EQ In Exclusive Conversation With Mr.Harish Manikireddy, Senior Manager – Operations at Sungrow India

1. How did Sungrow overcome Covid lockdown for supply chain activities for production at factory?

We as a global company have lots of supply chain activities involved in production and we are also faced with difficulties during the covid lockdown period like all others, but we take this lockdown period as challenge and worked proactively with our Suppliers, Logistics partners and internal cross functional teams. We planned raw materials purchase both locally and imported during lockdown with the support of our suppliers and logistics partners. We followed government regulations strictly on social distance. Day to day we interact in meetings, understand situations outside, take necessary steps to achieve our target to complete the production and dispatches on time without any delays.

2. What kind of impact faced by Sungrow on BIS certification notification on raw materials / finished goods at the time of customs clearance?

Sungrow India has not much impacted due to BIS certification. The number of testing laboratories are not many in India for the variants or models that are offered by Sungrow, and it takes lot of time for getting BIS certifications. However, we have faced little difficulties in terms of customs clearance process. MNRE is very aware of the situation about testing laboratories in India and delays of getting certifications, So given exemptions notification on quarterly basis to customs which has supported us to custom clear our products using self-declarations

3. How was the impact on Imported FG Inverters because of 20% customs duty hike on BCD (basic Customs duty from 10% to 20%)?

The BCD Increase from 10% to 20% on inverters has impacted on sales majorly for all the Inverters suppliers. As we have seen, most of the customers are not ready to take the hit due to the extra cost of 10%. Fortunately, Sungrow have strategically planned to the local manufacturing facility in India which over comes this challenge easily and we are top in the competition where customers have shown interestin our Made in India inverters products. We are proud to say that we are contributing to “Atmanirbhar Bharat mission” as part of our Prime Minister top priorities in Renewable Energy industry and contributing to improve the Indian economy and providing clean power for all.

4. What is the Role of Logistics in Supply Chain Management?

The entire process of monitoring the transportation of goods and services from one place to its intended destination is termed as “logistics.” The term logistics was originally used to refer to the transportation of equipment to military armies on the ground.

However, in modern times, logistics is not just limited to its definition. It can shapeshift very easily to fit into the demands of an organization. It is more than just delivering the final goods to the consumers. The logistics department is also tasked with the responsibility of warehousing, managing outbound and inbound transportation, planning to meet demands, and handling materials. They are also in charge of inventory management, transport management, and fulfilment of orders.

5. What is the Difference Between Supply Chain Management and Logistics?

Supply chain management and logistics are two very different processes. While supply chain management is confined to the bigger picture, logistics is comparatively small.

a. Logistics is all about producing the goods in one organization and distributing them amongst the consumers who demand the goods.
b. Supply chain management, on the other hand, is a group of organizations that strive to distribute goods in voluminous quantities among their consumers. In this sense, it is a large-scale operation involving multiple moving parts.

6. What are the Main Challenges Related to the Supply Chain that Solar Companies are Currently Facing?

The supply chain is a vast and fruitful field, brimming with immense opportunities for exploration and experimentation. In the present competitive market, companies that do not invest in supply chain management end up paying a hefty price.

These companies fail to consider many crucial factors like:

a. Rising costs throughout the supply chain.
b. Consumer demands for improved delivery speed and customer satisfaction.
c. Volatile risks in the supply chain such as market fluctuations, trade disputes, etc.
d. The complexities of risk and cost management.