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Tough time ahead as Tyagi takes HAL to a make or break era

Major Shaitan Singh

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Tough time ahead as Tyagi takes HAL to a make or break era | IAF first strike likely over quality, delivery & deadline cocnerns

Bangalore: Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) finally got a head to lead in R K Tyagi, ending all theories which suggested that he might not have a podium finish. The man of the moment touched down in Bangalore on Sunday night pledging to script an inspiring chapter in Indian aviation. As he steps into the HAL HQ on Bangalore’s famous Cubbon Road on Monday morning, he might have made up his mind to forgo the honeymoon. For he knows, it’s Q4, it’s March and it’s a month of madness!
While Tyagi needs to be given time, before he can be rated, he can expect trouble from the Indian Air Force (IAF), the biggest customer for HAL. For ages, the IAF was left with no choice but to succumb to HAL’s tantrums when it came to delayed deliveries and shocking production schedules. While the IAF always wanted less AOG (Aircraft on Ground) status, more often the story was different and now they will aggressively pitch in for deliverables and quality. They have more reason to prove to Antony & Co that Tyagi’s was a wrong choice and their man could have chartered a clear, sure and swift flight-path for HAL, instead.


THE SURVIVAL MANTRA


* More private sector participation
* Emphasis on succession plan
* Greater HR initiatives
* More focus on youngsters
* Better working environment
* Better labour productivity
* Ramping up production
* Thrust on modernization
* Better relationship with customer
* Keeping top team together
* Less hierarchy for greater access to people
* Internal communication channels
* Firm on corruption and indiscipline
* Advanced training for all
* Brand building exercises

With multiple programmes landing at HAL’s doorstep, what probably ailed the company over the years was poor succession plan. Most men who captained HAL in the new millennium ran it according to their whims, which is hurting the company badly now. With many programmes in advanced stages of raw-material production phase, dating poor-quality could be fatal for HAL.
Indian's late decision-making-icon A K Antony wants HAL to realign its business processes for strategic alliances and joint ventures. He recently told a Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Defence that HAL should adopt best practices followed by the global leaders in the field of project management, quality control systems, vendor deployment and supply chain management. While ‘Saint Antony’ always gets away preaching, he can be attributed to HAL’s current mess, partly. His ministry treats HAL like a ‘guest house’ and for visiting foreign dignitaries HAL is a museum, which also makes planes.

Tyagi will take at least a year to bring in visible changes, if at all. He will have to first get a sense of ownership injected into his flock. He will have to take his team forward by inspiring them not through quotable quotes, but being a practical man, always seen and heard at shop-floor, and not inside air-conditioned comforts. He will have to reward the performers and build a strong second and third line of leaders, who will take HAL forward. Notably, no one was eligible from within the company to even apply for the top job last year. He will also have to pluck the fear factor from the minds of people, who are failing to take decisions, fearing vigilance action.
Tyagi’s stint will be a make or break era for HAL considering the stiff challenge the one-time-monopoly of Indian aviation is facing now. He will be hailed as a hero if he turns HAL’s fortunes, if not he might be grounded mid-way through the flight.
 
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Not enough..... Need some private hand and of course better salary package.
the IAF was left with no choice but to succumb to HAL’s tantrums when it came to delayed deliveries and shocking production schedules. While the IAF always wanted less AOG (Aircraft on Ground) status
Is it not the other way around? Keep changing the Operational requirements( However one cant blame the IAF for the Delays been made by the Govt, MMRCA is one best example.)
 
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Not enough..... Need some private hand and of course better salary package.

Is it not the other way around? Keep changing the Operational requirements( However one cant blame the IAF for the Delays been made by the Govt, MMRCA is one best example.)

Changing specs is a reality in any user driven system.. Its upto the delivery organization's project management capabilities to mange cost, schedule and scope..
 
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Not enough..... Need some private hand and of course better salary package.

Is it not the other way around? Keep changing the Operational requirements( However one cant blame the IAF for the Delays been made by the Govt, MMRCA is one best example.)

Operational requirements are not created or changed by the IAF. They are dictated by the environment, by our ever changing equations with our neighbours and within the neighbours themselves, by weapons programmes and new inductions in the neighbourhood etc. Even a slight change in our foreign policy orientation has a cascading effect on our operational requirements. The Indian defence industry has to be responsive and far more efficient than what it is today. The HAL has to make what the IAF needs and not the other way around. Quick decisions by the executive are a must. Quality control by the manufacturer is of utmost importance.

I am aware that this bogey of ever changing GSQR has been raised by the DRDO and the HAL for decades now to explain their shortcomings. But it does not cut any ice anymore. Every GSQR is time bound. What is good for 2012 will have little meaning in 2016. These dudes simply have to do better and do it faster.
 
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I am aware that this bogey of ever changing GSQR has been raised by the DRDO and the HAL for decades now to explain their shortcomings. But it does not cut any ice anymore. Every GSQR is time bound. What is good for 2012 will have little meaning in 2016. These dudes simply have to do better and do it faster.
My point is If the MMRCA was selected some time back we would have valuable time in getting used to the planes and formulating the Strategies... ( Kind of explains why we used Mirages instead of MKI back in Kargil----- The MMRCA even if inducted is of no use for another decade i guess in terms of effective operation in case of war?)
Blaming entirely DRDO and HAL would be hard when the blame share also lies with IA ( Arjun fiasco) Govt, IAF( for LCA not being IOC soon)
 
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