Product details

Lucas-TVS Limited manufactures automotive components and reaches out to all segments of the automotive industry. In 1985, the top management at Lucas-TVS had initiated a journey to make their firm a world-class manufacturing organisation. The company's oldest plant at Padi, Chennai, acted as a test bed for several of their initiatives. The case describes the steps that Lucas-TVS management took for implementing this change process in manufacturing during the period 1985-1998. In particular, the strategy adopted by the top management for securing worker buy-in and recognising continuous training as a precursor to system changes, highlight the need for aligning the workforce objectives with that of the firm. Likewise, the decision to delay hard investments and the introduction of new technology reflects the company's conservative financial strategy. The case concludes at an interesting stage where a number of critical issues identified by the chief executive of the company had to be addressed. This case was sponsored by the Indiana University CIBER Case Collection.