TRAINING; WORKSHOP & SEMINARS
Training; workshop and seminars play an indispensable role to play towards the development of any organization be it micro, small or medium scale in nature.
IMPORTANCE OF TRADING; WORKSOP & SEMINAR
Indian cluster often lacks apprenticeship at different level be it micro; small or medium.
Training; Workshop and Seminar helps establish effective linkages within the MSME cluster ecosystem be it skill development; financial services and software vendors; branding and marketing
.
The question that arises to one's mind is how do we identify as to which cluster requires what intensity of training? This is primarily determined by the degree of economic stability and the need for technical training varies from one cluster to the other.
For example; artisanal cluster is deficient in innovative designing; costing expertise, market .
Linkages and marketing skills that is different from the need of a said industrial cluster.
Timely implementation of these elements can not only create a platform for the MSME at the domestic level but can emerge as prominent players in the global market. Training; workshop and seminar that are required to enable MSMEs for the world market vary from the needs of the domestic market.
Individual interventions such as developing high quality, efficient and affordable management training for the local MSMEs through BDS, sensitizing entrepreneurs with quality and certification related issues and improved access to technology are amongst the few that need to be undertaken to match up to the international standards and become globally competitive.
ANALYSIS OF PROSPECTS AND CONSTRAINTS
To enhance the competitiveness and gain an in-depth knowledge of any cluster it is essential to map out its strengths and weaknesses.
There are more than 400 industrial and 3000 rural clusters in India with varied contrasting social and economic challenges. As to evolve the clusters an individual dynamic analysis of its prospects and constraints is extremely imperative.
A diagnostic study is conducted as to understand and map out a Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats analysis of the cluster. A Diagnostic study is a detailed report that takes into consideration all the determinant factors about the profile of the firm.
All core areas of the Value chain such as Human Resource
Development, Inventory Management; Product Design and Development are studied thoroughly, thereby outlining the constraints and prospects. The analysis of limitations and opportunities helps to identify the areas of intervention as to enhance the competitiveness and helps establish the baseline for work implementation.
PLANNING
Planning is considered to be the most crucial part of any action plan and a critical component of any organizational skill. It is deemed to be the first step essential to design a detailed project proposed action. Moreover, planning helps in analyzing the strength and weakness and allocating resource with proficiency.
MARKETING
Marketing involves development and limitation of all the procedures and programs that help in evolving the Firm / Company / Institution new horizons in the field of competitiveness. Marketing, under the cluster development approach, involves implementing strategies to widen the path through varied channels such as Effective Market Linkages; E-marketing; Branding; Market Participation in Trade Fairs.
In order to create a dynamic cluster, it is of utmost significance to bring to surface what marketing can do for the cluster through strategic elevation. Today, marketing and branding of products is of the greatest importance for establishment of MSME as an individual and as a cluster.
ACDS creates viability by disseminating information; driving demand by establishing acceptance of products in the domestic market and increasing the consumer base by creating contacts with local partners (A Unique Model ) within the cluster. Hence, ACDS is involved in the Cluster Development Project right from the initial stage of research analysis to the final stage of finding market for any form of product diversification within the cluster.
QUALITY ASSISTANCE
Quality of any product produced can be the defining line between the success of failure of any cluster. Quality has the power to make any product stand out in a highly competitive manufacturing environment. Moreover; if it can be achieved by keeping the cost constant then nothing like it.
Over the years, varied norms have evolved in order to ensure high quality through systematic analysis and procedures adopted by industries rather than relying on outcome of sample product tested in the market that has led to a reduction in cost of production.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Ideas and information have gained tremendous importance in the realm of International Trade. The worth of new technology oriented products lies in its invention, innovation, research, design, and testing.
Not only for Industrial or artisanal products but any production and consumption based industry can keep the business competitive due to its uniqueness and creativity and not necessarily due to the raw material employed in the manufacturing process.
Before products that were traded as low-technology commodities, now contain a higher proportion of innovation and design in varied form. Herein comes the question of patent of an individual's ideas and the very output of the industry which is the result of the authenticity of the distinct product produced.
The extent of protection and enforcement of rights vary widely; and as intellectual property has become an essential part of trade, the differences that arise out of IPR issues become a source of upheaval in international economic relations.
The WTO's TRIPS Agreement strive to narrow the gaps in the way that these rights are safeguarded and to bring them under common international rules. It establishes a minimum degree of security that each government has to give to the intellectual property of counterpart WTO members. Hence, this strikes a balance between the long-term benefits and possible short-term costs to society. The organization advantages in the long-term when intellectual property protection encourages creation and invention, chiefly as the period of protection expire and the creations and inventions enter the public sphere. IPR protection plays a key role in gaining competitive advantage through different technological benefits for achieving higher economic growth in any market driven economy.
ICT ABSORPTION
To be competitive MSMEs requires rapid innovation where knowledge sharing plays a vital role.
MSMEs in clusters of different sectors face distinct challenges while adopting Information Technology.
They are unaware of the benefits of IT adoption.
Lack of knowledge regarding IT.
Lack of resources for creating the required ICT infrastructure.
ACDS through our unique approach has worked at multiple levels of manufacturing to incorporate Information Technology. At the enterprise level, our ICT-based interventions lead to an increase in operational efficiency, improve quality, reduce production costs, improved market access and enhanced sales and profits.
At cluster ecosystem level it helps in increasing the awareness, promotes information sharing, strengthen the ISVs, disseminate learning from the best practices available.
ACDS support for planning and execution of IT infrastructure project include:
Sensitization/awareness generation
Finding PPP partners/creation of SPV
Preparing Detail Project Report (DPR)
Connecting to Government Schemes
Mobilization of contributions from local stakeholders
Finally developing people's acceptance and usage.
Our strategy of Proof of Concepts (PoC) and Customization of IT products to suit the exact need of MSMEs and to strengthen the local ecosystem have proved successful in many clusters.
E-readiness center created in 5 clusters under Project Vikas has established the clusters as one stop shop for providing ICT related services to MSMEs in the clusters.
Evangelizing ICT in clusters and increasing people,s acceptance for the ICT usage based on Cluster Development Approach has been our new experiment in this area.
CREDIT & FINANCE
Expansion and development is an integral part of the cluster growth process. The primary cluster stakeholders are mostly MSMEs, and their financial capabilities are limited.
Micro and Small firms often look at credit as the main source of finance for reinvestment. However, due to lack of collateral and poor credit history access to credit is somewhat limited. Though they need to garner funds for expansion and technological up gradation, there is a limit to their equity contribution.
Thus, facilitating platform for MSME units in acquiring adequate credit & finance facilities becomes an important facet of the Cluster Development Programs.
PROMOTING BDS PROVIDERS
Business Development Service (BDS) Providers in a cluster facilitate development of a wide range of businesses. BDS is essential to enhance the performance and efficiency of any given MSMEs. In the process, BDS providers also facilitate the strengthening of linkages among the enterprises. BDS providers, for example, can support a broad range of financial as well as non-financial services. The latter includes labor and management training, extension, consultancy and counseling, marketing and information services, technology development and diffusion.
Facilitating quality certifications and related training, mechanisms to improve business linkages through subcontracting, franchising and business cluster, etc. are some other services that BDS providers offer.