Meet Raj Kishore Naik, Vice President at Ashok Leyland who epitomizes the power of humble beginnings and relentless passion in the automotive domain. From his early days in the family business to his current leadership role, Mr. Naik’s journey is a testament to dedication and constant growth. Moving through esteemed positions at Maruti, Tata, and now Ashok Leyland, he embodies the spirit of continuous learning and excellence.
Mr. Naik’s tryst with automobiles began in his childhood, where he found himself immersed in the family business, absorbing practical and theoretical knowledge with fervor. Born into a modest family, he nurtured a dream to contribute to the automotive world. His journey took flight post-graduation from NIT Rourkela, with a coveted position at Maruti Suzuki, the nation’s leading car manufacturer. His tenure at Maruti, coupled with a two-year stint at Suzuki Japan, laid the foundation for his expertise in engineering. Seeking new horizons, Naik transitioned to Tata Motors, joining their Engineering Research Centre (ERC), renowned for its automotive engineering prowess. Here, he amalgamated his learnings from Suzuki’s Japanese methodologies with Tata Motors’ engineering excellence.
Mr. Naik’s journey through the automotive landscape continued with Hinduja Group, where he spearheaded product development for Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs). His expertise and versatility led him to diverse departments within the organization, culminating in his current role as the head of New Parts Development and Parts Quality at Ashok Leyland.
At Ashok Leyland, Naik’s leadership steers innovation and quality assurance, driving the company towards new heights of excellence. His rich tapestry of experiences, ranging from Maruti to Tata to Ashok Leyland, underscores his commitment to advancing India’s automotive sector.
Guiding Principles of Leadership
In Mr. Naik’s illustrious career, several guiding principles have shaped his approach to leadership and organizational success. These principles, deeply rooted in fostering a culture of learning, collaboration, and growth, serve as a beacon for aspiring leaders in the automotive industry and beyond.
- Invest in Employee Training: Mr. Naik firmly believes that employees are the heart of any organization. He advocates for comprehensive training programs that equip employees with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in their roles. Recognizing the mutual benefits of training for both individuals and the organization, he emphasizes the importance of cultivating a culture where continuous learning is valued and supported.
- Focus on Core Competencies: Understanding the strengths and competencies of individuals is paramount for Naik. He emphasizes aligning roles and responsibilities with employees’ core competencies to maximize efficiency and job satisfaction.
- Embrace Lifelong Learning: Mr. Naik champions continuous upskilling and learning as essential components of professional growth. He encourages employees to stay updated on the latest technologies and industry trends, leveraging feedback from stakeholders to drive continuous improvement. By fostering a culture of learning and innovation, organizations can adapt to evolving challenges and stay ahead in a competitive market.
- Learn from Failures: Viewing failures as opportunities for growth is a cornerstone of Naik’s leadership philosophy. He advocates for a supportive environment where team members are encouraged to learn from mistakes and find innovative solutions.
- Share Experiences and Insights: Mr. Naik believes in the power of shared experiences to inspire and guide team members. He encourages leaders to openly share their successes, failures, and insights, providing valuable learning opportunities for their subordinates.
- Promote Team Cohesion: Recognizing the importance of teamwork in organizational success, Mr. Naik prioritizes building cohesive and collaborative teams. He emphasizes the alignment of team goals with the organization’s objectives, fostering trust, respect, and communication among team members. By harnessing the collective efforts of cohesive teams, organizations can achieve greater efficiency, productivity, and innovation.
- Take Responsibility and Drive Action: In times of failure, Naik leads by example, taking full responsibility and swiftly taking action to rectify the situation. He emphasizes the importance of proactive problem-solving and accountability, ensuring that setbacks are addressed promptly and effectively.
- Accelerate Employee Growth: Mr. Naik is committed to nurturing the growth and development of his team members. He advocates for regular assessment of employee strengths and interests, aligning individual goals with team needs, and providing guidance, resources, and empowerment for exploration and experimentation.
In essence, Mr. Naik’s principles serve as a roadmap for fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, and collaboration in the automotive industry and beyond. By embracing these principles, leaders can inspire their teams, drive continuous improvement, and achieve sustainable growth in a dynamic and competitive business landscape.
Agility as a Core Value
Agility stands as a core value at AL, reflected in the agile approach of teams across all facets, from design to manufacturing, delivery, and addressing customer issues. The company boasts an impressive annual schedule of new product launches, consistently introducing cutting-edge technologies that outpace industry standards.
Customer-centric innovation drives AL’s product and service offerings, exemplified by pioneering solutions such as double-decker buses, lift axles, and H2 fuel vehicles. This proactive stance keeps AL ahead of competitors, ensuring a robust market position.
