Improving efficiency while reducing down-time and operational cost

Prabhakaran PV, Head – Product Management, Fluke India in an interview with EPR Magazine, talks about the government policies, in-house product development and the business outlook for T&M instruments business in 2021.

What’s your take on the recent performance of T & M instruments business in India?

The importance of T & M instruments in all the sectors has been growing more in sectors that are moving towards automation and remote monitoring. In recent few years, technology has rapidly upgraded and so has the demand of T & M instruments in India. Right from designing and manufacturing to post-production and post-marketing, the testing of the products plays a significant role in ensuring product quality, and safety. The need and the utilisation of T&M instruments have gradually increased as its application has proven to be vital across various sectors.

Consequently, the recent performance of T&M instruments has proved to be growth-oriented. Given the complexity of the newer technologies and movement towards staying at home, we should see more avenues for growth.

What is the future of T & M instruments business in 2021?

The end-users are being smarter and so is the technology. Customers expect their tools to detect problems rather than just measurement or monitoring of data and maintenance schedules. T & M instruments are one of the key factors of the upcoming technology revolution. With wireless technology coming in the market and upgradation to electronics system designing and automation in manufacturing, the demand of T &M industry would rise higher.

The focus on predictive maintenance is rising and with the recent developments in IIoT, Original Design Manufacturing and Digital Factories, the opportunities are quiet flourishing for T&M industry.

According to updated NPE, government has introduced initiatives like Make in India and Digital India which will give a much-needed push to domestic manufacturing. In return, this will boost the demand of T & M industry.

How is your company turning the tide in its favour?

Turning the wave towards us demands innovation, creativity and precision in every step. Keeping in mind the application of technological innovations such as wireless systems, Bluetooth-based instruments, IoT, artificial intelligence, etc., Fluke has always been at the forefront.

With front line measurement to calibration tools, we are coming up with new innovative products with even more unique features that will make the lives of our customers much easier. Our equipment stands on the demand for quality of the market. We, being the tech leader in the spectrum, ensure not only about accuracy but also safety, efficiency and robust material.

Recently we have introduced products with SoundSight^TM technology, air/gas/vacuum leak detection, partial discharge detection etc. Our channel structure is PAN India in retails, IG and calibration. There is no industry where Fluke equipment doesn’t serve. Fluke is serving the important markets of electrical, electronic manufacturing and semiconductors largely. Fluke’s T&M tools are helping customers to increase their efficiency and reduce the downtime and lower operational cost to remain competitive in the current tough environment without sacrificing safety.

What is that one recent breakthrough policy decision that will drive the growth of T & M instruments business in India?

In the past few years the Government is spreading awareness and promoting e-business. Accordingly, Government e-Market (GeM) has around 40 K buyers, 6.68lac seller, 16.48 lac products and with an overall business of 70k+ Cr. 

Another policy of Government which might turn out to be beneficial is the boost to electrical vehicles segment through subsidies. As market for EVs grows, the demand for T&M products will see a hike. Even in infrastructure, warehousing, food production and processing sectors, opportunities are increasing; hence we may see a lot of investment here too. Govt initiatives like Make in India, allowing private manufacturing in Defence and FDI in Defence is going to bring in more business for T&M.

What will drive the growth of your business beyond 2020?

Beyond 2020, the passion for improvement and excellence will drive the growth!

I see our growth through driving efforts in the industry target sectors like E-commerce. We aim at creating tools for everyone and not only the superior foremen. We want to provide global quality at affordable rates. We are investing in market research to identify the needs of the end-users like machine to machine (M2M) interactions, smart tools that can be monitored using internet technologies, from a distance. We also have come up with effective UI techniques that will make all crucial tasks easy and efficient. Likewise, we have some ideas for Data centre and modernization of infrastructure with higher technology and reliability. With this, the another driving factor would be government investing in the renewal resources.

Our all endeavours will be with only one vision which is to increase the productivity and the efficiency which will in return contribute to the growth of all individually and as a whole for every industry.

Founded in 1948, Fluke Corporation is the world leader in compact, professional electronic test tools and software for measuring and condition monitoring. For more information, visit www.fluke.com/india

Fluke is coming up with new innovative products with even more unique features that will make the lives of our customers much easier.