Logistics experts at SIAM Conclave focus on sustainable development

The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) organized the eighth SIAM Conclave on Automotive Logistics on August 18. The conclave, with the general theme “Automotive Logistics: Transitioning to a Sustainable Future”, focused on exploring new frontiers for automotive transportation.

In a world affected by climate change, the vehicle and freight industry is one of many sectors that can contribute to reducing carbon emissions. This can happen in many ways, including green packaging, optimizing routes, deploying waterways to take a significant amount of vehicle logistics off the roads, digitization and more.

The day-long conference was attended by leading speakers, including senior government officials, automotive company logistics heads and automotive supply chain experts.

The event was held in five sessions:

– Use of technologies to increase the efficiency of road transport
– The railway is the way forward
– Waterways are the new frontier
– The role of multimodal logistics parks in road transport
– Plenary session: The way forward

Session 1 – Using technology to improve the efficiency of road transport

(LR): Rakesh K Sen, co-chairman, SIAM Logistics Group and vice-president, Mahindra & Mahindra; Ashutosh Jha, Michelin Sales Director; Sarbjit Singh, Head (Sales Logistics); DK Rai, Director, CHEP India; RS Kapoor, Senior Advisor, Maruti Suzuki.

The panelists talked about the development of the road sector, government policy and the change in vision over the past two years. Speakers include Rakesh K Sen, Co-Chairman, SIAM Logistics Group and Vice President, Mahindra & Mahindra; RS Kapoor, Senior Advisor, Maruti Suzuki; Ashutosh Jha, Michelin Sales Director and DK Rai, CHEP Automotive Director. The session was moderated by Sarbjit Singh, CEO, Hyundai Motor India.

Rakesh K Sen said, “The two factors that matter most are the need for operations to keep logistics costs down, and time and innovation are imperatives in the ecosystem. Moving forward, sustainable development is the need of the hour and everyone must adopt sustainable ways.”

RS Kapoor, Senior Advisor, Maruti Suzuki, said, “The automotive industry is evolving and actively taking steps towards achieving sustainable development. Sustainable operations, collaboration and new technologies can further renew the sector.”

Session 2 – Railways – the way forward

(L-R): Umesh Bhanot, Regional Head South Asia, APL Logistics; Mudit Chandra, Executive Director (Freight Marketing), Railway Board; Ms. Hena Kausar, Assistant Vice President (Logistics), Maruti Suzuki India; Srinivas Nanduri; Director Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation India; and Nitin Kulshrestha, Chief Operating Officer, GATX India.

The panel discussion was on the role of Indian Railways as one of the future solutions for logistics across India. The role of railways in the logistics industry with a future perspective has been maintained to smooth the supply chain.

Panelists: Umesh Bhanot, Regional Head South Asia, APL Logistics; Nitin Kulshrestha, Chief Operating Officer, GATX India; Nanduri Srinivas, Director, Dedicated Freight Corridors Corporation of India, Mudit Chandra, Executive Director (Freight Marketing), Railway Board. The session was moderated by Ms. Hena Kausar, Assistant Vice President, Maruti Suzuki.

Mudit Chandra, Executive Director, Freight Marketing, Railway Board, said, “The average speed of railways has now improved. During the lockdown, Indian Railways also focused on increasing capacity. However, the availability of terminals is a major obstacle. However, new policies are coming and we will see positive changes in the next year and a half.”

Session 3 – Waterways: The New Frontier

(LR): Capt. Naresh Kundlas, GM, Parekha Naval Service; Captain Inderveer Solanki, MD, Spring Service Professional Consultant (STC), World Bank; Tejinder Gupta, Executive Director, Grant Thornton Bharat; Capt. Jitendra Bhat, CEO, NYK Auto Logistics India, and V. Ramachandran, Assistant CEO, Hyundai Motor India.

The third session was on Gati Shakti as an important step towards the development of inland waterways across the country. This panel consisted of speakers such as Captain Naresh Kundlas, GM, Parekh Marine Services; Capt. Jitendra Bhat, CEO, NYK Auto Logistics (India); Captain Inderveer Solanki, MD, Consultant, Spring Professional Services (STC), World Bank, and V. Ramachandran, Assistant General Manager, Hyundai Motor India. The session was moderated by Tejinder Gupta, Executive Director, Grant Thornton Bharat LLP.

Session 4 – The role of multimodal logistics parks in road transport

L-R: Bharat Joshi, Director, Trac1 Logistics; Achal Paliwal, Tower Head-Outbound Logistics, Tata Motor Business Services; Geoffrey Thomas, Partner, PWC; Sanjiv Patil, Vice President (Logistics), National Highway Logistics Management; and Amut Garg, head of DP World’s domestic rail business

This panel discussion was about how India is moving forward in developing infrastructure and setting up new MMLPs in the states to improve supply chain efficiency, helping the manufacturing sector.

The panel consisted of Achal Paliwal, Head, Tower – Outbound Logistics, Tata Motors Business Services; Bharat Joshi, Director, Trac 1 Logistics; Sanjeev Patil, Vice President (Logistics), National Highway Logistics Management and Amit Garg, Head of Domestic Rail Business, DP World. The session was moderated by Geoffrey Thomas, partner at PwC.

Sanjiv Patil, Vice President (Logistics), National Highway Logistics Management, said, “We are working with our partners to establish 35 future ready multimodal logistics parks across India, which can be expanded to 70 as per industry requirements. The Bharatmal and Gati Shakti schemes have laid a strong foundation for the future of MMLP.”

Sanjay Bandapadhyay, Chairman, Inland Waterways Authority of India, said, “We serve 2% of the current share of inland water transport with a target to reach 5% by 2030 and 7% by 2047. More vessels will be added which will make inland water transport more economical for operations’.

L-R: Rakesh K Sen, co-chairman, SIAM Logistics Group and vice-president, Mahindra & Mahindra; Sanjay Bandapadhyay, Chairman, Inland Waterways Authority of India; VK Agarwal, Executive Director, Engineering (Freight), Railway Board, and RS Kapoor, Senior Advisor, Maruti Suzuki

The conclave ended on a high note with the exchange of best practices, insights and solutions for the development of the automotive supply chain.