CARGOCONNECT-APRIL2025 - Flipbook - Page 76
PANEL 5
TRANSFORMING CHEMICAL VALUE CHAINS:
FROM MANUFACTURING TO MARKET DELIVERY
“Before joining Birla, I was with Asian
Paints, where we introduced an initiative in our Vizag plant to encourage
female chemical engineers, especially
fresh graduates from local colleges,
to join us in manufacturing roles. We
focussed on hiring women engineers
speci昀椀cally for the manufacturing
line. When I transitioned to Birla
O昀케ce, we continued this e昀昀ort by
recruiting female engineers from
plants near Juhaiyar, Chabraj Nagar, and Haripal in Maharashtra. One key
aspect of our approach was to make sure that these women understood
they were pioneers. We emphasised how their performance would set an
example for the next 15-20 years and inspire future generations of women
to enter this 昀椀eld. This empowerment strategy worked well. We saw many
women, some even from the same families—brother and sister pairs—joining
the company. What’s even more promising is that most of the women who
joined have stayed with us long-term, contributing to a growing diversity
in the workplace. We’re proud to be one of the 昀椀rst companies to take these
steps, and we’ll keep building on this foundation.”
“One area where we aim to improve
safety is in the bulk transportation of
chemicals. Many chemicals are currently transported in drums, bags,
or 昀氀aked forms. We are encouraging
customers to switch to tanker loads
for bulk movement. We help them
by setting up storage tanks or ISO
containers at their locations, making
it easier to receive materials in bulk.
We are also working on expanding
the use of pipelines for transportation, where feasible. For example, at
our Dahej site, we have successfully implemented this method, and it is
also in use at our Jagdeo and Vapi locations. Pipelines inherently make
chemical transportation safer, and we continue to explore this option
further. Finally, we’re focussing on reducing the packaging used in
chemical transportation. At our Karch site, we previously transported
a large amount of material in ISO card papers, especially for liquid or
molten materials. We’ve since transitioned to using bulk storage tanks
at the port, reducing the number of transactions and manual handling,
thereby reducing the risk of accidents and improving overall safety.”
VARUN KAKKAR, GM– Supply Chain, Grasim Industries
(Birla Paints Div.) (MODERATOR)
MITESH GANGAR, VP and Head– Business and Supply Chain
(Commercial), Aarti Industries
“'Brittle' means something is fragile
and can easily break. In the context
of supply chains, this refers to systems that are rigid and cannot adapt.
What we need instead is 昀氀exibility. A
supply chain should bend, not break,
it should be resilient and adaptable
in the face of challenges. In uncertain
times, we must approach problems
with empathy—understanding that
anxiety and stress are part of the
equation, both for teams and for partners. Empathy helps in recognising
the human side of supply chain operations and addressing concerns in
a way that supports and uplifts others. Supply chains are complex and
dynamic; they are rarely linear, and trying to impose a 昀椀xed, one-size昀椀ts-all solution won't always work. Each situation requires a tailored,
昀氀exible approach. Instead of relying on rigid templates, supply chains
should be designed to adapt to di昀昀erent circumstances. This 昀氀exibility is
what will help us overcome future challenges. To create a resilient supply
chain, we need to think beyond just the internal processes. It's about
creating an ecosystem of partnerships across the entire value chain.”
“Sustainability is more about ensuring we leave a better environment for
future generations. In this context,
green chemistry plays a vital role by
encouraging the design of products
and processes that minimise the use
and generation of hazardous substances. Companies like Indorama are
already taking steps to incorporate
green products into their chemical
supply chains. We focus on creating
environmentally friendly products and reducing the environmental
footprint of their operations. However, while European countries have
made signi昀椀cant strides in green chemistry certi昀椀cations and sustainability
e昀昀orts, there is still room for improvement in India. The industry here
needs to embrace sustainability not just as a regulatory requirement but
as a business imperative that drives innovation, reduces environmental
impact, and creates long-term value. Sustainable sourcing and green
chemistry are not just about reducing the negative impact of chemical
production. They also involve enhancing product life cycles, improving
energy e昀케ciency, and using renewable resources wherever possible.”
DEEPAK SUNDER KRISHNAN, Country Supply Chain Leader,
Ecolab India
76 | CARGOCONNECT APRIL 2025
BHALCHANDRA KULKARNI, Category Lead– Direct
Procurement, Indorama Ventures Oxides Ankleshwar
