Top Challengers 2013-14 - Kirloskar Brothers Ltd

”The lean period gave us an opportunity to get closer to the customer.” - Vikas Agarwal, Business Head, Building and Construction Sector, Kirloskar Brothers Ltd.The flagship company of the $ 2.1-billion Kirloskar Group, Kirloskar Brothers Ltd (KBL) is India's largest manufacturer and exporter of pumps and Asia's largest infrastructure pumping project contractor. It has been on the forefront in engineering innovation, from India's first iron plough to India's first concrete volute pump. The company has used the period of slow growth to get it battle-ready. Even during the toughest period, we invested a lot in IT infrastructure, says Vikas Agarwal, Business Head, Building and Construction Sector, Kirloskar Brothers Ltd. We also opened five authorised refurbishment centres in industrial hubs and metros that offer competitive service advantages at the customer's doorstep. This gave us an opportunity to get closer to the customer, and now it has started paying dividends. KBL has shifted gears and moved from the earlier focus of year-on-year topline and bottomline growth to cash generation and return on capital employed. Our focus has been on completion of pending projects and value-added products that are cost-effective in terms of energy, space and maintenance, adds Agarwal. Our growth mantra is to cater to increasing demand and adapt new techniques to address challenges in product development and enhance capabilities on the shop floor.