Published on May 07, 2026
As part of its continuous improvement initiatives in Supply Chain Management (SCM), a delegation from Voltas CAC Waghodia Plant visited Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles (PV), Sanand Plant-1 on 11 April 2026 for a structured benchmarking exercise. The visit aimed at learning SCM and manufacturing practices, with special focus on sheet metal inward processes, material handling systems, stores management, and vendor engagement practices.
Established in 2010 and spread across 1,100 acres, the Sanand plant is one of Tata Motors’ youngest and most advanced manufacturing facilities. Located in the Sanand automotive hub, the plant employs over 6,000 direct and indirect employees and is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, advanced robotics, and Industry 4.0 practices. The highly mechanized and lean manufacturing facility houses Press, Body-in-White (BIW), Paint, Assembly, and Powertrain shops, and produces multiple passenger vehicle models across ICE and EV platforms. The facility has successfully transitioned from a single-model plant to a flexible multi-model plant with high asset utilization and scalability, while also being recognized as a water-positive plant.
Knowledge Sharing and Best Practices
The Voltas delegation interacted with senior leaders from Tata Motors, including Alok Dwivedi (GM, Press & BIW Operations), Vivek Deshmukh (GM, SCM), Amol Chincholikar (DGM, SCM Warehousing), and Ramakrishnan K (DGM, BIW Operations), who shared valuable insights across the SCM value chain.
Key discussions covered advance procurement planning for high lead-time A-class items, integration of the S&OP cycle with procurement decisions, and structured communication and monitoring of vendors for PO adherence. Best practices were shared on inventory management for B and C class items using min-max levels, MOQ-based ordering, and Kanban systems integrated with SAP.
The team also gained insights into comprehensive vendor evaluation frameworks covering delivery, cost, quality, safety, and sustainability, along with IT-enabled performance monitoring systems. Vendor development programs, criteria for Direct Online (DOL) / Green Channel status, handling of single-source suppliers, and development of alternate vendors were discussed in detail. Additionally, best-in-class practices in material tracking, logistics visibility, sheet metal transportation, surface-finish protection, FIFO maintenance, GRN/MRN turnaround, stage-wise material release, operator-level SQDCM monitoring, RCA, CAPA execution, and effective display and usage of SOPs on the shopfloor were demonstrated.
Way Forward for Voltas CAC
Building on the learnings from Tata Motors, Voltas CAC has initiated focused follow-up actions to strengthen its SCM ecosystem. This includes engaging with Tata Motors Central Procurement Team to understand governance models, procurement workflows, and technology enablers in greater detail. In parallel, Voltas CAC plans to conduct structured training programs on SAP PP and MM modules for internal users, supported by SAP consultants, to enhance system usage, efficiency, and data accuracy.
The benchmarking visit provided valuable exposure to mature SCM practices and reaffirmed Voltas CAC’s commitment to operational excellence, digital enablement, and continuous improvement across its supply chain operations.