Lakshya’ in the youth for achievement.
The different modules in which the projects were presented are Supply Chain Management module where 5 selected companies Nestle, I2, BPCL, Nicholas Piramal and Goodlass Nerolac presented their implemented projects. BPCL won the best project in this category and also the overall Lakshya Best Project Trophy across all modules. Their project Cost Effective Shipping of Crude Oil was widely applauded and appreciated by all. It was followed by Operations module where Ashok Leyland Ltd, Larsen & Toubro Ltd, Madura Garments, Marico Ltd and Goodlass Nerolac Paints Ltd presented their projects. Marico Industries wins best project in Operations Management Module with the title Reduction of Residual oil in 2nd Stage Cake.
The companies that participated in the Systems and IT Module are GE software solutions, i2 Technologies, ICICI Lombard, SSA Global Ltd & Wipro Technologies.
The best project was in this category was won by GE Softwares with the project title Shrink to grow through RCCA.
The General & HR Module was highly competitive and Hewlett Packard, Johnson & Johnson Medical, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, Patni Computer Systems Ltd & Wockhardt Limited participated and Mahindra and Mahindra won with the project TQM based HR training.
“We want to see every Indian fly” was the mantra given by Capt. G.R. Gopinath, Managing Director, Air Deccan on the occasion of his felicitation as the Best Start up Entrepreneur of the year at NITIE on 16th October 2005.
Capt. Gopinath, well versed with PGDIE course, complimented the same and stressed on the importance of harnessing energy and resources of villages, which are India’s greatest assets. He quoted German poet Goethe’s lines ‘If you Dare to dream, begin it’. For success a combination of vision and venture is required. In the Indian Industry it is required to have an inclusive and a developed economy in the widest sense. With the help of 2 billion Indian hands of production it will be possible to have rural villages connected to metros.
“If it is on the map we will get you there” says Capt. Gopinath.
He said that an entrepreneur can create wealth and destabilize status quo and can achieve things without capital.
The event also recognized and felicitated of Mr. Kishore Biyani, MD, Pantaloon Retail (India) Ltd for being the start up entrepreneur of the year 2005. In his acceptance speech Mr. Kishore Biyani said that India has got tremendous potential in terms of consumer market and that Pantaloon is coming in a big way in industry. He said he was honoured to receive the award from the students as this was the first time someone recognized him as an entrepreneur. He also inspired the students by saying that road to success can only be realized by hard work and knowledge.
The B-Plan contest was the most awaited event where the participating teams, assigned with mentors presented their innovative B Plans in presence of esteemed Jury Members. The competition was the maximum as there was a joint 1st prize to IIT Kharakpur teams with their B Plans, Picklezz & iViz Solutions
This was followed by entrepreneurship workshop by Dr. Madhu Mehta, Chief Architect Nirma labs who comprehensively analyzed the various steps to make a techno entrepreneur. The tips imparted were how to begin and conceptualize the technology and relate it to entrepreneurship.
The Business simulation Game Spardha was really a battle of nerves as it demanded the best in the world of marketing, finance and supply chain management. The first prize was won by Nirma Institute of Technology.
Lakshya ended on a celebrating mood of the success of the event with a vote of thanks from the Convener Lakshya Prof. Ashok Pundir and the Student Coordinator. It also marked a new lakshya to scale Lakshya 2006 to the horizon of success.