After completing my Engineering from PESIT Bangalore in Information Science I joined Samsung R&D Institute as Android Developer. I had a rich experience in coding at Samsung, learned many new technologies from my mentors and met many top management people. But as I looked forward to my career after next 5 -10 years I wanted to do something more apart from just coding and to reach the top of the corporate ladder.
Engineering made me technically sound but to better understand the market and product management MBA was required. Hence, I joined SJMSOM, IIT Bombay through CAT which gave me a tag of IIT as well. The first year went well-learning basics of all domains in Marketing, Operations, Finance, and HR. We had many case study discussions in classes to practically apply the learned concepts. I was selected for Internship at Cummins India Limited which was in Diesel Engines manufacturing. I had a heard a lot about Cummins from seniors especially about its culture, great CSR initiatives and friendly towards women employees and was looking forward to my tenure.
Cummins interns all over India had a 2 days induction together at Cummins India office, Pune on 9th April 2018. It was a rich experience to meet fellow interns from other top Management colleges and build a network. Over two days I got to know about all Cummins Business Units, got to interact with all Business unit heads and had many team building activities. At the end of two days, I could remember names of probably of all interns.
My internship location was assigned as Kothrud Engine Plant (KEP), Kothrud Plant. It is the oldest plant in India established in the 1950s. This has its both advantages and disadvantages like having a strict Union etc. Kothrud was the area where I had stayed for a few months a couple of years back and had loved the place. So, staying here brought back old memories.
On my 1st day i.e. April 9th, we had to report at sharp 8:30 am and had a brief discussion with our line HR regarding the plant and rules and regulations that we have to follow. Then I got to meet my mentor who took me on a tour of the plant and introduced me to fellow employees on the team. In the tour, I got to see different varieties of Cummins engines and its assembly process in detail. I was going to intern in the Maintenance department in the plant. After the plant tour, my mentor took me to the Maintenance head who received me very well and briefed me about the project. We had a meeting with the Team heads and defined the clear-cut objectives and deliverables of the project which had to be filled in the Project Charter sent by the HR.
My project was “Establish Strategy to reduce KEP Maintenance Store Inventory by 20% from current value through analysis of Procurement & Move Order Data”. Maintenance Inventory had increased in the last two years which was a burning concern in the plant. Thus, there were a lot of expectations for me. First, I started with data analysis of high-cost items in the Maintenance store applying the Pareto principle as it constituted a maximum proportion of Inventory. Detailed analysis of the data showed that there were many items for which move order was pending even after consumption, some spares were lying although the machine was scrapped and there were many Strategic Procurements as well. All the identified issues were dealt one by one and necessary actions were taken. For this, I had to follow up regularly with the Team heads. I did appropriate analysis of inventory such as IQR, ABC, FNS, VED. Also, I analyzed and came up with reorder levels of fast moving items and got it integrated with their Software. At the end of my tenure, I could come up with Inventory reduction of around 25% thus over exceeding the objective.
The team was always very helpful whenever I needed any data or had any doubts. I also interacted with other Team members of Supply chain, cylinder heads to broaden my Operations knowledge. Also, I went for regular plant visits to different sections for more practical exposure in Operations. Cummins gender diversity can be very well seen in assembly lines as well as lot many female employees which is rare to find in any other manufacturing Company. I developed a good rapport with the personnel and they gave invaluable inputs for my project.
Pune is a fun place to be in. being a history lover and trekker I visited almost all the forts and mountains in and around Pune like Sinhagadh, Rajgadh, and Lohgarh. I had a very rich experience during my Internship and I look forward to working in Cummins if provided with an opportunity.