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During these trying times when the industry is heavily affected with economical issues came up the pandemic called Covid 19 and disrupted the industry completely. We at Industrial Automation Magazine have taken an initiative to bring the industry together and share their viewpoints so that others reading can take measures accordingly to have minimal damage.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in interviews are personal, not necessarily of the organisations represented.
Rajesh Rathi is a Technocrat Entrepreneur. After working in the USA and Japan for
multinational companies in the early years, Rajesh turned to self-employment in 1990. He
has been working in the domains of Industrial and Power Automation.
Rajesh leads CI Group of Companies that have operations in these domains in India and the
USA. Between these two delivery centres the group addresses global markets. While CI group
company Control Infotech is a System Integrator, Control Products is an Automation
components supplier.
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In the ‘Near’ term as most countries are still on the ascending path towards their individual
peak of the crisis it’s a huge disaster. Attention is no longer towards the business but saving
lives. During this period companies will have to shed their narrow profit goals and work
towards the welfare of their employees and people in their own eco systems.
In the ‘Medium’ term, after the peak blows over from most of the economies populations will
pick up the pieces from the rubble to return to normalcy. This phase will see survival of the
fittest. Only businesses that were cash rich before the crisis began will survive. There will be
lot of M&A activity as the less resourceful businesses and individuals merge their leftover
assets with the stronger ones.
In the ‘Long’ term world will learn to work with less movement, less infrastructure, less
people and less money distribution avenues. There will be widespread unemployment which
was already on the way before the crisis began. Surviving businesses with less competition
around will emerge stronger (famous saying, if a crisis does not kill you, you emerge
stronger). Unless some pragmatic social laws are swiftly brought in, it can lead to severe civil
unrest.
An efficient Business continuity plan from top down needs to be drawn up. At the very least
the TOP starts with the central governments of the countries. On a macro scale through this
has to start with the Global bodies like the UN and regional ones like SAARC.
Efficient Communication channels need to be established, quick dissemination of official
authentic information and keeping FAKE news out.
There has to be group set up globally who is tracking where the next disaster is likely from.
Governments need to pay serious attention to this group unlike the present crisis.
Yes.
Increased use will see the economy of scale in production and a competition by the inventors
to bring less expensive products to the market. In the interim government can provide
viability gap funding to such manufacturers.
Yes. This has been possible for a long time but only a crisis like this could force this upon
every one and get used to the idea of virtual work places. Having developed the mindset and
tools and seeing the cost reduction in the process will motivate businesses to continue the
practice to a large extent after the crisis blows over.
Automation use was already on the way up and this will further accelerate it. Light out
manufacturing may not happen but we will need different goods than we need today.
For example, we may not need as many vehicles to commute to work or to customer places.
Customers will accept virtual visits by the suppliers to their plants. We will then need
automobiles only for transporting goods and for recreational use. This means reduction in the
automotive demand. On the other hand Audio visual, conferencing, home automation and
recreational products will be in greater demand.
Manufacturing will need less people but those employed will have to be highly skilled.
Hence, those who reskill themselves will remain employed. Others will have to depend on the
government initiated social schemes.
In this context, if RESKILLING was not already a dire need, it assumes even a greater
significance now. ISA has been striving for this and will continue to do this.
The COVID threat has demonstrated that this planet needs to unite against common threats.
All petty squabbles between the countries based on religion, ethnicity, race for territories,
authority and power over the others are futile in the face of threat from a simple microbe.
They must cease immediately. All historical criteria that divide us need to be forgotten and a
fresh start made.
Development of weapons against destruction of others can now only come back to hurt. A
war like this cannot be won with fire power or nuclear weapons. We need to invest much
more on scientific research to prevent such outbreaks rather than the mass destructive ones.
If your neighbour’s house is on fire, your own safety is not assured.
#April 2020 Covid Special
To say the world is passing through trying times is to state the obvious. Also evident is the fact that for too long the world has been ignoring the warning signs of environmental degradation fuelled by human excesses and greed. But this is no time for ifs and buts, nor recrimination. Instead, the crisis should be used as an opportunity to make the required course correction to make the world a safer place for all living beings, and the ecological balance, restored.
Industrial Automation invited a cross section of industry leaders to offer their views and possible course of action as a way forward from this situation, even as governments across the world and the people are trying to make sense from the still evolving scenario.
To read the full cover story Please click here
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