Published on January 24, 2020
Tata Metaliks wanted to develop a robust Knowledge Management (KM) process to leverage and institutionalise the tacit knowledge of employees, customers, and suppliers. To learn from the KM processes at Tata Steel and Tata Chemicals, the company participated in the Excellence Practice Implementation Champion (EPIC) programme.
The EPIC session, organised by Tata Business Excellence Group (TBExG), in March 2019, was held in Jamshedpur. The event enabled the team from Tata Metaliks to realise the depth of the process at Tata Steel and understand the challenges faced during the transformation phase. The team also interacted with employees from Tata Chemicals to get first-hand information of their approaches. Based on the knowledge and learnings, Tata Metaliks developed a customised process for its business.
Post the EPIC session, Tata Metaliks implemented the KM process within the organisation. To implement the process, Tata Metaliks discussed the learnings in its Apex reviews and under the mentorship of its MD, decided to focus the transformation on three pillars of simplicity (easy to access), ambience, and quality of content. In a phased manner, Tata Metaliks undertook the following initiatives:
- Developed a governance structure: The KM oversight task force comprised of the Information Technology (IT) Head, Human Resource (HR) Head, Business Excellence (BE) Head, a functional expert, and a coordinator.
- Identified knowledge sources: Decided on the initial approaches for assimilation of the material and approaches for sharing – having a short session in Apex reviews – sharing learnings from plant visits, seminars, special training sessions and using the EDGE portal.
- TBExG webinars: The team shared information related to TBExG webinars with the relevant target audience and uploaded the webinar decks in the KM portal.
- Portal upgradation: The KM Portal was upgraded to make it attractive, conveniently accessible, and easy to use.
- Codification of tacit knowledge: Documentation of all improvement initiatives (TPM and Shikhar) as a separate best practice section distinct from general knowledge pieces.
- Quarterly reward and recognition initiative: This was based on a structured point system that rewards both contribution and usage of knowledge.
- Digital knowledge sharing: This was done through structured capability building workshops, conducted by digital champions covering both officers and supervisors, as well as reverse mentoring sessions with senior leadership.
Tata Metaliks now aims to improve this process and utilise it as an essential tool to facilitate the achievement of its strategic objectives.
About the EPIC Programme
EPIC (Excellence Practice Implementation Champion) carries forward the Tata Best Practices programme by helping companies adapt best practices from the group through a structured collaborative process, under the guidance of Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) from Best Practice organisations. EPIC is a platform that brings together the provider and the receiver companies together to enable successful adaptation and implementation of best practices.