Address at the Inauguration of Post Graduate Block and Me Programmes at Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Viswa Mahavidyalaya

Engineering Education - Challenge for National Development

I am indeed delighted to participate in the inauguration of the Post Graduate Block and ME Programme of Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Viswa Mahavidyalaya, Kanchipuram. I offer my humble pranams to His Holiness Shri Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal and His Holiness Shri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswathi Swamigal. My greetings to the Chancellor, Vice Chancellor and Faculty Members and students of this divine seat of learning. When I am in this divine place, I would like to share a few of my thoughts with you.

Manufacturing Technology

Humanity has seen rapid transformation in the last 150 years because of the mass manufacturing techniques perfected in western nations and later taken to new levels of efficiency by Japan. Mass production and production for the masses became the basis of new business strategies. Large-scale consumption by all with the social benefit of removing poverty became the dominant economic strategyn and can add new strategy with its strength on software and design. The advent of electricity and its large-scale application to lighting, heating and operating machines added a fresh dimension to manufacturing. By the 1950s came inventions in electronics and transistor devices to be followed by innovations in microelectronics, computers and various forms of sensors, all of which irreversibly altered the manufacturing scene. It is now no longer necessary to make prototypes in a factory or a laboratory to study a new product. Many new products can be designed on computers and their behavior simulated on them. By choosing an optimum design through such simulations, computer programs can directly drive the manufacturing processes. These processes are generally called Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Assisted Manufacturing (CAM). These capabilities are leading to newer forms of demands by customers. Each customer can be offered several special options. Customized product design or flexible manufacturing are other popular techniques currently in vogue in many developed countries.

The tools used in manufacturing today have multiplied greatly: lasers and water jets are in increasing use. It is no longer specialized steels or even ceramics, which monopolize the cutting tool industry. It is hard to believe that lasers can be used to cut heavy steel plates as also for delicate eye surgery. Can you imagine that the plain water you use at home can be used to cut steel? Water pumped at high pressures and focused as a jet cuts cleanly. This technology holds a promise for use underwater, for example for offshore installations.

To digress, anything focused, and focused sharply, becomes a good cutting edge or a welding source. A laser is a focused and coherent source of light. A water jet is a sharply directed high pressure jet. If we also, as a country and as a people, focus our efforts to eradicate poverty and to develop in a sustained manner, we don't think any obstacle could withstand the force of that collective, coherent, and focused will!

SMALL SCALE INDUSTRIES

The small-scale industries sector plays a vital role in the growth of the country. It contributes almost 40% of the gross industrial value added in the Indian economy. The small-scale sector has grown rapidly over the years. The growth rates during the various plan periods have been very impressive. The number of small-scale units has increased from an estimated 0.87 million units in the year 1980-81 to over 4 million in the year 2003.

SSI Sector in India creates largest employment opportunities for the Indian populace, next only to agriculture. SSI Sector plays a major role in India's present export performance. 45%-50% of the Indian Exports is contributed by SSI Sector.

The Key to success in manufacturing sector are reduction in lead time and operational cost and time to market. In addition, we should also adopt streamlined outsourcing processes and manage multiple locations/global operations. This will enable meeting the international challenges posed by the Multi National Companies.

POWER SYSTEM ENGINEERING/CHALLENGES

Power is a basic infrastructural need. There is a need to have an integrated look at design, equipment application, installation, grounding, operation and maintenance of safe and reliable power system including emergency and stand-by systems for industrial and commercial institutions. We have to adopt cost effective power generation, transmission and energy conservation with an eye on environmental protection. Availablity of uninterrupted reliable quality power system is essential for our national development. The major problems faced by the power industry at present is the large gap between the demand and supply, sub-optimal performance of the thermal power plants and unacceptable level of transmission and distribution losses.

FUTURE STRATEGIES

We need to have an optimal mix between conventional energy sources and renewable sources. This will eliminate the problem of low voltage distribution network at rural and urban areas. We have also to mount a programme of increasing the generating capacities for meeting our projected needs in the coming plans. Simultaneously, we have to work on increasing the reliability and evolving energy saving strategies both from supply end by cutting the losses and designing of low energy consuming devices and equipment. Combination of these strategies will enable meeting the futuristic demands of the power sector with very low additional investment.

Conclusion

I am very happy to note that the Sri Chandrasekhara Saraswati Viswa Mahavidyalaya are launching the two ME courses on Power System and Manufacturing Engineering at a time when the Developed India Mission has commenced. I inaugurate the courses and wish all the students and Faculty success in their mission.