Manufacturing process plants and machinery is a complex business for the world. Most of the things that we use or consume on a daily basis are produced through process plants. Be it pharmaceuticals, coffee powder, herbal medicines, several food products to chemicals, process plants constitute a major part of manufacturing industry. With an aim to meet global standards, Suruchi and her Shachi Engineering team is dedicated to provide cost-effective and innovative solutions to their clients.

Suruchi completed her B.E. from Vishwakarma Institute of Technology and pursuing a DBA in Business Management from the Swiss School of Business and Management. Suruchi worked as a proposal engineer for five years before starting her entrepreneurship journey.

Suruchi Shanbhag, CEO, Shachi Engineering recently engaged in a one-on-one interaction with Women Entrepreneur Magazine.

What are the essential features of your expertise as a business leader? What is your driving force in achieving significant milestones?

A clear vision helps in establishing guiding principles and outlining the way for everyone to take. You must first understand what the client wants to build the finest solutions for evolving customer needs. Third, you must be innovative in any industry to compete in the complicated market.

In the year 2000, I started my first business to design specialized process plants. We constructed our first facility to produce high-quality process equipment in Pune in 2005.

Last year, we introduced our new brand identity to strengthen the organization's key brand promise and fundamental company values.

The major driving force to achieve anything comes from within, and you should work for things that make you happy. We need to surround ourselves with positivity and avoid negativity; the first step to success is to have an optimistic attitude.

Take us through your educational journey and prior industry experiences.

I always had a strong interest in science and technology, so I pursued mechanical engineering at Vishwakarma Institute of Technology. I joined Mojj Engineering as a proposal engineer after finishing college. After working at Mojj for five years, I realized that I needed to aim high and not only work a 9 to 5 job but also generate jobs for others. My husband and I decided to launch Shachi Engineering as our first business.

What are the various roles and responsibilities you currently shoulder as a CEO? What are the challenges you encounter in your current position?

I oversee all crucial departments, including projects, production, engineering, finance, human resources, and marketing & sales. I am focusing on several strategic areas in my current position, including brand development, communicating a clear vision and business values, raising customer happiness, enhancing efficiency by optimizing procedures, establishing a winning team, and fostering a positive workplace culture.

There are numerous challenges I face prominently in my current role. Firstly, it is getting harder every day to keep one step ahead of the competition as the market's level of competition rises. We should focus on the company's distinctive differentiators and value proposition rather than the competitors. Secondly, attracting and retaining talented workforce can be difficult in this highly competitive environment. A stable work force is crucial to make any corporate strategy successful. Next, everybody faces a hurdle in today's dynamic business environment: to build a great company culture. When all employees act in unison, a culture is immediately created. Lastly, businesses must be prepared for constant change to stay competitive in the dynamic market today. The perfect foundation for a comprehensive change management system would be a robust internal communication system and frequent leadership engagement sessions.

What trends do you foresee in the Indian manufacturing industry?

Numerous multinational corporations that produce products ranging from FMCG goods to mobile phones, luxury and auto brands, home appliances, and I.T. products have manufacturing bases in India or are looking to do so. The government wants to ensure that the country develops holistically, emphasizing creating industrial corridors and smart cities.

"An entrepreneur is someone who has a vision for something & a deep desire to achieve it. The clearer vision you have, the closer you are near success"

There are several trends that the Indian manufac-turing sector is predicted to experience. Firstly, the idea of a smart factory is nothing new today; it has been around for a while. As a result, manufacturing pro-cesses all across the world will undoubtedly change.

Secondly, AI enables focused manufacturing and remote monitoring, both fueled by data. AI will create a brand-new world and alter how we currently conduct business. Next, any manufacturing environment is susceptible to costly equipment breakdowns that can halt all operations. When IIoT and big data analytics are used together, it is possible to utilize sophisticated algorithms to predict such problems accurately. Lastly, it is incredibly affordable, effective, and scalable to use 3D printing. More and more products will be able to be produced by manufacturers, thanks to 3D printing techniques, which require fewer resources and gener-ates less waste.

As a professional expert, what would be your advice to young girls and women aspiring to start their careers in this field?

An entrepreneur should have a clear vision to identify opportunities and a deep desire to achieve them. One should keep challenging themselves to go beyond one's comfort zone and work tirelessly to achieve your goals. Always keep faith in yourself; remember, you will never fail when you have confidence yourself and possess a positive attitude. Women have to knock down every hurdle and strive to maintain the balance between personal and professional life. Women are always expected to give more and better results every time. 

Suruchi Shanbhag, CEO, Shachi Engineering

A technology enthusiast and entrepreneur Suruchi is a dedicated CEO who is working tirelessly to achieve new dimensions for the company