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i3 – TAFE’s unified internal idea management platform

On Tuesday, October 3rd 2017, all desks at the TAFE offices had an interesting object on their desks… a crumpled sheet of bright yellow paper! Most employees wore a puzzled look on their faces and were scratching their heads wondering whether to keep it or trash it. And, of course, almost by default each one of them opened it to find a very interesting message –

“Don’t trash your ideas – Let them land in the right place.”

Excellent organisations recognize that innovation can apply to products, processes, marketing, organizational structures and business models. Over the years, TAFE has strived towards achieving organizational excellence by establishing a culture of continuous improvement and learning. In the last few years, we have been focusing on harnessing creativity and inculcating a culture of innovation across the organisation through a systematic approach to manage innovation driving:

  • Product innovation through Small Innovation Group
  • Cost saving initiatives through Prospero and Vridhi
  • Process excellence through e-CIMP and DiscoverI

Furthering our efforts to harness creativity and innovation, TAFE’s unified platform for idea management – i3 – was launched on September 30, 2017, on the auspicious occasion of Vijaya Dasami, in the presence of TAFE’s Chairman & CEO, Ms. Mallika Srinivasan. The event was attended by several senior management executives and project team members. The event was broadcast through a webinar for outstation participants to attend.

The launch event started with traditional lighting of the lamp followed by a prayer song and the TAFE Anthem. Ms. Shobhana Ravi, Chief Information Technology, Innovation and Learning Officer (CITILO), gave a brief overview of the new platform and its features. Mr. S Jaishankar, Sr. GM (Cost Control) posted the first challenge in the new platform and Mr. Jones Sunder Singh, Sr. AVP (Treasury) posted the first idea in response to the challenge. The launch event was successful and closed with a special keynote by TAFE Chairman & CEO, Ms. Mallika Srinivasan, who addressed the gathering on the importance of innovation, cost saving and how this platform can be leveraged.

i3 – An overview
TAFE’s unified idea management platform will provide an opportunity to get inspired, ideate and implement your ideas and get rewarded through a gamified experience. Key highlights of the unified platform are:

  • Ideas and challenges can be posted under the broad categories – Cost Saving, Technology Leadership, Customer Solutions and Process Excellence, each of which will further have sub-categories
  • Idea evaluation is done by a 3 member workflow team
  • Every idea is evaluated based on a set of defined parameters on impact, uniqueness and feasibility
  • Based on evaluation scores, ideas will be classified as Just Do It / Kaizen / Innovative Idea / Breakthrough Idea

The team invites all TAFE employees to login and contribute their ideas, as it could be the next big idea! The real gamechanger.

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Eicher Engines announces scratch card scheme
 News | Initiative

Eicher Engines from TMTL announces scratch card scheme

The TMTL Engines division – a unit of TMTL (TAFE Motors and Tractors Limited – a wholly owned subsidiary of TAFE), is known for its diverse range of both air and water cooled engines. It has a varied portfolio in agro engines and genset engines, apart from being one of the fastest growing brands in energy solutions with two brands of silent gensets marketed under Eicher Engines (5 – 45 kVA) and TMTL Engines (62.5 kVA – 125 kVA) and a recently launched Solar business.

The agro engines marketed under Eicher Engines is a trusted brand, committed to encouraging agricultural entrepreneurship and customer satisfaction. Eicher Engines’ agro engines are known for their outstanding return on investment and are available in the 12 hp to 46 hp range. A favorite among farmers, the engines are, air-cooled thereby reducing maintenance, robust, and are economical due to their low fuel consumption. Eicher Engines from TMTL has undertaken initiatives to inform and educate farmers on the various applications of its agro engines, such as, mobile huller, oil expellers, brick kilns, stone crusher, etc. as an alternative means of income.

