As per a report by OmniScience Capital India's manufacturing sector is expected to be a key driver of economic growth contributing 20% of India's GDP by 2035 and presenting a USD 3 trillion market opportunity.

To meet the need for smart manufacturing leaders in this sector IIM Calcutta will launch the Advanced Programme in Smart Manufacturing Leadership (APSML) in association with VCNow Executive Education which is a Unified cooperation Services LLP owned brand.  This unique eight month program is tailored to senior professionals, plant heads, CXOs, operations executives and entrepreneurs keen to implement smart and digital manufacturing strategies leveraging Industry 4.0 technologies to attain operational excellence and competitiveness.

IIM Calcutta's director, Prof. Alok Kumar Rai stated that the school was dedicated to developing the next generation of leaders and that the APSML program was a calculated step to provide professionals the technical know-how, creativity and vision they need to lead India's smart manufacturing revolution.

Prof. R Rajesh Babu, Dean of Executive Education at IIM Calcutta said that while the institute continues to innovate and develop smart manufacturing, the program is an extensive investment towards shaping the future of the industry and the country. He continued to state that it would equip participants with an in depth knowledge of Industry 4.0, in addition to the capability to design and lead digital transformation programs through the application of advanced technology. He explained that in order to improve industrial performance, it will be accomplished by integrating technologies such as IoT, AI, robotics, digital twins and cloud computing. The program curriculum has been designed with care to address key industry-specific subjects. The program emphasises data centric topics like data driven manufacturing, cybersecurity, data governance and system modelling, which equips participants with better decision making tools to enhance business performance through optimal production processes and greater responsiveness and efficiency said Prof. Partha Priya Datta APSML Program Director.

It was stated that since the industry needed technical, managerial and operational capabilities combined together the curriculum focused on strategic and operational elements. The aim was to integrate sustainable strategy, supply chain management, change management and digital manufacturing leadership skills into the learners' profiles. The program was designed to help them develop a culture of continuous improvement and promote strategic innovation within their companies using intelligent manufacturing.

Prof. Vishal Bansal, APSML Program Director highlighted the significance of experiential learning in Industry 4.0 as genuine innovation demanded hands on experience. He characterised teaching methods as hands on Industry 4.0 tool demos, capstone projects, industry leaders' guest lectures, group projects, simulation, gamified learning and case studies for Indian and international manufacturing businesses.

It was also said that the executive-friendly nature of the programme was a result of its smooth online design, enabled by a partnership with VCNow Executive Education that utilized state-of-the-art technology. Pulak Pattanayak, VCNow's Director and Co-Founder, showed excitement in partnering with IIM Calcutta to launch the innovative program saying it was perfectly suited to their commitment to leveraging smart technology for transformational learning experiences. He further stated that they were eagerly awaiting being able to help participants become leaders in their chosen professions by providing them with effortless access to IIM Calcutta's global-level knowledge and resources through their technology and student support infrastructure. Online courses are conducted once a week on Saturdays for three hours which is convenient for professionals to synchronise their work and study routine. The program also entails a four-day campus immersion which offers the much needed hands on experience.

The Centre of Excellence in Manufacturing of IIM Calcutta has already earned a reputation of producing top notch programs and the Advanced Programme in Smart Manufacturing Leadership aims to leverage this experience.

It is designed for candidates having a minimum of 8 years of work experience in manufacturing, operations, supply chain or allied industries. IIM Calcutta's APSML is a recent and pioneering program that is adding to India's national interest in becoming a world manufacturing hub. This course which equips professionals with the latest skills and knowledge will shape the destiny of India's manufacturing economy.