The Hindu Business Line : An IT model that CMs could count on

PROVEN models of adapting IT to the traditional sector could well have engaged the attentionof two outgoing Chief Ministers in the South who have been charged with `rural disconnect'.

The IT-based Temperature Monitoring and Alerting System (TMAS) developed jointly by two Kerala-based entities is one such model.

Energy Management Centre (EMC), an autonomous body under the State Government, and the R&D Division of CMS Computers, have come together to build a model for the fortunes of the bricks and tile industry. The same could be customised to benefit a number of other rural enterprises too.

The technology management needs of the rural industry are particularly challenging - given its diversity and importance in India's economy - which prompted EMC to place special emphasis on it. It has been taking appropriate measures on technology upgradation, transfer, and adoption and technical training for capacity building.

The cost-effective method for enhancing the competitiveness of the traditional sector has earned the two organisations a pat from Unido, apart from more trade enquiries from across the country.

Speaking to Business Line, Mr N.T. Nair, Vice-President, CMS Computers, said that the technology aims to remove the misconception that electronics and IT cater only to the elite segments of society.

In this context, TMAS has proved that appropriate technology adaptation could enable the brick and kiln industry to benefit from sunrise technologies. The job displacement fears associated with adoption of IT would become irrelevant at least in the case of TMAS since it does not provide for total automation.

The existing workforce on the floor would be retained and retrained to take command of the user-friendly prompts provided by TMAS. Such inputs from TMAS are tuned to be suited for even illiterate or legacy workmen.

Mr Nair said that the unique capability built into TMAS to relentlessly monitor the actions expected of the workmen based on timely prompts, be it midnight or early hours, act as an `automated supervisor' to make them accountable to their jobs.

It has been found that temperature fluctuation in kilns had led to increased consumption of firewood and quality differentials in fired tiles. If, for instance, they failed to add firewood or open the damper to reduce temperature in spite of the alarm, the TMAS would keep such details in memory and pass them on to the computer.

This invigilation by TMAS would enable the management to assess the quality of work of different workmen on duty each day. This would doubtless prompt the workforce to be vigilant enough while on duty. The effect of all these will reflect in overall improvement in product quality, Mr Nair said.

More Stories on : Business Models | Kerala

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
GE, HSBC to set up BPOs in Kolkata

Tata Telecom Q4 net up 27 pc

Now, lap it up for the price of a PC

As rupee softens, Wipro may face `translation' losses

Sapient to expand India operations

Idea Cellular's e-mail on mobile

An IT model that CMs could count on