Abstract

Manufacturing is a vital activity and is a strong pillar of the economy. Small and lower-middle size manufacturing units play a major role in the manufacturing sector. These are mostly traditional entrepreneurial units that operate on intuitive instincts of the entrepreneur. These units have a very big scope for improvement in their performance by embracing simple systems that will strengthen them to face the prevailing fierce competition endangering their survival. The system approach will not only ensure survival but, also, steer them on a continual improvement path. This paper is an attempt to encourage these units to move from entrepreneurial mode to system driven approach and reap big benefits with minimal additional effort. Through my journey of over twenty five years in traditional units, I wish to share the experience with an intent to prompt traditional entrepreneurial units to take steps towards becoming a vibrant system driven unit with a big leap in terms of improved working leading to improved bottom line. Simple, practical, yet powerful systems are presented with relevant demo to guide the efforts of willing entrepreneurs to move towards systematic working. I make a humble appeal to the community of entrepreneurs of traditional small and lower middle size units to take benefit offered in this paper and use the simple tools for improving the working of their enterprise.