AFVOA Newsletter May 2020

Section 3 - Memoirs Newsletter No. 1 / 2020 P a g e 71 | 101 no option but to go to foreign OEMs since they are nominated suppliers. It can be construed as a lesson from Covid crisis. Finally, there is a lesson which we all will have to learn. Such uncertainties will have to be accepted as a norm and be part of our strategic risk management for such scenarios. Innovative resource management, changing over to more indigenous sources for the goods and equipment, providing a supportive eco- system to critical venders to operate within/ close to production centers, enhancing automation to reduce impact of labor availability, Leveraging the digital and AI domain, we will have to find cost optimizing solution. Good adage of “Much more with much Less “will only keep us afloat. I am sure, as always, we will emerge as a winner and as a country will be the first to revive our economy. Our Government is doing great job in the prevailing circumstances and hopefully they will support the defence industry as per our expectations. About the Author: Rear Admiral JS Mann, NM, VSM was commissioned into the Indian Navy on 01 Jul 1980 in Electrical Branch. During his service tenure he has held many training, staff, operational and dockyard appointments including GM of Naval Dockyard (Mumbai). He has also served as Defence Attaché to Sweden with additional accreditation to Denmark, Norway and Finland. Most of his service carrier, he was associated with various shipbuilding projects of Indian Navy. Prior to his retirement in 2015, he was Project Director at HQ ATVP. Post retirement, he is pursuing his second innings as VP as Head of L&T Shipyard at Kattupalli.