Cloud Tech Boosts Mansons' Auto Manufacturing

The automotive manufacturing sector is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by technological advancements and evolving global demands. Mansons International, a global leader in manufacturing components for trucks, rail, and agricultural vehicles, has been at the forefront of leveraging technology to redefine operational efficiency. Their partnership with Infor, a leading enterprise software company, exemplifies how a manufacturing powerhouse can transform its operations to meet global demands effectively.

In an interview with Terry Smagh, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Asia Pacific Japan, Infor, and Gautam Khanduja, Director of Mansons International, sheds light on the impact of cloud technology on manufacturing processes and supply chain management.

Mansons International operates across diverse sectors, producing parts for trucks, commercial vehicles, and railways, with recent ventures into material handling. With a global presence spanning advanced and developing markets, the company has introduced a unique vehicle lifecycle tracking system, ensuring serviceability and visibility throughout a vehicle's lifespan. This approach ensures that vehicles are serviced optimally, irrespective of ownership changes.

With customers spread across India and globally in regions like Africa, Europe, and North America, 

"This lifecycle tracking is our USP," says Khanduja. "We monitor vehicles globally, leveraging VIN numbers, service parts, and obsolescence data. This requires immense computational power to manage data on VIN numbers, service parts, obsolescence, and much more. Managing this vast amount of data required a robust, centralized computing solution, prompting us to rethink our technological foundation."

In India, Mansons delivers to over 16,000 PIN codes, ensuring seamless support with five distribution centers, set to increase to 16 within two years. Globally, the company boasts 45 distribution points and plans to establish five additional manufacturing sites in the coming years.

“Our value proposition is availability, quality, and predictive servicing. We inform fleet owners in advance about upcoming maintenance needs, ensuring uninterrupted operations,” Khanduja explained. This proactive approach has earned Mansons recognition from marquee clients like ZF, Ashok Leyland, Tata Motors, and global giants such as Paccar, a leader in truck manufacturing in North America and Europe.

Choosing the Right Technology Partner

Mansons' journey with Infor began as a quest for a global technology partner after their legacy software from Godrej became obsolete. While SAP was the initial consideration due to its brand reputation, Mansons sought a more adaptable and customer-aligned solution.

“Our discovery of Infor was serendipitous. While at a Ferrari dealership, I learned they were using Infor. This piqued our interest, and when we engaged with Infor, their responsiveness and alignment with our needs stood out,” shares Khanduja.

“Our initial on-premise server from Infor served us well, but as our operations grew, the need for a cloud-based solution became evident,” said Khanduja. Infor CloudSuite Industrial, specifically designed for manufacturing, offered a comprehensive platform that enabled Mansons to integrate operations across multiple global sites seamlessly.

Why Move to the Cloud?

The shift from on-premise to the cloud wasn’t just a technological upgrade—it was a strategic decision to address challenges like disaster recovery, international data access, and scalability.

“On-premise was like maintaining a dinosaur—it demanded constant care and had significant limitations in disaster recovery and data accessibility,” said Khanduja. Infor’s cloud platform addressed these issues by providing real-time integration, faster data access for international teams, and a robust disaster recovery framework.

Migrating to the cloud addressed several operational challenges for Mansons, including:

1. Disaster Recovery: The cloud offered a robust, secure alternative to cumbersome on-premises systems.

2. Global Integration: With manufacturing operations spanning multiple continents, seamless data access and integration became vital.

3. Scalability: The cloud platform allowed Mansons to adapt quickly to growth in multinational sites and expanding production demands.

While the transition presented challenges, the effort proved worthwhile. “Infor Cloud was built from the ground up, not a repackaged version of its predecessor. This foundational approach made it a powerful tool for us,” says Khanduja.

Enhancing Complex Manufacturing Processes

Mansons' operations involve multiple plants producing complex components. For instance, manufacturing NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness) components involves over 40 ingredients, intricate processes, and synchronization across plants. Infor's solutions streamlined these processes by providing visibility and reducing time inefficiencies.

“Infor’s advanced scripting and integration capabilities have been transformative. It wasn’t a mere upgrade of old systems but a ground-up design that supports our complex workflows,” Khanduja noted. The system enables seamless coordination between plants, ensuring optimal timing and reduced transport delays.

Commenting on the partnership, Terry Smagh emphasized that Infor’s solutions are not tailored to a single customer but designed to address the broader needs of industries like manufacturing.