Recently, a scratch card scheme was announced by Eicher Engines for customers with a guaranteed prize of INR 1,000/- and possibly a maximum of INR 51,000/- on the purchase of every engine*. The scheme has attracted several customers who have been a part of this initiative. The scheme is valid till October 31, 2017 or till stocks last (whichever comes first). The first three winners who have won scratch card vouchers worth INR 5,000/- are, Mr. Raja Kumar Singh from Gopalganj, Bihar; Mr. Shatrudhan Kumar from Muzaffarpur, Bihar and Mr. Yadunandan Yadav from Hazaribagh, Jharkhand.

The TMTL Engines Division has gone great lengths to ensure their customers get the best possible service and are completely satisfied with their engines.

*Terms and conditions apply. All rights reserved with TAFE Motors and Tractors Limited.

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Eicher Engines from TMTL at Amarnath
 News | Spotlight

TMTL Engines aids pilgrims reach Amarnath Temple

TMTL Engines Division, part of TAFE Motors and Tractors Limited (TMTL) the wholly owned subsidiary of Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited (TAFE) has installed its Eicher gensets for the comfort of pilgrims visiting the Amarnath temple located in Jammu and Kashmir at an altitude of 3,888 m above mean sea level.

Visited by over 600,000 pilgrims every year from across the world, TMTL Engines – Eicher Engines has proven that they always go the distance to meet the seamless power requirements of customers irrespective of the conditions, difficulty and challenging terrain.

Fully committed to ensuring customer satisfaction, TMTL Engine’s network is 68 service dealers and 621 technicians strong, strategically placed in various cities across India who ensure a 99.9% uptime for the gensets. Going a step further to fulfil their promise, the company has a dedicated 24×7 customer support number and also collects post service feedback.

With a strong customer base of over 1000,000 spread across various segments, TMTL has proven its reliability and lives up to their promise of “You can rely on us…”.

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TMTL Engines launch its Solar business
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TMTL Engines adds Solar energy to its portfolio

The TAFE Motors and Tractors Limited (TMTL) Engines Division is an established brand with decades of expertise, resulting from years of hard work and perseverance. As the fastest growing brand in the segment, TMTL Engines has entered the Solar Energy market adding a brand new business line to its portfolio. Equipped with an elite team and the latest technology and designs, TMTL Engines is ready to make its mark in the solar power category and become a complete power solutions brand.

TAFE has always believed in encouraging and using sustainable resources, and considering solar power is the future for developing countries like India, this new business line of TMTL Engines is a step in the right direction. Recently, TMTL Engines held a solar conference giving its long standing partners a unique opportunity to gain insights into its journey towards a more sustainable world. Some of the projects already executed are, a 60 kWp grid connected system at Modern Institute of Technology & Research Centre – Alwar, 10 kWp for JFarm – Chennai and a 60 kWp grid connected system at Varanasi.

Some of the projects undertaken include:
– 500 kWp grid connected system at TMTL’s Alwar operation
– 400 kWp grid connected system at Cochin, Kerala
– 200 kWp for JFarm, Rajasthan
– 60 kWp for Pinnacle Generators, Hyderabad
– 50 kWp at Jaycee Punching Solutions, Faridabad

The government of India has set a target of achieving 175 GW by 2022, and with a rich experience in successful delivery of power projects in the genset category, TMTL Engines will surely leave its mark in the solar power category as well.

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Mallika Srinivasan awarded Honorary Doctorate by TNAU

TAFE Chairman & CEO, Ms. Mallika Srinivasan was awarded the Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) by the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) today at Coimbatore. This was conferred in recognition of her contribution to global agriculture, machinery business and academia. She is the first lady from the Indian Tractor Industry to be conferred this honour at the 38th convocation ceremony of TNAU.

Ms. Mallika Srinivasan was awarded the Honoris Causa by the Chancellor of TNAU and Hon. Governor of Tamil Nadu, Mr. Vidyasagar Rao. The ceremony was graced by the presence of Mr. K. Ramasamy – Vice Chancellor of the University, Mr. R. Doraikkannu – Pro Chancellor of TNAU and the Agriculture Minister of Tamil Nadu, and the chief guest of the ceremony, Dr. C. D. Mayee – President, South Asia Biotechnology Centre along with the Professors and the new graduates of TNAU.