AL fosters a culture of autonomy, allowing employees the freedom to explore and experiment with their ideas. This approach has yielded groundbreaking concepts, resulting in the registration of patents and recognition from esteemed external agencies.
Recognizing the importance of nurturing young talent, AL has established internal programs like the Young Leadership Program (YLP) and Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) to identify and cultivate promising individuals, paving the way for their professional growth.
The company places great emphasis on fostering strong relationships with suppliers and dealers, resulting in enduring partnerships that span multiple generations. This commitment to collaboration contributes to AL’s high industry rating for supplier and dealer relationships.
Above all, AL remains steadfastly committed to placing the customer at the heart of its operations. From product design to field service, every decision is guided by a dedication to delivering the best possible experience, earning AL a distinguished reputation for customer satisfaction.
Balancing Development Speed and Quality Assurance
Mr. Naik encounters the challenge of balancing both the development of components and ensuring their quality. Each day presents a formidable task for him. The demands of the business head lean towards swift development, while Quality Assurance necessitates ample time. These conflicting timeline requirements pose a considerable dilemma. However, Mr. Naik’s paramount objective remains achieving optimal Quality to satisfy customers and foster business expansion. He staunchly refuses to compromise on Quality, even under the looming pressure of potential Business loss.
Meticulous Design Considerations for Serviceability and Reliability
Mr. Naik underscores the importance of maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction, and the company proactively addresses any issues or concerns that may arise. The AL team actively solicits feedback from customers starting from the conceptual design stage, ensuring their requirements are incorporated into the vehicle development process. Throughout the design phase, they meticulously consider factors such as serviceability, ease of repair and replacement, drawing from past experiences, and prioritizing qualities like quality, reliability, and durability.
He emphasizes that extensive validation is carried out before the vehicle is launched to ensure it not only meets but exceeds customer expectations. To stay ahead in the market, the company places emphasis on critical factors such as occupant safety, load-carrying capacity, fuel efficiency, vehicle warranty, and return on investment.
Mr. Naik asserts that with a wealth of experienced and knowledgeable professionals at the helm of the teams, the company fosters a healthy work environment focused on customer satisfaction and driving business growth.
Spearheading Quality Assurance
While spearheading Manufacturing Quality at AL, Naik ensured that all Quality parameters of trucks and buses under the prestigious Modular Business Program (MBP), launched in April 2020, were in compliance with BS6 norms. Prior to this role, he led the complete development of parts for Defense vehicles utilized by the Indian Defense force. Additionally, he headed the Quality team to ensure the delivery of vehicles with the highest level of quality through AL’s Defense business.
Mr. Naik also plays a crucial role in the development of parts for key projects in Medium and Heavy Commercial Vehicles (M&HCV), Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV), and Power Solutions Business (PSB). Currently, he holds the position of heading New Parts Development and Parts Quality for all programs at AL, encompassing M&HCV, LCV, and PSB.
Pursuing Growth and Innovation
Mr. Naik perceives significant growth and development opportunities for AL in the next five years. The team aspires to establish AL within the Top 10 list of Global Commercial Vehicle manufacturers. To achieve this goal, they will maintain their position at the forefront of technological advancements, ensuring they are ahead of the curve in adopting the latest innovations.
Additionally, AL plans to diversify its product range by introducing more variants across all segments, including Defense Mobility. By expanding their offerings, they aim to cater to a broader range of customer needs and solidify their position as a leader in the commercial vehicle industry.
Fostering Social Responsibility and Sustainability
Mr. Naik emphasizes a strong commitment to social responsibility and sustainability practices within AL. This commitment includes implementing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles not only within AL but also across its suppliers. Efforts are directed towards enhancing supplier capabilities through various improvement drives, ensuring that suppliers align with AL’s sustainability goals and meet the highest standards of social and environmental responsibility. Additionally, there is a focus on enhancing processes for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) suppliers, thereby supporting their growth and sustainability in alignment with AL’s social responsibility initiatives.
Advice for Aspiring Colleagues
Mr. Naik offers valuable advice to all aspiring colleagues, urging them to prioritize their current responsibilities and strive to master technical expertise in their respective fields. He emphasizes the importance of thorough analysis of every issue, with a focus on continuous improvement. It is essential never to bypass any steps and to remain open to feedback from others, as this fosters personal and professional growth.
Furthermore, Naik encourages setting ambitious targets and having a clear vision for the future. By dreaming big and consistently working towards those goals, individuals can achieve remarkable success. Finally, he underscores the significance of cohesive teamwork, recognizing it as a vital lever for achieving grand success. Collaboration and synergy within teams can lead to outstanding outcomes and drive progress towards collective objectives.
