THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, SEPTEMBER 23, 2026

Godrej Enterprises Group (GEG) has launched ‘Udaan’, an industry-led supplier capability-building initiative aimed at strengthening India’s manufacturing ecosystem by enhancing the operational capabilities and competitiveness of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Developed in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the programme has commenced in Aligarh, bringing together GEG’s supplier partners for a structured Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) journey. The initiative is designed to drive operational excellence, improve resource productivity, eliminate manufacturing losses and foster a culture of continuous improvement across participating enterprises.

Under Udaan, GEG and the CII TPM Club of India have created a dedicated TPM curriculum tailored specifically for MSMEs. Supplier partners will receive on-ground support from specialist TPM consultants, enabling them to translate manufacturing best practices into measurable improvements at their facilities.

The programme adopts a cluster-based model, with progress to be tracked through quarterly reviews, periodic assessments and factory audits by CII representatives and industry experts. Enterprises successfully completing the programme will receive formal recognition from both GEG and CII.

Udaan is expected to be expanded to 10 cities as part of GEG’s broader supplier capability-building programme. The company said the initiative makes it the first company in the hardware industry, and among a select group of organisations in India, to extend a structured TPM excellence programme across its supplier ecosystem.

 “As India advances towards the vision of Viksit Bharat, strengthening the country's manufacturing and supply chain ecosystem will be critical to driving economic growth, competitiveness and resilience,” said Pushkar Gokhale, Business Head, Security Solutions Business, Godrej Enterprises Group.

He added that Udaan reflects the company’s belief that businesses have a responsibility to strengthen the wider ecosystem alongside their own growth, while helping supplier partners adopt world-class manufacturing practices.

Major Neil Castelino, Chief, CII Institute of Quality, said MSMEs are central to India’s manufacturing ecosystem and that industry-led collaboration can help build long-term capabilities across supplier networks.

The participating Aligarh suppliers have been nurtured by GEG over the past six years. They have completed the Partnership Competitiveness Programme (PCP), secured Zero Defect Zero Effect (ZED) Certification and begun Lean Manufacturing Certification.

The initiative also builds on GEG’s contribution to the local MSME ecosystem. The company was recently recognised by Laghu Udyog Bharati, Aligarh, for its “Outstanding Contribution to MSME Development in Aligarh”.