Manufacturing 4.0 Meets Sustainability: CII Conclave Lays Roadmap for State’s Industrial Leap
Jamshedpur, Aug 13: Highlighting Jharkhand’s strong industrial base and its potential to become a national model for responsible and innovative manufacturing, Sunil Tiwari, Chairman of CII Jharkhand State Council & Head – Plant Operations, Jamshedpur CV Works, Tata Motors Ltd, set the tone for the 6th edition of the CII Jharkhand Manufacturing Conclave. Addressing industry leaders at the event, held on August 13 in Jamshedpur, Tiwari emphasised the state’s strategic advantages, skilled workforce, and collaborative industrial culture as key drivers for a future-ready manufacturing ecosystem built on digitization, sustainability, and inclusion.
Organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the conclave carried the theme “Future-Ready Manufacturing: Building Sustainable, Smart & Inclusive Industrial Ecosystems” and brought together eminent figures from across the manufacturing spectrum to discuss strategies for harnessing Industry 4.0, advancing sustainable production, and creating an inclusive workforce.
Tiwari’s Vision for Jharkhand’s Manufacturing Future
In his address, Tiwari noted that Jharkhand contributes over ₹9 lakh crore to the state’s Gross Value Added (GVA) and accounts for 20–25% of India’s steel production. Beyond steel, the state is diversifying into automotive, renewable energy, and emerging industrial sectors, supported by Asia’s large Adityapur Industrial Estate. He stressed that operational excellence, innovation, and the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies are critical for maintaining competitiveness.
Tiwari lauded the partnership between large firms and MSMEs in driving industrial growth and urged the conclave participants to form meaningful collaborations that could accelerate Jharkhand’s transformation. “With our strategic location, skilled workforce, and supportive policies, we are well-positioned to lead future-ready manufacturing. This must be manufacturing that is digitized, sustainable, and inclusive,” he said.
Inaugural Remarks: The Call for Triple Transformation
Diloo Bipin Parikh, Vice Chairman, CII Jharkhand State Council & Director, Vaidehi Motors, inaugurated the session by underlining Jharkhand’s pivotal role in shaping India’s manufacturing future. He called for a “triple transformation” — digital, green, and inclusive — to build a resilient industrial ecosystem. Stressing the importance of collaboration between large industries and MSMEs, Parikh urged bold thinking to make “Made in Jharkhand” synonymous with quality, innovation, and sustainability.
Driving Sustainable, Smart, and Inclusive Growth
Ajitesh Monga, Convenor, CII Jharkhand Manufacturing Panel & Plant Manager & Director, Tata Cummins Pvt Ltd, delivered the theme address. He outlined how Jharkhand’s manufacturing sector is evolving through sustainability practices, Industry 4.0 adoption, and workforce inclusivity. Monga emphasised turning sustainable manufacturing into a competitive advantage and using digital tools to enhance productivity across enterprises. He encouraged building a diverse workforce and strengthening partnerships to make “Made in Jharkhand” a global benchmark for innovation, quality, and responsibility.
The New Manufacturing Formula
Ranjot Singh, Immediate Past Chairman, CII Jharkhand State Council & Managing Director, Emdet Jamshedpur Private Limited, described manufacturing’s evolution into a formula of “Smart + Sustainable + Inclusive = Future-Ready Manufacturing.” Citing strong growth under initiatives like PLI and ‘Make in India,’ he acknowledged persistent challenges such as supply chain gaps and skill shortages. Singh stressed that the integration of technology, environmental responsibility, and social impact, supported by visionary leadership, is essential for the sector’s future success.
Defence-Industry Synergy
Col. Rohit Gupta, Commandant & Managing Director, 507 Army Base Workshop, Indian Army, highlighted the strategic value of public-private collaboration in defence manufacturing. He said strengthening industry–defence partnerships could foster innovation, create robust supply chains, and develop cutting-edge defence technologies, thereby enhancing national security and self-reliance.
Strengthening Ecosystems Through Collaboration
Shashank Shekhar, Co-Convenor, CII Jharkhand Manufacturing Panel & Plant Head, Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery Company Ltd, Kharagpur, stressed the urgency of building sustainable, smart, and inclusive manufacturing ecosystems. He pointed to collaboration between industry, defence, and MSMEs as a crucial factor in strengthening Jharkhand’s industrial landscape. Shekhar urged collective action to drive innovation, technology adoption, and workforce inclusivity for global competitiveness.
Insights from Industry Leaders
The conclave also featured insights from a distinguished panel of speakers:
- Mr Abhijit Nanoti, Chairman, CII Jamshedpur Zonal Council & Managing Director, JCAPCPL.
- Mr Rajiv Bansal, Convenor, CII Jharkhand MSME Panel & Head Supply Chain, Tata Motors Ltd.
- Mr Sankara Narayanan, Executive Director – Operations, RSB Transmissions (I) Ltd.
- Mr Kush Saxena, Supply Chain Director, Tata Cummins Pvt Ltd.
- Mr Girish Nair, Head – Supply Chain, Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery Company Ltd.
- Mr Biswajit Jena, Co-Convenor, CII Jharkhand Manufacturing Panel & Associate Vice President, RSB Transmissions (I) Ltd.
- Dr Amit Ranjan Chakraborty, Convenor, CII Jharkhand Sustainability Panel & Chief Environment, Tata Steel Ltd.
- Dr Joydeep Chatterjee, Director ESG and Corporate Quality, Cummins India Limited.
- Dr Tata L Raghu Ram, Chairperson, Father Arrupe Centre for Ecology & Sustainability & Professor, XLRI.
- Mr Sabyasachi Sengupta, Principal Counsellor, CII-Godrej Green Business Centre.
- Ms Swastika Basu, Managing Director, JAMIPOL.
- Md Rashid Jaffrey, Chief Human Resources Business Partner, Engineering & Projects, Tata Steel Ltd.
- Mr Pranav Kumar, Head Human Resource, Tata Motors Ltd.
- Ms Nilanjana Mohanty, Deputy General Manager HR, Tata Motors Ltd.
- Ms Jaya Singh, Lead HR, RSB Transmissions (I) Ltd, Jamshedpur.
Core Themes and Outcomes
Discussions during the conclave revolved around three core areas:
- Industry 4.0 for Competitive and Resilient Supply Chains — Participants explored how digital transformation is enhancing efficiency, responsiveness, and resilience in manufacturing supply chains.
- Sustainable Manufacturing — Experts underlined how environmentally responsible practices can also drive profitability and long-term growth.
- Inclusive Workforce Development — Building a skilled, diverse, and inclusive workforce was recognised as critical for meeting the sector’s evolving demands.
Through these deliberations, the conclave sought to equip participants with actionable strategies to navigate rapid industrial changes, seize new market opportunities, and position Jharkhand as a leader in next-generation manufacturing.
By the close of the event, a strong consensus had emerged: Jharkhand’s future manufacturing growth will hinge on its ability to integrate technological innovation, environmental stewardship, and social inclusivity. As Sunil Tiwari underscored, with the right partnerships and vision, the state can set a benchmark for future-ready manufacturing not just in India, but globally.
