The Government of India’s particular emphasis on improving the Indian railways and public transportation by launching new high-speed and semi-high speed trains is quite prominent. Coupling that with the Make-In-India initiative, that aims to inspire Indian companies and entrepreneurs to manufacture with maximum components of Indian origin, are all giving a significant push to the rail components manufacturing segment. However, while the sector promises immense scope for growth and development, there is always a concern for finding trusted and experienced manufacturers of such components that have the capability of catering to the needs of thousands of travelers every day. The Indian Railways are undergoing a major transformation, with a particular focus on indigenization and modernization of the railways; which is also pushing the growth of the rail components manufacturing segment among others.
Spearheading this tremendous transformation in India is Pramod Mehra, Business Head of Amit Engineers - a Mohali based Rail Components Manufacturing ISO 9001:2015 certified firm, established in 2003, delivering international quality components to the Indian Railways. With an expansive professional experience of over 35 years, Pramod stands as an industry stalwart. With his invaluable contribution, the team at Amit Engineers is standing at the forefront of manufacturing high-quality IRIS certified rail components. The firm is one of the handful companies entrusted with massive governmental projects such as the Vande Bharat Trains.
Professional Experiences
Navigating and thriving through a challenging yet rewarding professional journey, Pramod attributes his success in the industry as one brought on by conquering demanding obstacles throughout. Demanding hands-on experience, this industry requires navigating intricate pathways given its complex nature. With his experience of optimized processes, knowledge of industry best practices and the network of contacts; firm has been able to actively surpass business expectations every time.
Having worked with international clients, he has also expanded his network significantly, building strong relationships with companies around the world in countries like USA, France, Korea, Germany, Japan, and China. These relationships have further enhanced his experiences, being based on the idea of mutual progress and collaboration; fostering trust as an international manufacturing partner.
Currently, under his role as the Business Head at Amit Engineers, he has contributed towards improving the company’s work culture by streamlining operations, refining quality control measures and protocols, as well as developing a motivational environment where innovation thrives. He has been successful in fostering a sense of collective achievement to achieve a more collaborative work approach among the team members. This, he believes is critical in pushing boundaries, and staying ahead of the curve in this ever-changing industry.
While his journey can now be seen as a series of successful events, it was marked with its fair share of challenges, all of which have shaped him into the leader that he is today.
Taking critical learnings from the challenges, he has modified his leadership. A significant practice he follows is building and maintaining strong relationships with clients and key stakeholders, which has enabled him to anticipate their demands well in time, to have his team proactively align strategies with the needs of each client.
“Challenges are part of the deal in any business. Understanding the nuances of our product range, I have been able to apply my 35 years of experience to foresee potential hurdles. Keeping an ear to the ground for industry changes has been my guide—one develops a knack for spotting potential issues and handling them.
It has also helped me to identify new opportunities, whether it's exploring untapped markets or making our product offerings better. Over the years I've realized that problem solving, decision making, adaptability and effective communication skills are key driving factors to build a successful business”, shares Pramod Mehra.
Steering Amit Engineers to Success
As a leading rail components manufacturer with over 20 years of standing in the industry, Amit Engineers is a well-recognized name dealing in special components such as air conditioning systems, vacuum toilets, smoke and fire detection systems, electrical and electronic components.
The company has also successfully gained market share with private customers who are actively contributing to the success of Rail Industry in India.
“When I joined Amit Engineers a few years back, the company was supplying components only to the Indian Railways, and was not very aggressive in terms of technology and design. So, after my joining, I contributed on the shop floor improvements and also concentrated on the organizational improvements by selecting people at various levels, who can be a good team to absorb the technology and manufacture as per the customer requirements. We then started contacting the basic players in the industry who can be our customers”, further shares Mehra.
Inspiring Change
While he enjoys building teams and enhancing businesses to promote organizational growth, Pramod strongly believes in leading by example. Being proactive about staying ahead of the curve by harnessing his many contacts, he believes in being involved at every step as much as is required. He envisions leadership that motivates teams to outperform their limitations and imbibes the same qualities within himself before expecting the same from his team.
For me, leadership is not just about directing a team. You need to bring out the best in people by understanding their strengths & encouraging them to share their ideas. I have always believed that the heart of any successful enterprise beats in sync with the collective passion of its workforce
“For me, leadership is not just about directing a team. You need to bring out the best in people by understanding their strengths and encouraging them to share their ideas. I have always believed that the heart of any successful enterprise beats in sync with the collective passion of its workforce. It's really gratifying to witness individuals surpass their own expectations, not just in terms of professional achievements but personal growth as well. Adding to all of this, leading by example is often underrated. I don't ask my team to do anything I wouldn't do myself.
Whether it's rolling up sleeves during crunch times or being receptive to feedback, I believe in walking the talk. One more thing I would like to add is that I have always believed in a strong work ethic, If I have been successful at anything in life, it’s because I’ve out-worked my competition. Superior work ethic and commitment to the cause can make you achieve almost anything, no matter how big or small your dreams are“, adds Mehra.
His approach has helped companies reach successful heights, and he aims to continue on this trajectory to ensure that the firm continues marking new benchmarks of success. Growing from his extensive experience, he is a motivational leader in the industry, polished by the many challenges that have been thrown at him time and again. Drawing from these challenges, he also aspires to encourage future leaders to view challenges as lessons and opportunities to bounce back, put in the hard work, seek learning opportunities, and learn to be agile and build an equally proactive team. He also emphasizes the importance of maintaining integrity.
Witnessing highs and lows throughout his journey, Pramod has brought an intriguing perspective to the Rail Component Industry, as he continues on his journey with the team, there is much success that is left to unfold.
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