Rane (Madras) Ltd.: Fixing the Foundations for Flow and Competitiveness

Abstract

India's auto-component sector is expanding rapidly with growing export opportunities but faces significant challenges including input cost volatility, shifting technology paradigms, and evolving regulatory demands. At Rane (Madras) Ltd. (RML), Puducherry, internship observations revealed issues of machine downtime, elevated rejection rates, supplier concentration risks, and limited automation that suppressed operational throughput and compressed profit margins. This case reframes these symptoms as systemic problems best addressed through lean manufacturing principles, total productive maintenance (TPM), supplier diversification, and digital monitoring. These interventions aim to stabilize manufacturing flow while positioning the company for the transition toward electric vehicle (EV)-linked product lines. The broader industry context includes drivers such as domestic demand growth and Make in India policies, while headwinds include technology shifts and regulatory complexity. This case offers actionable insights for operational excellence and competitive sustainability within India’s growing auto-component manufacturing sector.