In her acceptance speech, Ms. Mallika Srinivasan, said, “I am immensely privileged to have been chosen to receive the degree of Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) from this prestigious world renowned institute that has been serving the farming community for over a century. I extend my gratitude and thanks to the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) for bestowing this unique honour on me. This honour will, no doubt, be a great inspiration to me and my team at TAFE, as we continue to serve the farming community both in India and in other developing markets of the world.”

Personifying TAFE’s philosophy of ‘Cultivating the World’, Ms. Mallika Srinivasan has played a key role in the development of agriculture across the nation through initiatives that positively impact the lives of farmers. Taking forward the founder’s vision of empowering the Indian farmer, she has led the development of JFarm, TAFE’s adaptive agricultural research and training centre, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, established in 1964 by her father and TAFE’s first Chairman, Mr. A. Sivasailam. Under her leadership, JFarm has focused on developing an integrated farming model for small and marginal farmers, farm initiatives for soil, water and nutrient management to increase productivity through mechanisation. JFarm also advocates organic farming and its activities in developing a low cost modified hydroponics system have been widely appreciated.

Reacting to the news of her doctorate, Mr. Ravichandran a progressive farmer said, “I’m very pleased with this news. From the farmers point of view we don’t merely consider TAFE as yet another agricultural company. We consider it as the true friend of farmers. TAFE’s JFarm, has motivated many people to take up farming as their career including me. I’m sure under the able stewardship of Ms. Mallika Srinivasan and the dynamic management team and dedicated staff, we the farmers would continue to benefit from the century old group and farming gets transformed to an enviable profession. I truly believe ”TAFE is the pride of Indian Farmers” My very best wishes to the TAFE – CEO. She richly deserves such honor.”

Ms. Mallika Srinivasan has transformed agriculture in the Northern parts of India through the setting up of JFarm Rajasthan at Bhawanimandi, Dt. Jhalawer, which replicates the pioneering efforts of JFarm, TamilNadu, helping farmers of Rajasthan and subsequently those from nearby states.

Leading the way in global agriculture Mallika Srinivasan has also encouraged the extension of JFarm’s activities to other developing economies and TAFE is in the process of setting up such facilities aimed at improving farm productivity and sustainable farming, leveraging relevant mechanisation in association with several countries in Africa. It has established partnerships for skill training and development and piloting small farm sustainability programs in Malawi, Tanzania and Rwanda, Burkina Faso and the Ivory Coast and is involved in developing multipurpose farmer centers across the African continent.

Ms. Mallika Srinivasan, justifies the epithet ‘Tractor Queen of India’ transforming TAFE to become the world’s third largest tractor manufacturer and India’s largest exporter of farm equipment. A thought leader and a strategist, widely recognised for her business acumen, she has developed relevant technology to suit evolving needs of the farmers, optimised costs, and tapped global markets to establish TAFE as a quality mass manufacturer of tractors and a lean, resilient organisation that can weather the cyclicality of the business.

An excerpt from the citation read, “TAFE’s JFarm, located at Chennai and Rajasthan, established as a CSR initiative, engages in adaptive research and provides farm extension services, covering a variety of crops, as an advisory service to farmers to enhance yields and promotes among farmers, knowledge of cultivation practices and the latest technological advancements. It is this effort of many decades that has won her acclaim.

The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University takes great pride in placing on record the exceptional achievements of Padma Shri Mallika Srinivasan and takes privilege in honouring her, in recognition of her contribution to global agriculture, machinery business and academia.”

She is one among the Board of Directors of AGCO Corporation, a global farm equipment major in the United States of America, Tata Steel Limited and Tata Global Beverages Limited. She is the first lady to have assumed the role of President of the Madras Chamber of Commerce and Industry. A member of the Executive Board of the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, Ms. Srinivasan has held prestigious board positions at IIT Madras and the Bharathidasan Institute of Management, Trichy.

