Innovative leadership & sustainable growth: A deep dive into Avanish Singh Visen’s vision for glass

Interview
MR. Avanish Singh Visen
CEO & Director, Ajay Poly Pvt Ltd.
Innovative leadership &
sustainable growth: A deep
dive into Avanish Singh
Visen’s vision for glass
64 Glass Bulletin | April - June, 2024

Interview • 2
APPL CEO In Conversation With GB On Navigating Market
Shifts, Innovating For The Future
From his strategic vision to leadership style, Avanish Singh Visen shares his insights for
success in glass manufacturing and long-term plans for Ajay Poly Pvt Ltd.
A
seasoned leader in the glass
manufacturing industry with
substantial experience, Mr
Avanish Singh Visen has navigated
Ajay Poly through dynamic
market shifts and technological
advancements. His insights offer
a profound understanding of
innovation, sustainability and market
competitiveness.
In this interview with Glass
Bulletin, we explore APPL’s trajectory
and strategic direction under the
leadership of Mr Visen.
Excerpts from the conversation:
– How has the market evolved over
the last 5 years, and what key trends
have you observed? What is your
leadership style?
Over the past five years, the glass
manufacturing market has witnessed
significant evolution driven by
technological advancements,
changing consumer preferences,
and sustainability concerns. Key
trends that have emerged include
growing demand for energyefficient
and smart glass solutions,
increased emphasis on sustainable
manufacturing practices, rising
adoption of speciality glass in
various industries, and expanding
applications of glass in sectors
such as automotive, construction,
and electronics. Additionally, there
has been a notable shift towards
customisation and personalisation,
with customers seeking unique
and tailored glass products to meet
their specific needs and aesthetic
preferences.
As a leader within the company, my
leadership style is characterised by
a combination of visionary thinking,
strategic planning and empowering
others to excel. I believe in setting
a clear vision and direction for the
company while also fostering a
culture of innovation, collaboration,
and continuous improvement. By
encouraging open communication,
valuing diverse perspectives, and
empowering employees to take
ownership of their work, I strive
to create a dynamic and inclusive
work environment where everyone
feels motivated and supported to
contribute their best.
Moreover, I place a strong emphasis
on integrity, agility, heart-to-heart
relationships, fast response to the
market, accountability, and ethical
conduct, ensuring that business
practices align with our core values
and principles. By leading by example
and fostering a culture of excellence,
I aim to drive the company’s success
and sustain its long-term growth in a
rapidly evolving market landscape.
– Where does your company stand
in terms of market share and
competitiveness, and how does it
distinguish itself from competitors?
Our company holds a significant
market share within the appliance
glass manufacturing industry, owing
to our commitment to excellence,
innovation, and customer satisfaction.
We maintain a competitive edge
by continually investing in research
and development to develop
cutting-edge glass solutions that
address emerging market needs and
challenges. Moreover, our customercentric
approach, coupled with a
focus on operational efficiency and
sustainability, distinguishes us from
competitors, allowing us to deliver
superior value to our customers and
maintain a strong position in the
market.
By leveraging our extensive
expertise, state-of-the-art
manufacturing facilities and a
dedicated team of professionals,
we consistently exceed customer
expectations and set industry
benchmarks for quality, reliability,
and innovation. Our emphasis on
continuous improvement, coupled
with a proactive approach to market
trends and customer feedback,
enables us to adapt swiftly to
changing market dynamics and
maintain our competitive advantage
in the rapidly evolving glass
manufacturing landscape.
– What are the long-term goals for
the company, and how do you plan
to achieve them, including targeting
specific markets or segments for
growth and sustainability?
The long-term goals encompass
sustainable growth, innovation,
market diversification, global
expansion, and operational
excellence. To achieve these
objectives, we have plans to invest
in research and development, form
strategic partnerships, adopt a
customer-centric approach, invest in
talent development, and implement
sustainability initiatives across the
organisation.
Additionally, we have planned to
focus on market segmentation and
targeting, exploring inorganic growth
opportunities through mergers
and acquisitions, and establishing
robust performance monitoring
mechanisms to ensure agility and
adaptability in response to evolving
market dynamics. Through these
strategic initiatives, we aim to solidify
our position as a leader in the glass
manufacturing industry while driving
long-term value for stakeholders.
– Can you describe the infrastructure
of your company, focusing on
manufacturing, research and
development, and logistics?
Manufacturing Infrastructure:
- Production Facilities: We operate
state-of-the-art manufacturing
plants equipped with specialised
machinery for glass processing,
shaping, tempering, printing, and
finishing processes. Our plants are
strategically located in the north, west
and southern parts of India.
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Interview
- Quality Control Labs: Integrated
quality control labs are strategically
positioned within manufacturing
facilities to ensure adherence to
stringent quality standards at every
stage of production.
- Safety Measures: Our
manufacturing plants are equipped
with advanced safety systems and
protocols to ensure the well-being
of employees and the protection of
equipment.
Research and Development
Infrastructure:
- R&D centres: We maintain
dedicated research and
development centres staffed with
highly skilled scientists, engineers,
and technicians.
- Testing facilities: Our centres
are equipped with advanced testing
equipment and simulation tools
to research glass compositions,
properties, and manufacturing
processes.
- Collaborative spaces: Our
collaborative spaces facilitate crossfunctional
collaboration among R&D
teams, fostering innovation and the
development of cutting-edge glass
products.
Logistics Infrastructure:
- Distribution centres: Our
strategically located distribution
centres/manufacturing facilities
facilitate storage and distribution of
finished glass products to respective
regional customers.
- Transportation fleet: We
maintain a diverse fleet of vehicles,
including trucks and specialised
carriers, to ensure timely delivery of
products to customers.
- Supply chain management
systems: Our advanced supply chain
management systems integrate
logistics operations with production
planning, inventory management,
and customer order fulfilment
processes.
- Warehousing facilities: Our
modern warehousing facilities
provide ample storage space for raw
materials, semi-finished products,
and finished goods, optimising
inventory management and order
fulfilment processes.
“
My leadership style
is characterised by a
combination of visionary
thinking, strategic planning
and empowering others to
excel. I believe in setting a
clear vision and direction
for the company while
also fostering a culture of
innovation, collaboration,
and continuous
improvement.
“
Overall, the infrastructure of our
company is designed to support
efficient manufacturing operations,
drive innovation through research
and development, and ensure
seamless logistics and supply chain
management to meet customer
demands effectively.
– What steps has your company
taken to ensure quality control and
efficiency in production?
Here’s a brief overview of the steps
we have in place to ensure quality
control and efficiency in production:
- Standardised processes: We
have implemented standardised
production processes to maintain
consistency and quality across the
production line.
- Quality assurance protocols: Our
rigorous quality assurance protocols,
including regular inspections and
testing, ensure that products meet
specified quality standards.
- Employee training: We invest
time and money in employee training
and skill development to ensure
workers are proficient in their tasks
and can identify and address quality
issues promptly.
- Continuous improvement:
We place special emphasis on
continuous improvement and
encourage our employees to identify
inefficiencies and propose solutions
to streamline production processes.
- Utilisation of technology:
We have incorporated advanced
technologies such as automation,
AI and data analytics to optimise
production efficiency and enhance
quality control.
- Supplier quality management:
We have implemented robust
supplier quality management
systems to ensure that raw materials
and components meet required
standards, preventing defects in the
final product.
- Feedback loops: We have
established feedback loops
from customers, employees, and
stakeholders which help us identify
areas for improvement and ensure
that production processes align with
customer expectations.
– In terms of supply chain, what
strategies has your company
implemented to mitigate risks
and ensure the timely delivery of
products?
- Diversification of suppliers:
We avoid over-reliance on a single
supplier by diversifying our supplier
base to reduce the risk if one
supplier faces issues like production
halts, natural disasters, or financial
problems.
- Inventory management:
Implementing robust inventory
management strategies such as
safety stock, just-in-time (JIT)
inventory systems, or strategic
stockpiling help us buffer against
supply chain disruptions.
- Supplier relationships: Building
strong relationships with key
suppliers ensures better reliability
and more flexibility in handling
urgent demands or unexpected
changes.
- Supply chain visibility: Enhancing
visibility across the entire supply
chain helps in identifying potential
issues early and addressing them
proactively.
- Risk assessment and
management: Regularly conducting
risk assessments to identify
vulnerabilities in the supply chain is
vital.
66 Glass Bulletin | April - June, 2024

