Made in India: The Quality Revolution

Since the early 1990s, India’s manufacturing sector has adopted Total Quality Management (TQM) principles to enhance processes, minimise defects, and boost efficiency. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has played a crucial role in creating and updating thousands of standards to ensure product quality, safety, and environmental compliance. The government’s implementation of Quality Control Orders (QCOs) has made certification mandatory for many industrial and consumer products, encouraging manufacturers to integrate quality assurance into their production processes. Indian manufacturers, particularly in the automotive, chemicals, and engineering sectors, are increasingly obtaining international quality certifications, such as ISO 9001 and ISO/TS 16949, thereby boosting their export competitiveness and gaining access to new markets. Technological advancements, improved testing infrastructure, and a focus on skill development drive this push for quality. Remote inspections and real-time data analytics are being used to maintain standards and ensure consistent quality. These efforts are reflected in the steady growth of engineering exports, enhanced brand reputation, and India’s rising reputation as a dependable manufacturing hub worldwide.

However, challenges such as high implementation costs, skill shortages, and infrastructure gaps persist. Focused investments and policy support for SMEs are crucial to sustaining and growing this quality movement.