Inside India’s smart manufacturing push with Dassault Systèmes, ETManufacturing

Digital technology was deployed to improve current processes. Today, it’s about forecasting and planning, with technologies like virtual twins and scenario modelling becoming commonplace.As India aims to become a $5 trillion economy, manufacturing has taken centre stage, not just as a contributor to GDP, but as a critical enabler of industrial and technological growth. With evolving policies, global supply chain shifts, and an innovation-hungry market, India’s ambition to become a global manufacturing hub is taking clearer shape.

Framing this industrial resurgence is India Leadership Talks (12 Episodes, One Episode Each Thursday), a new series launched by ET Manufacturing in association with Dassault Systèmes. In its premiere episode, three senior voices from Dassault Systèmes, Deepak NG, Managing Director; Ravikiran Pothukuchi, Director, Enterprise Applications; and Praveen Mysore, Industry Consultants’ Sr. Director, offered insights into how technology, talent, and partnerships are shaping the country’s manufacturing future.

“India is already contributing around 15–17% to the GDP through manufacturing, and this can significantly grow to 25%,” said Deepak NG, highlighting the sector’s potential not only as a source of economic value, but as an engine for jobs, technology adoption, and global collaboration.

Deepak pointed to four growth pillars: strong policy support, competitive talent, domestic consumption strength, and investor momentum. With multiple Indian states actively wooing industrial investments, the environment, he said, is ripe for decentralised growth.

“Evolving customer preferences are dictating rapid changes across the supply chain and shopfloor,” noted Ravikiran Pothukuchi, outlining the increasing complexity manufacturers face today. He explained that manufacturers are under pressure to adopt new processes and technologies as they confront disruptions from raw material shortages, geopolitical realignments, and digital transition. Traditional models are proving inadequate, pushing the industry to reimagine operational workflows and embrace smart manufacturing tools.

“Industry 4.0 is no longer optional,” pointed out Praveen Mysore. “From cobots and automation to AR, VR, AI, and ML, these technologies are now standard boardroom discussions.”

He argued that India’s industrial landscape has crossed the tipping point for digital transformation. What was once considered cutting-edge is now part of mainstream strategic planning. The rise of localised policy pushes, such as the Atmanirbhar Bharat programme and renewable energy mandates, is giving structure to this shift.

Watch the episode here:
Beyond Make in India: Why Manufacturing is India’s Next Big Bet

The nature of digital technology is also changing. Earlier, it was deployed to improve current processes. Today, it’s about forecasting and planning, with technologies like virtual twins and scenario modelling becoming commonplace.

“Earlier, we used tech to improve what was happening in the present. Then we started using it for traceability, to learn from the past. Now, it’s about the future predictive insights, scenario modelling, and AI/ML integration,” said Deepak.

Virtual twins allow companies to create digital replicas of factories, supply chains, and even entire cities, letting them test decisions before implementation. This capability enhances agility, supports risk mitigation, and enables real-time learning. According to Ravikiran, the insights gained from these simulations are now training AI systems to deliver predictive intelligence, a shift that marks the beginning of what Dassault calls the “intelligent industry.”

This approach is also redefining how India trains its workforce. Virtual environments now enable skilling in immersive conditions, providing hands-on experience without physical constraints or safety risks.

“With virtual factories or aircraft hangars, people can train in real-world conditions, virtually. It’s immersive skilling,” Deepak added.

The flexibility and openness of startups, particularly in the EV and clean tech sectors, is becoming a vital ingredient in India’s manufacturing innovation.

“They are the game changers. No legacy baggage. They’re agile and can adopt the latest tech fearlessly,” said Deepak, pointing out that over 800 EV startups are operating in India today.

Dassault Systèmes works closely with several such ventures, offering tools, mentorship, and technical support from concept to prototype. The aim, Deepak explained, is to empower them to scale with both speed and precision.

Startups, however, are not the only ones embracing this mindset. Deepak encourages even internal teams to operate with an entrepreneurial outlook, constantly iterating, problem-solving, and thinking beyond legacy systems.

“Whether you’re a startup founder or a young engineer, we must think with that mindset, fast, creative, and resilient,” he said.

As automation reshapes factory roles, talent upskilling is emerging as a national imperative. The challenge lies in preparing both existing workers and future professionals for the shift to smart manufacturing.

“We need to look at both ends, future workforce in academia, and the current workforce in transition,” Deepak said.

He emphasised the need to reform educational curricula to reflect real-world industrial requirements. Project-based learning, cross-functional exposure, and rapid adaptation of syllabi must replace outdated rote methods.

“We need dynamic syllabi, project-based learning, and cross-functional exposure. That’s how we prepare talent for real-world roles,” he added.

According to Ravikiran, this workforce transition is not just about technical skilling but about instilling adaptability. “When every second process is digitalised, you need a worker who can switch hats quickly. Engineer, analyst, designer, all in one.”

Sustainability is now viewed as both a compliance necessity and a strategic differentiator. Companies are rethinking material choices, energy sources, and product designs to align with green goals.

“It is a cost, but it’s also a strategic lever,” Praveen observed. “From lighting automation to water conservation to switching to solar, every initiative helps.”

He explained how new materials, lighter, stronger, and sometimes biodegradable, are being explored to cut emissions and improve performance. In EVs, for example, weight reduction boosts range and lowers material consumption, tying sustainability directly to efficiency.

Dassault Systèmes is working with companies to integrate sustainability principles from the design stage itself, enabling “design-to-reuse” systems where circularity is built into the lifecycle.

“This platform brings the intersection of business and technology to life,” said Ravikiran, speaking about the purpose behind India Leadership Talk.

The series aims to showcase practical insights from Indian industrial leaders on how innovation is applied on the ground, from electric vehicles and aerospace to pharmaceuticals and green factories.

“From EVs to aerospace to renewable energy, we’ll hear how companies are preparing for the future. It’s going to be an exciting journey,” added Praveen.

India’s manufacturing narrative is undergoing a fundamental redefinition. It’s no longer just about growing faster, it’s about growing smarter, cleaner, and more collaboratively. With policy, academia, startups, and industry aligning on one platform, the possibility of achieving the $1 trillion manufacturing goal seems more tangible than ever.

And as India Leadership Talk continues, it promises to track this journey, not as an abstract vision, but as it unfolds, sector by sector, decision by decision, inside the new factories of India.

• Published On Aug 8, 2025 at 11:04 AM IST

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