Catering innovative solutions, one-stop shop for diversified manufacturing requirements; Microsign Products is one the leading manufacturing company. Mr. Nisheeth Mehta is the Founder and CEO of the company. He established Microsign Products with an approach to “Human Engineering” which enabled him to achieve maximum efficiency by mostly employing physically-disabled people. To get more details about the services and uniqueness which Microsign offer, we bring you an exclusive interview with Mr. Nisheeth.
- Kindly brief us about your company.
Microsign Products is a leading manufacturer of plastic fasteners like cable ties, clips, clamps and markers in India. It is established in 1979 by Mr. Nisheeth Mehta. The company’s manufacturing unit is located at Neswad, near Bhavnagar, Gujarat. It is state-of-the-art setup that includes injection molding equipment from world renowned manufacturer like BOY Germany and Fanuc Japan. The injection molds are bought from Taiwan, China and leading mold manufacturer in India with latest technology having features like auto trimming and auto ejection. The company has a clear focus on productivity and zero defect quality.
Microsign Products quality management system conforms and certified as per Automotive Quality management System Standard IATF 16949:2016 (International Automotive Task Force). It is certified by Bureau Veritas Certification for last two decades.
Microsign Products environment management system conforms and certified as per ISO 14001:2015.
Microsign Products has robust quality management system and there has been no system failure. Company believes in continual improvement in its approach. The improvement projects effectively implemented in the areas of quality, productivity and energy conservation clearly demonstrate the involvement of top management and entire team.
- What are the different products and services provided by your company, which is setting you apart from your competitors?
Microsign Products is created by Mr. Nisheeth Mehta with clear focus in meeting automotive industries requirement of import substitution of plastic fasteners. Even today most of the products are customer specific and are developed to meet their need.
The company caters to automotive, defense, aerospace, telecommunication, electrical, electronic and packaging Industries. Microsign Products also manufacture products that meets LCSO standard under JSS-54807 & JSS-54808 Ministry of Defense.
Products are made from Nylon 6, Nylon 66 or any other industrial plastic specified by customer and are available in various colors. Products are classified into following family;
- Cable Ties (Releasable, Non-Releasable, Push Mount facility and Marking facility)
- Clips and Clamps with or without adhesive back
- Assembly Products
- Customer specific Products
- Brief us about the Founder/ Director /CEO, and what was the source of inspiration for your company to be in the Plastic Industry.
Mr. Nisheeth Mehta on completion of his engineering migrated from Mumbai to Bhavnagar, a then small town of Gujarat to start business. He founded Microsign Products in the year 1979 and started manufacturing plastic items for Indian Railways, Aeronautics establishment and Automobile industries. In the year 1988 he taught of an innovative initiative of offering employment to deaf and mute people. On making them comfortable with industry environment and providing adequate training they were assigned to operate injection moulding machines which were little noisy due to high pressure hydraulic. The initiative was a great success and his belief was firmed up that such people are not the liability but assets to the organization. He continued experimenting people with other disabilities and started finding a work match for them in various processes of plastic injection moulding. Mr. Mehta asserted that he did it not for charity but gave them an opportunity to show that they are not different from others and they can do everything just fit them into your need. Slowly and steadily differently abled employees strength started increasing along with business. Today the strength of differently abled employees is around 60% which includes deaf and mute, mentally challenged and physically challenged people who work on machines and other various supporting activities.
Microsign Products under Mr. Nisheeth Mehta, CEO is deeply involved in CSR activities for last four decades. The engagement of differently abled persons in factory is personally mentored by him. He is also heading a development centre in Bhavnagar. The key objective of centre is to identify and nurture the hidden youth talent and mobilize their energy in right direction.
Mr. Nisheeth Mehta for his tireless effort in society building has been appreciated, awarded and felicitated at national as well as at international level. National Presidential award to outstanding employer for the people with disabilities for the year 1999, The NCPEDP Hellen Keller award for the year 1999, FICCI outstanding achievement in empowerment of physically challenged for the year 2003 – 2004, CNN IBN Real Heroes award for the year 2009 are the few to name. A business case study on Microsign Products is registered at Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM-A) and is reviewed and analysed in their various forum and training program. Also case study on Microsign was awarded with 3rd Best Paper during International Conference on CSR and Sustainable Development for the year 2013 at Thailand.
Mr. Nisheeth Mehta recently during 2016 received appreciation for his CSR activity when he was invited for a talk show “Aaj Ki Raat Hai Zindagi” hosted by Mr. Amitabh Bachchan sponsored by Maruti Suzuki and Cadburys India on Star Plus. The program idea was adopted by Star Plus for Indian individuals contributing in nation building at personal level.
- What are few of the challenges faced by the company in the plastics industry, today?
Cost competitiveness is the major challenge the plastic industry is facing today mainly due to import from China. To remain competitive one has to invest on multi cavity molds around five times more than existing capacity. To run these multi cavity molds a higher tonnage and bigger injection moulding machines are required which is again very expensive. The players who can invest can only sustain their position in market.
- What is the technology used in manufacturing your products?
Microsign Products has state-of-the-art manufacturing technology that includes injection molding equipment from world renowned manufacturer like BOY Germany and Fanuc Japan. The machines are equipped with servo motors and latest controller. The company has inhouse product concept design cell. The injection molds are bought from Taiwan, China and leading mold manufacturer in India with latest technology having features like auto trimming and auto ejection. The company is well equipped with inspection and test facilities for dimensional inspection and performance testing.
- Share with us how the company is contributing to its sector in the industry and what makes you a unique player in this field?
Microsign Products is unique in having a very large market segment like automobile, defense, aerospace, telecommunication, electrical, electronic and packaging Industries. Microsign Products also manufacture products that meets LCSO standard under JSS-54807 & JSS-54808 Ministry of Defense.
Microsign Products elite customer segments are Railways, Aerospace, Electrical and Electronics Equipments, Packaging, Ship Building and Defence.
- Kindly explain us your advantages over your peers.
Microsign Products enjoys a very healthy business relationship with all its major customers. In many cases the relationship is more than three decades. Microsign Products is the preferred source by many customers for development of new products.
Microsign Products is strategically located at Bhavnagar, Gujarat which is in close proximity to automotive hub. The city is well connected by road to all major customers.
Microsign Products is well conversant with quality and dispatch requirements of all OEMs and other corporate sector.
- What are the benefits gained by your clients while doing business with you?
Customers get zero defect quality at competitive price and quickest delivery. At few places stocks are maintained at transporter end and small batch deliveries are made to customers.
Microsign Products is proud single source to many customers. This is the result of many years of confidence building with customers.
- How do you see yourself and the company in the future ahead?
Microsign Products is planning to enhance manufacturing capacity in existing customer – product base to three folds in a span of five years and also looking forward for entering into various other plastic injection moulding components like packaging seals, insert moulding components and any other areas where plastic complex components are required.
Microsign Products is also exploring for tie up with overseas business partner or investor who wish to invest in equipment and tooling. We would prefer to have business partner from our sector who is ready for investment and also willing to share customer base globally.
