Mr Deep C Anand

During his tenure, Chandrakant Patel has contributed remarkably towards the overall growth of the organisation with his innovative ideas and out of the box thinking capability. During his 38 years with the Group in various assignments, he contributed a great deal towards the overall growth of the organisation by bringing quantum improvement in quality and through “breakthrough Management”.

In its endeavour to be a global player, Anand believes in having the involvement of its international partners. As a step towards realisation of this belief, it also has board meetings in countries where its collaborators are located.

Anand believes in and is committed to develop global managers through integration of its people with its Strategic International Partners. In keeping with this belief, Anand has an ongoing programme, wherein 31 Anand managers has been on secondment overseas till date for stints ranging between 3 - 36 months.

In addition, some managers with the potential to be future leaders at Anand, are also sent abroad for advanced business management studies.

The concept of employing Operating Engineers (OEs) at Anand, first emerged in 1992. In view of the changing and competitive business environment which demanded world-class quality products, the Group realised the need for a 'knowledge workforce'.

Knowledge workers have the ability to learn and grasp things faster and apply the same at their workplace. This facilitates self-managed, team-based working as the knowledge worker also has a better attitude towards quality work by virtue of his/her education and training.

Thus, having knowledge workers instead of the traditional blue-collar workforce was not only futuristic but also inevitable in the prevailing business scenario.

On an experimental basis, Operating Engineers were first inducted at Gabriel India's Ambad plant. The results were encouraging and accordingly, a decision was taken to employ these youngsters to run machines in all plants. Today, the Group has 2800 Operating Engineers, out of which 27 % are women. They are Diploma holders in Engineering and those who show faster development move into the staff cadre and are positioned in different functions such as technical field support, marketing, material, Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering etc.

Anand has set itself a target of 30% women employees. Currently the figure stands at 14% but some of the more recently established companies and facilities of the Group, have close to 30% women.

What sets Anand apart? The policy is fair. Anand has no reservations in hiring women in any function but is equally demanding of women as it is of men. Irrespective of gender, Anand demands hard work, the drive to move ahead and a solid work ethos that encourages women to foray into an industry which is still considered, the main preserve of men.

Furthermore, the Group's Chairman, Mr Deep C Anand, is an ardent proponent of equal opportunity employment. He is a firm believer that both men and women are equally capable in assisting the growth of an enterprise. This belief has taken strong roots and induction of women has become an integral part of the culture at Anand. Today, there are women Engineers, Chartered Accountants, Corporate Communicators, Information Technologists, HR Managers, Marketing Professionals and Operating Engineers, with several of them even heading functions.

To ensure that women staying away from their families do not face problems of accommodation, health and personal aid, Anand has provided hostel, transport and medical facilities, especially for Operating Engineers. If required, counseling is also made available through its caring welfare arm - SNS-Foundation - which provides the support system needed for women at all times.

Anand's Business Philosophy stipulates 30% of its total sales turnover for exports to World markets. The Group has been exporting established products like Shock Absorbers, Engine Bearings, Filters, Piston Rings and Gaskets for several years and in Piston Rings and Filters, has achieved an export of 16% of its turnover. Overseas customers of Anand include reputed companies in Europe, USA and Asia Pacific. With the establishment of its new joint ventures, Anand has now started export of Axles, Driveshafts, Slack Adjusters and Hydraulic Brakes. 'The total export sales in 2007-2008 was US$ 129 million, which in the current year is expected to be US$ 250 million.

Two of Anand Companies – Gabriel India and Purolator India have an ‘Export House’ status, bestowed by the Government of India.