Is the Gujarat government supporting the growth of the electronics industry? How does Mefron manage skilled manpower and talent challenges? In an interaction with EFY’s Nitisha, Hiren Bhandari of Mefron Technologies India Pvt Ltd discusses government support for the electronics sector and Mefron’s approach to skilled manpower challenges.
Q. How do you see Gujarat emerging as a hub for electronics manufacturing over the next few years?
A. Gujarat’s infrastructure, logistics, connectivity, skilled workforce, and proactive government policies position it as a strong contender to emerge as a leading electronics manufacturing hub.
Q. How has government policy influenced your recent expansion or investment decisions?
A. Initiatives such as Make in India and the PLI schemes have strengthened long-term investment confidence by improving visibility, encouraging localisation, and supporting capacity expansion. These factors have directly influenced our recent infrastructure expansion decisions.
Q. What policy changes would further strengthen India’s electronics manufacturing ecosystem?
A. A stronger component ecosystem, greater emphasis on design in India, faster certification processes, skill-focused training programmes, and targeted export incentives would significantly strengthen the ecosystem.
Q. What kind of technical and shop-floor skills are most critical for your operations today?
A. The most critical skills include SMT operations, quality inspection, testing, wire harnessing, and box-build integration, along with strong process discipline and problem-solving capabilities. As electronics manufacturing becomes more complex, an understanding of automation, traceability systems, and quality standards is increasingly essential.
Q. How is Mefron Technologies addressing the current manpower and skill availability challenges in the electronics manufacturing sector?
A. At Mefron, we address manpower challenges through structured in-house training, skill development programmes, and sustained workforce engagement. There is a strong focus on developing talent internally and aligning teams with our quality- and process-driven culture.
Q. How do you train and retain talent amid increasing competition for skilled manpower?
A. We emphasise continuous training, defined career progression, cross-functional exposure, and a culture that promotes stability and long-term growth.
Q. What role does automation play in balancing manpower constraints and productivity goals at Mefron?
A. Undoubtedly, automation plays a critical role in enhancing productivity and consistency. We selectively invest across SMT lines, testing, inspection, and material handling to improve throughput and operational reliability.
Q. What are Mefron Technologies’ key growth plans for the next three to five years?
A. Over the next three to five years, the focus will be on building deeper OEM partnerships and strengthening end-to-end manufacturing capabilities.
Q. Are you planning to expand capacity, diversify product lines, or enter new markets in the near future?
A. Yes, we are evaluating capacity expansion and strengthening our presence in both domestic and international markets.
Q. What challenges do you see as the biggest bottlenecks for the electronics industry in India today?
A. The key bottlenecks include skilled manpower shortages, supply-chain uncertainties, particularly for electronic components—cost pressures, and geopolitical factors affecting exports.
Q. How are rising costs, supply-chain uncertainties, and global competition impacting your business strategy?
A. These factors have pushed us to become more process-efficient, cost-conscious, and agile. We are strengthening supplier partnerships, improving forecasting, and focusing on value engineering to remain competitive while maintaining quality and delivery commitments.
Q. What prompted Mefron Technologies to participate in the EFY Expo?
A. EFY Expo provided us with an excellent platform to showcase our capabilities, engage with OEMs, and explore strategic partnerships.
Q. How does EFY Expo help companies like yours in terms of visibility, partnerships, and customer engagement?
A. The expo offers strong visibility, direct engagement with decision-makers, and opportunities for collaboration.
