QUARTERLY MAGAZINE July 2020 Vol 03
QUARTERLY MAGAZINE July 2020 Vol 03
cover story
CEAT's new plant in Tamil Nadu, spread across 163 acres
CEAT, one of India's leading tyre manufacturers with a global footprint spanning over 120 countries has opened its sixth manufacturing plant in India, a greenfield state-of-the-art facility in Chennai.
With an annual production of over 50 million tyres, CEAT offers a wide range of tyres catering to all the segments and manufactures world-class radials for heavy-duty trucks and buses, light commercial vehicles, earthmovers, forklifts, tractors, trailers, cars, motorcycles, scooters and auto-rickshaws.
February 12, 2020 marked a momentous day for CEAT with the launch of its sixth industrial unit in India. The plant, built by KEC International was inaugurated by Shri Edappadi K. Palaniswami, the Honourable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu; Shri M.C. Sampath, the Honourable Minister of Industries for Tamil Nadu and Anant Goenka, Managing Director of CEAT. The plant is the latest addition to a list of leading tyre makers that have set up shop in Tamil Nadu, including Apollo, JK, Michelin, MRF and TVS Srichakra. The coveted launch garnered extensive media coverage from both national and regional newspapers and television channels.
With the establishment of the new plant in Tamil Nadu, the mecca of tyre manufacturing in India, CEAT has added yet another feather to its cap. The plant was successfully commissioned within 18 months of signing the MoU.
We are delighted that CEAT and the RPG Group have decided to launch their manufacturing plant in Tamil Nadu. CEAT's factory will be a jewel in the crown of Tamil Nadu. Certainly, this will bring many new job opportunities."
Shri Edappadi K. Palaniswami, CM - Tamil Nadu
The Deming Prize winning company has adopted Total Quality Management (TQM), which has resulted in the launch of a wide-range of profitable, quality products, year-on-year, bearing testament to CEAT's philosophy of producing the finest quality tyres.
At the launch of the plant, MD, Anant Goenka announced that the new plant would produce 5 lakh passenger car radial tyres per month in Phase 1 and further ramp up production to a cumulative 8 lakh tyres per month in Phase 2, with a total investment of ₹ 4000 crore over the next few years. To begin with, the tyre-maker is expected to roll out 10,000 tyres of passenger vehicles (PV) segment and passenger car radial tyres with an initial capacity of 250 tonnes per day. The company also plans to utilise this facility to export and manufacture motorcycle radial tyres as well. While the capacity of PV tyres is expected to be 28,500 units a day, that of motorcycles would be 2,500 units a day.
Anant Goenka and Shri Edappadi K. Palaniswami sign the MoU
Modern equipment to manufacture world-class products
Modern equipment to manufacture world-class products
Digital adoption and automation are two cornerstones that are essential in today's environment to ensure a leadership position in the industry. CEAT has made huge investments towards scaling-up the plant’s technical capabilities to develop and manufacture cutting-edge products. Remarkable features of the unit include advanced production facilities, automation, cutting-edge digital capabilities and state-of-the-art imported machinery. All of these is expected to enhance the company's capabilities to produce future-ready tyres.
Tamil Nadu offers the unique benefit of having many automobile manufacturers, proximity to a port and a favourable labour environment."
ANANT GOENKA, MD - CEAT
CEAT has always functioned on the principle of 'pollution-prevention' instead of control. Pledging their allegiance to the environment, the plant follows a proactive, systematic approach to identify hazards and risks. The new plant will adhere to the green building standards by being a zero-discharge plant.
Working towards bridging the gender gap in manufacturing
The factory aims to offer jobs to over 1,000 people in the next few years, 40% of whom will be women.
While women remain largely underrepresented in India's large and diverse manufacturing sector, CEAT is working towards bridging this gender gap. The factory aims to offer jobs to over 1,000 people in the next few years, 40% of whom will be women. Currently, nearly 23% of the employees at the new plant are women. Additionally, CEAT is targeting to achieve 'zero accidents' at all its plants and manufacturing sites. The company has adopted British Safety Council's (BSC's) Five Star Occupational Health & Safety Management System as a benchmark to ensure safety of all employees and stakeholders on-site. All its plants are also OHSAS 18001 (Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series) standard certified.
A 'Great Place To Work' certified company, CEAT continues to strive towards enabling strong people practices and providing a diverse and open culture for its employees.
