Industry 4.0 key to India’s global competitiveness: NALCO CMD

THEBUSINESSBYTESS BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, 31 MAY 2025

“In today’s rapidly evolving industrial landscape, embracing Industry 4.0 is not a choice — it is a necessity to stay globally competitive,” asserted Brijendra Pratap Singh, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO), while inaugurating the Smart Mining & Manufacturing Conference in Bhubaneswar on Friday.

Organized by NALCO, the event was held under the theme “Smart Aluminium: Driving Operational Excellence through Industry 4.0.” It brought together leading minds from industry, academia, and the technology sector to explore how digital innovation is transforming aluminium manufacturing and mining operations.

Singh highlighted the pivotal role of supportive government policies, including initiatives like ‘Make in India’ and the promotion of start-ups, in driving self-reliance and industrial modernization. “As the world’s fourth-largest economy, India is witnessing a surge in investment and infrastructure growth, particularly in the core and manufacturing sectors,” he said.

Jagdish Arora, Director (P&T), set the tone for the conference in his welcome address by describing Industry 4.0 as a revolution led by automation, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things — technologies that enable transformative value creation across the industrial spectrum.

The event featured a high-profile line-up of industry experts and thought leaders. Rajiv Kumar, CEO of Vedanta Aluminium Limited, attended as the distinguished guest, while Sarajit Jha, Chief – Business Transformation & Digital Solutions at Tata Steel, joined virtually to deliver a keynote address on digital strategies in heavy industries.

NALCO’s Director (Production) Pankaj Kumar Sharma and Director (HR) Dr. Tapas Kumar Pattanayak also contributed to the conference, sharing insights on aligning workforce capabilities with smart technology implementation.

Distinguished speakers from major industry players such as SAIL, Tata Steel, Vedanta, Deloitte India, EY-Parthenon, and McKinsey & Company led thought-provoking sessions on emerging trends, AI-driven manufacturing, and data analytics in the aluminium sector.

The conference served as a vital platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and strategic dialogue. Technocrats, researchers, policy makers, and delegates from across the metal sector and allied industries participated in interactive tech sessions and panel discussions aimed at accelerating the adoption of Industry 4.0 in India’s mining and metals ecosystem.