Interview • 4
- Responsive logistics: Employing
a flexible logistics strategy that
includes multiple transportation
options and routes to safeguard
against disruptions.
- Technological integration:
Employing technologies such as IoT,
AI and blockchain enhance supply
chain efficiency and transparency.
- Regular performance review:
Continuously monitoring the
performance of the supply chain
and conducting regular reviews
enable adjustments to strategies
in response to new risks and
inefficiencies.
– What has been the most rewarding
aspect of leading your company in the
glass processing industry?
- Innovation and development:
Being at the forefront of
technological advances in glass
processing is immensely rewarding.
We are always at the forefront of
developing new, more efficient
methods of glass production,
improving the quality of the glass,
or inventing new types of glass
for various applications for home
appliances.
- Sustainability efforts: We take
pride in driving the industry towards
more sustainable practices like
implementing recycling programs,
reducing energy consumption, or
innovating eco-friendly materials
and processes that decrease the
environmental impact of glass
production.
- Economic impact: We always
contribute to the economy not just
through the direct employment
of workers, but also through the
broader economic activities that
the industry supports, including
construction, automotive,
technology, and more.
- Client solutions: We are always
solving client problems with
customised solutions. Whether
it’s delivering glass that enhances
architectural beauty or meets
specific technical requirements, the
ability to meet and exceed client
expectations can be very fulfilling.
- Team building and leadership:
Leading a team, nurturing talent,
and seeing employees grow within
our is certainly very rewarding. We
take pride in creating a workplace
culture that fosters professional
development and personal growth.
- Market expansion: Our success in
new markets and our commitment
towards increasing the company’s
share in existing markets through
strategic partnerships, global
expansions and innovative marketing
strategies is our source of pride and
satisfaction.
Email: avanish.singh@dcjgroup.in
Website: www.dcjgroup.in
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