“Our platform supports extensibility through APIs, data lakes, and connectors, enabling seamless integration with existing systems,” Terry Smagh explained. By focusing on pushing the right workloads to the cloud, Infor ensures flexibility and efficiency, empowering clients like Mansons to adapt to evolving demands.

Impact on Financials and Asset Management

Infor’s platform also transformed Mansons’ financial operations and asset management:

· Asset Management: Tracking and managing equipment across multiple locations became seamless with RFID tagging and lifecycle monitoring.

· Financial Reporting: Monthly P&L generation was streamlined, offering better visibility into financial health.

· Inventory Management: Advanced warehouse management systems (WMS) enabled optimized storage, reduced handling times, and improved resource allocation.

Infor’s Customer-Centric Approach

From Infor's perspective, the partnership showcases their commitment to flexibility and scalability. "We didn’t design a solution specifically for Mansons because the system’s capabilities already aligned with their needs,” explains Terry Smagh.

Infor’s platform stands out due to its:

· Extensibility: APIs, data connectors, and lakes facilitate seamless integration with other systems.

· Workload Optimization: The platform intelligently determines which workloads are suitable for the cloud.

· Industry-Specific Design: Infor’s deep understanding of complex manufacturing processes ensures solutions are tailored to industry challenges.

Tracking the Vehicle Lifecycle

One of the significant challenges in the automotive and manufacturing industries is tracking the lifecycle of vehicles to ensure better servicing and support. As vehicles age, they transition through various use cases and geographic regions.

For example, in India, a truck may operate in tier-one cities for the first 10 years before regulations mandate its relocation to tier-two cities. Beyond the 25-year mark, such vehicles often serve as farm equipment. Similarly, in Europe, vehicles move out of the EU after a decade, finding second lives in Russia, Northern Africa, or Latin America.

Vehicles exhibit a migration pattern akin to wildlife, moving through different roles and regions over their lifetimes. For instance:

· Urban Use: Vehicles in Indian metropolitan areas are limited to 10 years due to environmental regulations.

· Rural Transition: Post-urban life, they transition to tier-2 cities for another 15 years, eventually serving as farm vehicles.

· Global Relocation: In Europe, older vehicles are exported to regions like Russia, North Africa, or Latin America.

This migration is tracked using Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs), forming a comprehensive global database. Building this database is a game-changer, offering manufacturers and service providers insights into vehicle movements, enabling better servicing, parts availability, and customer support.

Digital transformation is also empowering companies to expand their manufacturing capabilities. Advanced ERP systems like those from Infor provide the visibility and operational control needed for vertical expansion. By integrating systems for bookkeeping, quality management, and engineering oversight, businesses can confidently establish new manufacturing sites while maintaining operational excellence.

Investment in state-of-the-art equipment, modern testing facilities, and the latest technologies is crucial for staying ahead. However, such growth would be unsustainable without robust systems that manage data, ensure transparency, and streamline processes. As Smagh noted, "Infor has given us the confidence to invest heavily in capital-intensive projects, knowing we have the tools to manage them effectively."

For organizations navigating the crowded AI marketplace, strategic partnerships are key. Collaborations with technology giants like AWS provide access to cutting-edge research and development, ensuring that adopted solutions are not just trendy but impactful. Smagh explained, “We focus on technologies that make sense for our customers, infusing them into our solutions to drive meaningful digital transformation.”

Simplifying Complex Manufacturing with Plug-and-Play Solutions

The manufacturing industry is often resistant to change due to its rigid processes and high-stakes operations. Digital transformation in this space requires solutions that are not only innovative but also seamlessly integrative. Plug-and-play platforms offer a way forward, enabling manufacturers to deploy solutions across global factories without overhauling existing systems.

Infor’s approach to enhancing platforms rather than reinventing them ensures stability and scalability. Whether in industrial manufacturing, food and beverage, or fashion, these solutions empower organizations to modernize operations without disrupting core processes.

A Future Built on Collaboration and Innovation

The Mansons-Infor partnership highlights the transformative power of technology in manufacturing. By combining Mansons’ commitment to quality and customer service with Infor’s advanced cloud solutions, the two companies are setting new benchmarks in the automotive industry.

As Mansons expands its operations globally and adopts more sophisticated processes, the role of cloud-based solutions will continue to grow. This partnership serves as a testament to how strategic technology adoption can drive innovation, enhance operational efficiency, and ensure sustained growth in a competitive landscape.