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 News | Spotlight

TMTL Engines crowned ‘India’s most promising brand in manufacturing engines’

TMTL Engines – Eicher Engines was awarded the prestigious “India’s most promising brand in manufacturing engines” by World Consulting and Research Corporation (WCRC). The award function was held recently in Bangkok, and is another milestone for the brand – one of the fastest growing in the country. A result of the relentless dedication and passion of the Engines team, it is a testament to their drive for excellence and ensuring customer delight.

Mr. Vikas Gupta, Senior General Manager – Sales and Marketing, TMTL Engines Division, received this award from Mr. Satish Sehgal – President, Indo-Thai Business Association, along with Ms. Shivalee Kaushik – Director, Business & Strategy, WCRC, Ms. Surbhi Pandit – Head International Relations, WCRC and Mr. Harsh Vardhan Sethi – Hon. Secretary Indian-Thai Chamber of Commerce.

TAFE congratulates the entire Engines team for this award and their continued commitment to ensure perfection in all their endeavors.

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TAFE Night Service camp in MP
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TAFE organises a ‘Night Service Camp’ in Madhya Pradesh

When a customer purchases a TAFE tractor they become proud owners of some of the best technology in farm solutions, with a reliable and prompt after-sales service supporting them. This was displayed by the TAFE team in Madhya Pradesh with a unique and thoughtful initiative.

Farmers in Khargone, Madhya Pradesh were facing extreme weather conditions with summers getting worse every year, and could not bring their tractors for service during the day. The TAFE team identified the issue and to make their services convenient to the farmers, decided to start a ‘Night Service Camp’ between 8 PM to 1 AM. This made service accessible to the farmers and gave them the opportunity to get their tractors serviced. This was a huge relief to the farmers who were at a lose due to the weather conditions.

This innovative solution by the TAFE team in Madhya Pradesh ensured that our customers are satisfied and can continue ‘Cultivating the World‘.

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TAFE's MF 1035 DI tractors 'cultivates' a clean Indore
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TAFE delivers a ‘Swachh Bharat’

A responsible corporate citizen, TAFE has always strived to incorporate sustainability in all its processes and preserve the environment. Guided by its Core Values, TAFE established strict policies and regulations to reduce its carbon footprint and ensure a clean and green world for the future generations, much before government regulations came about. TAFE has persistently worked towards ensuring there is limited consumption of non-renewable energy and strives to minimize its effect on the environment.

Recently, TAFE delivered 25 of its Massey Ferguson 1035 DI tractors to the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC). Indore, Madhya Pradesh has also shown remarkable transformation in its journey as an environmentally conscious city and was named the cleanest city award under the Swachh Bharat Mission in 2017. The Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) played a pivotal role in keeping the city clean and TAFE is proud to be partners with them in their journey of ‘Cultivating Cleanliness’.

TAFE hopes that with these MF tractors, IMC will continue to contribute towards the Swachh Bharat movement and ‘cultivate’ a cleaner India.

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TAFE Madurai encourages a learning culture among rural students
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TAFE Madurai to impart skill development training for students

Cultivating the world has always been TAFE’s philosophy and every step the company takes is to achieve this goal. Learning has always been a part of TAFE’s DNA and it encourages knowledge seekers to enrich themselves in areas of their interest. TAFE believes in sharing its knowledge and has collaborated with several educational institutions to create customised syllabus and courseware in agriculture and manufacturing. Ànd now, TAFE’s Madurai operation has entered into an agreement with the Gandhigram Rural Institute (GRI) wherein the final year students of Bachelor of Vocation (B. Voc.) – Farm Equipment Operation and Maintenance will be trained in tractor assembly, quality inspection and materials inward. A step towards sharing with the society it is entrenched in; TAFE Madurai’s collaboration with GRI will expose students to the functioning of a world-class facility with a flexi-line that produces hundreds of Massey Ferguson and TAFE tractor models that cater to customers worldwide.

