Beyond my professional projects, I believe some of my most valuable lessons come from the places I visit, the events I attend and the people I connect with. Here are a few experiences and observations that have inspired me, broadened my thinking and continue to influence how I approach my work and grow professionally.
Click on each section to explore more of my experiences.
A. Inside Ashok Leyland’s Hosur Mega Factory, Hosur.
Coming from precision component manufacturing and having led systems implementations, visiting Ashok Leyland’s truck assembly plant was an eye-opening experience. Seeing 5–6 trucks being assembled in just one hour was beyond my imagination!
What impressed me most was their continuously moving assembly lines, robotic painting arms, overhead conveyors, torque sensors, component-level traceability, camera-based inspections, OLE, SCADA-based escalations and many more technologies working together.
Interacting with the facility’s co-leads gave me valuable insights into their digitalisation journey and implementation challenges. More than an industrial visit, it opened my eyes to the scale and complexity of connected manufacturing. It also encouraged me to think beyond component manufacturing and understand how traceability continues into final vehicle assembly and even after delivery.
My Takeaway: A component’s digital journey shouldn’t necessarily end when it leaves our factory.
B. Inside Dana Anand Gabriel, Hosur.
Sometimes, valuable learnings are just next door! Working in the same industrial area in Hosur, visiting very adjusant Dana Anand Gabriel was a great opportunity
During this visit, I had the opportunity to observe their front suspension assembly section. What impressed me most was their culture of digital transformation first! Employee knows the importance of it, what it can do and also how it can help them actually.
On the technical side, their QR-based traceability and digital quality inspections stood out, especially in ensuring that no small component or assembly step is missed during axle and sub-assembly operations. Interacting with their team and virtually exploring their Pune plant’s digital initiatives also gave me insights into their long-term digital transformation vision, supported by significant planned capital investments (CAPEX).
My Takeaway: Digital transformation begins with cultural transformation — building a shared mindset among everyone in the organisation.
Click to expand and discover more experiences from my site visits.
C. Inside Industrial Visits That Shaped My Operational Technology (OT) Implementation Discipline, Chennai.
During my engineering studies, visits to step down electrical substations taught me something beyond electrical engineering itself. The importance of technical discipline in every installation. I was impressed by how everything followed defined standards, from organised panels and cable identification to circuit diagrams, safety practices and proper documentation.
Although I now manage end-to-end digital transformation projects, from low-voltage (LV) electronics in the OT infrastructure to technology integration, the same engineering discipline continues to guide my approach. the discipline I observed back then from HV Layer remains relevant today. It influences how I coordinate technical teams, ensure proper infrastructure documentation, maintain IIoT connectivity diagrams and prepare for troubleshooting, system failures and long-term easy maintenance.
My Takeaway: Whether high-voltage or low-voltage systems, the discipline behind a reliable, long-term implementation remains the same.
A. Inside Europe’s Biggest International Sourcing Expo, London.
During my time as a Marketing Executive in London, I visited the International Sourcing Expo at ExCeL London in 2022, alongside Mr. James, Managing Director of FOTS Marketing Agency. My purpose was to explore international products, identify potential opportunities in retail distribution and connect with brands looking to expand their market presence. I had the opportunity to interact with exhibitors, understand their product offerings and learn about different approaches to reaching customers.
Beyond the business purpose, I found the exhibition to be a fascinating learning experience. I enjoyed meeting brands and professionals from Poland, Romania, France, Switzerland and other countries. It was interesting to see how people from different markets approached business, communication and customer relationships.
My Takeaway: What caught my attention most was how every brand told its own story through product displays, packaging, sales pitches and customer engagement. This experience continues to influence how I present projects today, reminding me to look beyond technical solutions and communicate their business value effectively.
B. Inside The 44th Business Show 2022, London.
During my time as a Freelance Marketing Consultant days, I visited The 44th Business Show, shortly after completing my Master’s degree. Beyond exploring business opportunities, I was equally keen to understand how different industries were embracing innovation with technology – I saw diverse industries presenting their manufacturing excellence in a miniature scale.
I also had the opportunity to meet Mr. Mark Wright, the 2014 winner of BBC’s The Apprentice (a popular British television business competition where aspiring entrepreneurs compete through real-world business challenges), and engage in an insightful conversation about business operations, growth strategies and entrepreneurship. Interacting with experienced business professionals and attending seminars on technology, marketing and branding further broadened my understanding of business beyond the classroom.
My Takeaway: This experience strengthened my belief that “valuable ideas can come from any industry”. Today, as I lead manufacturing digital transformation initiatives, I continue to look beyond conventional manufacturing practices, connecting technology, business strategy and cross-industry learning to bring fresh perspectives to my work.
Click to expand to know more on experiences from the shows I’ve attended.
C. Inside India’s leading manufacturing technology exhibitions, IMTEX 25 & 26, Bengaluru.
Over the past two years, I have visited IMTEX Bengaluru, where I had opportunities to engage with technology vendors specialising in MES, Industry 4.0/5.0 and digital transformation. These interactions helped me explore emerging solutions, discuss integration possibilities and evaluate technologies relevant to my organisation’s needs.
My Takeaway: Gained valuable insights into the future of connected manufacturing, emerging technologies and how integrated systems can shape the next generation of digital factories.