Synopsis
I have been interacting with the Small & Medium enterprises (SMEs) for more than 40 years. Initially I was their customer as SCM Manager of large industries and later as a consultant. I always observed that the owners of these enterprises were working mostly in a sub-optimal manner. They were working very hard but a very small proportion of them enjoyed comfortable life. They were always found to be a disadvantaged lot, struggling for getting orders, remunerative prices due to intense competition, delayed payments from debtors due to disparity of size of the business (customers being big enterprises), therefore cash-flow problems, availability of “good manpower” problems and many other day to day problems. They never had peaceful time and enjoyment, to upgrade their knowledge, methods and in general conditions of life. They lacked, vision, to grow, and plan long term activities. To help them within the prevailing business environment, I thought of writing simple processes and to acquaint them to make their life more systematic and comfortable as far as possible.
This book begins with the possible thought process of the entrepreneur willing to work hard for his / her dreams of establishing an enterprise to satisfy customer needs, create employment, transform technical ideas into products and services for customers and finally make money, to grow.
But this is easier said than done. The entrepreneur faces “Jungle Raj” by way of market forces, competition, demanding and powerful customers which puts the entrepreneur in difficult situation. This leads to their dreams turning into a nightmare. The mortality rate of the SMEs is high at around 50%. Failure of such SMEs leads to loss of capital; the enthusiasm and courage of sincere entrepreneurs getting dented and the employment opportunities lost. India has more than 60 million MSMEs. If the mortality of MSMEs is reduced by even 1 per cent, the survival will grow by 600,000 units which will help the economy and employment immensely. SMEs are major sources of goods and services to bigger industries and to local population. We do not want them to fail and get frustrated.
This book attempts to make the Leaders and Owners of these enterprises aware of the series of processes to be followed to survive, sustain, grow, make profit and build excellence with “Unique Value Proposition”.
If the owners sincerely attempt to utilize the concepts and ideas explained in the book, their chances of success and growth will improve, and purpose of this book will be well served.
Hope, the target group will read follow the advice and succeed.
About the Author
Shrikant N Pangarkar – Post graduate in Mechanical Engineering (M. Tech) and Business Management (MBA) from IIM Ahmedabad(PGP – 1976).
Work experience of about 37 years in multiple functions and different types of industries in India.
Handled Technical, Operational, and Commercial & Leadership functions and relationships with Vendors, Customers, and Foreign Collaborators.
In the last assignment head of 2 New Projects. Identified Foreign Collaborators, Completed Technology Transfer, Development of Market & Products. Designed & built a new factory, successfully established the business in the new factory, and worked as Executive Director & CEO of a multinational company. He personally created the market from the concept stage. Having worked in different types of industries, he is confident of producing results in a given project. He was chargeable for the Complete P & L responsibility and running the company. He was instrumental in tying up 5 collaboration agreements.
After such rich multi-dimensional work experience, he started taking up
Management Consultancy assignments in a multitude of fields since January 2011. Clients included Bosch, TVS Group, Masu Brakes, Makino Friction, etc.