The three-month training program will commence for the academic year 2017-2018, with four batches every year. This initiative will benefit 50 students and hopes to attract more rural students to the course. This training program will give students the unique experience of witnessing the manufacturing of a tractor and also learning from the experienced personnel at TAFE Madurai. Unlike other programs, this training program will also provide an excellent opportunity for girls to work in core departments like Quality and Materials, giving them the necessary exposure and making them industry-ready.

TAFE has been at the forefront of farm mechanization, helping farmers achieve higher farm productivity and yields to meet the increasing food demands. It continuously strives to bring agriculture to the forefront and is engaged in making information and facilities more accessible to stakeholders.

With this collaboration, TAFE has now opened the doors of knowledge to students and strengthening the cause of farming. We wish the TAFE Madurai team the very best in this thoughtful endeavour!

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TAFE's JFarm Services App
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TAFE launches ‘JFarm Services App’ – a digital boost for the Indian farmer

TAFE – Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited, India’s second largest tractor manufacturer, has announced the launch of ‘JFarm Services App’ – a mobile app-based aggregator platform which facilitates hiring of tractors and modern farm machinery for farmers in Rajasthan, at the Global Rajasthan Agritech Meet (GRAM), Kota. Available on Google Play Store, the JFarm Services App is free and will connect Custom Hiring Centres (CHC) operated by tractors and equipment owners directly to farmers who need farm mechanization services and solutions, thereby facilitating a fair and transparent rental process while focusing on quality, dependability and timely delivery. The JFarm Services App is a stellar example of the Digital India initiative, tailored to benefit the Indian agricultural landscape. This service by TAFE will foster digital empowerment of Indian farmers while creating a breed of new rural entrepreneurs and significant job opportunities. JFarm Services will also be available to farmers on call through a dedicated toll-free number 1800-4-200-100.

Out of the 95 CHCs allotted through subsidy to TAFE, 38 have been identified across six zones in the State – Bharatpur, Jodhpur, Jaipur, Jalore, Kota and Sikar.

In November 2016, TAFE inaugurated ‘JFarm Rajasthan’, an advanced agri-research centre in Bhawanimandi in the Jhalawar district. As a next step, the launch of the JFarm Services App along with the identification of these physical CHC franchisees creates a hub where farmers gain access to specialized equipment and JFarm Rajasthan’s agri-extension services including modern farm practices, technical know-how, high-yielding crop varieties, crop protection, organic and sustainable farming, besides customized and specially designed training programmes by leading agri-scientists.

JFarm Services – the aggregator platform in its pilot phase has enrolled over 450 Custom Hiring Centres and suppliers and has connected them to over 25,000 farmers.

Speaking on the app launch, Ms. Mallika Srinivasan, Chairman & CEO – TAFE, said, “The JFarm Services App is a milestone in TAFE’s journey of Cultivating the World. With the JFarm Services mobile app, TAFE aims to empower the farming community by creating a viable model for the farmers and the Custom Hirers to conduct transactions in a fair and transparent manner. These initiatives are directed towards building a sustainable livelihood for farmers, while preparing them to remain self-sufficient by increasing farm productivity.”

Mr. T R Kesavan, President & COO – TAFE, said, “As a trusted brand among the farming community in Rajasthan, TAFE through its JFarm Services aggregator model, plans to enrol 10,000-15,000 Custom Hiring Centers in the first two years of operation and positively impact the farming community by reaching out to 500,000 farmers.”

TAFE is proud to partner with #GRAMKota, Rajasthan, 2017, and continues its association as the Platinum Sponsor of this prestigious exposition.

Rajasthan holds a special place in TAFE’s journey as an organization and participated in GRAM 2017 with an impressive range of products from Massey Ferguson, Eicher tractors and AgriStar implements from TAFE.

The men and women of the land welcomed #TAFE and its products as always. The expo is on till Friday, May 26, 2017. Do drop by at the TAFE Pavilion and join us in our journey of Cultivating the World

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