OPA Round Table

It is seen that lot of people are worried about for better performance of business and family. After reviewing it was found that while in the business the entrepreneur is mainly anxious about Banking and finance, rules, schemes, and facilities available with the government, how to get better performance and quality production, ERP and other software solutions and family management. Taking in consideration these challenges of members and other printers of the city, OPA was Delighted to have organised one of the most prestigious and informative round table conference at Hotel Park Plaza, Ludhiana on 28th June 2023. To educate and overcome the challenges of the printers, pan India experts were invited for one-to-one discussion.
 
Welcoming the experts and entrepreneurs, Parveen Aggarwal, President OPA said, OPA is always working for the cause of the printers. I am thankful for the presence of eminent experts who are there to guide us for better functioning and better managing the business and families. I am particularly happy to note that the important subject Family Management is also included in this session of OPA Round Table, R C Chopra, with vast experience has great knowledge he has been guiding us since long for the longevity of the business. I am thankful to the members and other print entrepreneurs who registered for this event. Though it is a working day and it is difficult to out of office, but even then, your presence in such a large number is enough for boosting the morale of my team. This concept is designed so that you can talk about your challenges from heart one-to-one with the expert. 
 
Separate tables were allocated for each field, for one-to-one discussion with the printer concerned. Under banking and fiscal management Sachin Bagla, Director Loan Machine Finserve Pvt. Ltd elaborated the availability and precautions to be taken while taking finance. Bagla amasses extensive knowledge of banking sector having worked with big banks like HDFC, ICICI, Axis bank etc, He not only specialises in lending but helps companies and industries to avail finance without hampering your current financial portfolio and further helps reduction in interests, charges, and other charges without overtaking your loan from your existing loans. Further he has the expertise regarding availability, precautions, and rate of interest etc. while taking finance from the Banks and furthermore he helps organisations to procure government financial schemes and benefits available under the new industrial policy of Punjab and benefits available to Printing & Packaging sector being declared as thrust sector by the state government. 

Parmeshwar Patidar, Director Indas Analytics LLP, specially came from Indore, Madhya Pradesh to guide the members about ERP and other software available for better management, enhancement of production and quality management. He emphasised on how Software and tools for quality control and better performance can increase your productivity, keep a check on which employees has highest productivity and how you could use the latest software to keep an eye on each step of your printing and packaging industry from cutting of paper to deliver the final product to your customers.

From MSME DFO Ludhiana, Virinder Sharma Director Government of India and Ishita Thaman Assistant Director personally graced the occasion to guide the entrepreneurs about the various scheme available with the Government of India, Ministry of MSME for the development and growth of the trade and industry. Sharma said our doors are always open, any member of OPA can visit for more guidance and it will be our pleasure to assist the entrepreneurs. Congratulating OPA for such a innovative programme, he said in my 35 years of career it is for the first time that I came across to such a novel idea of one-to-one discussion. 

To guide the members about tools for better business management Manoj Kanaujia, Founder and Principal Consultant Wills Solutions, was present. He discussed and enlightened Printing and Packaging entrepreneurs on how to scale up your business and increase productivity to get maximum profit. He elaborated how management could help a business take it to next level and how an owner could run a press without sitting in an office and can concentrate on what next, how to expand business and helps you get time to think about the future of your business.

The next and somewhat different topic chosen for discussions ‘Family Management’ looks like neglected field by many of us, though it is much more important. It is necessary to understand how to manage affairs so that the establishment must remain growing for generations. While family businesses may be a major economic driver, only a mere 30% endure into a second generation, 12% last into a third generation, and just 3% make it to the fourth generation. The eminent expert of the field R C Chopra, former director Government of India, taught the members how to maintain the longevity of your business. He discussed that sometimes when family of a businessman grows situations arises where the business could be damaged by dividing it into family members, but this always led to hampering and damaging the business and family relationships long term. Mr. Chopra emphasised on how families and business can be saved and run together so that the longevity of both increase and big business can stay in existence for hundreds of years. Mr. Chopra further added that the families have their own way of communicating, and, as many family therapists will tell you, it is not always the best way. Defy convention and make open, regular communication an essential part of your family business. When it comes to longevity, and the success that comes with it, changing with the times is essential for any business, especially multigenerational family businesses. Whether it is an aversion to new technology or resistance to changing cultural norms, a family-run business—and the people behind it, regardless of age—must evolve or risk alienating both employees and customers.  

Furthermore, progressive steps were also discussed during panel discussion with the experts comprising of Sachin Baghla, Virinder Sharma, Manoj Kanaujia, Parmeshwar Patidar, R C Chopra, Prof. Kamal Mohan Chopra President WPCF.  Sudhir Chopra Director Foil Printers was the moderator and it proved to be the most successful event. 

(Report by: Rohan Oberai, PRO OPA)