We spoke to Simona Jadronova about changing supply chains in India. She is Vice Director of INTORQ India Pvt. Ltd., a company that provides reliable brake and clutch solutions globally.
The Covid-19 pandemic has shown that all of us – regardless of industry or service – can suddenly be exposed to risks and crises. Were you prepared for this?
Simona Jadronova: Of course not, no one could have even imagined that something like this would happen. We were not prepared for the home office transition. Not all of our employees were equipped with laptops etc. It was a sudden and shocking news/change for all of us. But we managed and learned to adapt and respond to risks and crises. It takes the whole team to make something work, every single one counts. And we have tried to combine all our strengths and respond promptly to every possible and potential change that could have a drastic impact on our company and our growth. We managed not to lay off a single employee and pay everyone's salaries, even during the closure. And with each month we were better prepared for new situations and similar events. Our way of working has adapted to stress and risk factors. I am very proud of my team because everyone worked together so well.
What consequences does your company draw from the crisis for the company itself, but also for its employees? Have you developed protective measures that continue to apply/will apply?
Simona Jadronova: Well, we have developed some protective measures such as: temperature control, wearing a mask at all times, face protection (in production), social distancing. The offices are disinfected and disinfectant can be found everywhere. In addition, all of our employees and their family members are now fully vaccinated. As a company, we organized the vaccination campaign for you. Our employees had the opportunity to work from home, which was a completely new experience for some of them. And of course we have to be careful that this is not abused. Now we know that we can also work from home (office workers), but of course production can only take place in the factory. But we also learned that we are more productive when we work on site in the factory because we can see the entire process and also our other colleagues.
Were you able to avoid negative consequences of the crisis?
Simona Jadronova: Yes, we managed to avoid negative consequences. We reacted quickly and adjusted everything before we had to go into the second lockdown. So we actually only lost one month in which we were unable to operate during the entire pandemic.
In many industries we see that crises also trigger and accelerate restructuring and changes. What conclusions have you drawn from the last few months?
Simona Jadronova: We as a production unit didn't really need a major restructuring. For us it was more of a mental shift and understanding and accepting the new situations, challenges and opportunities to do business. We have had to get used to the fact that more is happening online and via Zoom. The only big change was that all customer visits were conducted via video calls. This was indeed a big change, but it also showed us that this can be more efficient and environmentally friendly as fewer trips are made.
Changes have good and bad sides. It always depends on the perspective. I try to see every change as a positive way forward and adapt to it as best I can.
Supply chains have been changing since the Covid-19 pandemic. There has been a change for years - the supply chain is becoming more and more complex. What changes have you already had to make due to external influences? What changes are planned in the future?
It's true that things are becoming more and more complex. But for us it's more or less the same. We didn't have to make any drastic changes to ourselves. No changes are planned so far.
Working with suppliers in India – a difficult topic?
Simona Jadronova: A very difficult topic. And I think it is difficult for any foreign company to understand that such problems even arise. In Germany, for example, you don't really need an extra position for follow-up activities. It goes without saying that you will receive an order confirmation. The material is delivered punctually on the agreed date. In this country, even if you place an order and the supplier confirms it, you have to follow up every day and even then you can't
be sure that the material will be delivered on time. The same applies to quality, it is never constant. And I wonder why the general attitude is this: it is understood and accepted that it is the way it is. Nothing has changed in the last few years...
Corporate Social Responsibility – to what extent does the topic already play a role in your company?
Simona Jadronova: Yes, CSR is a big and important topic in our company. We explain to our team the necessity and importance for our future. As a company, we also hold events and activities in which we involve all employees. Among other things, we helped purchase oxygen equipment for India when it was unavailable during the pandemic. We also recently planted new trees along our factory. Each employee has chosen a tree, planted it and has to look after the tree all year round. It is associated with the need for a healthy environment and why trees are important. The campaign turned out to be great teamwork.
We also organize events and activities about waste and how important it is not to throw it away somewhere, but to dispose of it properly.
How do you assess the competitive situation? Do you think the CSR law should be mandatory for everyone – including smaller companies?
Simona Jadronova: The law should always be binding for everyone. Why should you make differences? Everyone should receive and give the same. But we are in India… it is never the same for everyone. There are always certain groups that have it easier in one way or another.
Thank you for the interview and the insight into your company!
