Page 35 - ITLN January - February 2025

has improved a lot. At this point in time,
we can see the real-time position of
our inventory starting from our origin
plants," he explained.
Furthermore, Vijayvargiya discussed
Schaeffler India’s adoption of artificial
intelligence (AI)-based tools, stating,
"These tools are helping us to improve
our demand forecasting. We are already
in an advanced stage of implementing
a tool that can improve demand
forecasting up to 80 percent from 50 to
60 percent."
In addition to technological
advancements, Om emphasised the
need for agility in production lines
to better manage inventory levels.
"Quick changeovers of the production
lines are helping us to manage our
inventory," he said.
Meanwhile, Atit Mahajan, Managing
Director of CMA CGM India, highlighted
the importance of collaboration and
(BIS) restrictions. So, we have to the criticality of maintaining optimum demand planning as key factors
take care of all of this while there is inventory levels. "Otherwise, we will in ensuring effective supply chain
a dependence on raw material from have issues in terms of the costs," management in the automotive
China," he said. he stated. industry. "The most important thing for
To counter these challenges, On the same line and while us is having a very clear understanding
Suranglikar emphasised the acknowledging the audience poll of what will be the demand which you
importance of diversifying the vendor results that identified inventory will be putting on our vessels or our
base. "We have expanded our vendor planning as the biggest logistics aircraft," he stated.
base to other Asian countries," challenge, Om Vijayvargiya, Head – Also, acknowledging the audience poll
he explained. SCM & Logistics of Schaeffler India, results, he emphasised that while freight
He also stressed the need for close emphasised the multifaceted nature rates may not have been the top concern,
collaboration with the government of this issue. "Geopolitical situations they still play a significant role in the
and industry associations, such as are completely jeopardising inventory overall logistics landscape. "When the
the Society of Indian Automobile planning because the lead times are freight rates go very high, that becomes
Manufacturers (SIAM) and the not fixed," he said. a real pain point," Mahajan said.
Automotive Component Manufacturers He also shared the company's
Association of India (ACMA), to address strategies and actions to address Tech as enabler in automotive
the raw material issues. "Working with the critical challenge of inventory supply chain
government on the key raw materials management and highlighted the The second panel discussion explored
through the ACMA forum helps," he said. importance of leveraging technology technology's transformation of India's
In addition to managing the import and data-driven solutions. "In the last automotive supply chain management.
dependencies, Suranglikar highlighted one year, the visibility of the inventory The discussion highlighted the auto

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