Larger & Different Learning Factory

So Qimpro Convention crossed it’s 25th milestone on 11-12 November. Yes, it was larger and different.

Larger in terms of the Quality & Innovation entries to the two competitions. The QualTech Prize for Quality Improvement attracted 50 entries; and BestPrax Prize for Innovative Practices attracted 45. Further, the delegate attendance on each of the two days crossed 250. We are now set to explore promoting the competitions in the Asia Pacific and MENA regions starting 2014.

It was different because we needed to have parallel sessions for service and manufacturing. This did prove a challenge, but then Qimpro thrives on challenges. We had not anticipated the overwhelming interest in manufacturing.

We were also different by virtue of the fact that three B-School student videos on 5S practices in ‘paanwalla’ booths were shared with the audience from industry. Were these students proud!!

And oh yes, RBS presented their experience in a Creativity Lab doing Imaginary-Brainstorming on Deepika Padukone for developing an innovative solution to a problem on customer engagement. These logical professionals are converts and ready to evangelize the power of Creativity Tools.

The lessons learned would weigh a ton. However, the ones that struck me the most were:
1. On-line Eye Testing… now that’s innovative
2. Filigree Castings.. the benefit in terms of health of karigars. Wow!

By strange coincidence both projects were from Titan, A Tata company.

Have you heard of Gamesa Wind Turbine? They increased agricultural output in the land sold to them for wind energy! That’s a great win-win!!

And there was Apollo Gleneagles Hospitals. They increased productivity by reducing the average length of stay. They absorbed more admissions as well as reduced costs…Super!

There were also BestPrax Benchmark trophies for Leadership Governance awarded to HDFC, Tata Power, Yes Bank, Hinduja Hospital, and Thirumalai Chemicals. Yes, there was a lot of learning on values deployment, transparency, risk management, sustainability, social media engagement, and more.

How much can one absorb in two days? It felt like I was in a Learning Factory! Yes, I am referring to Qimpro Convention.