BALASORE, Sept. 7: While the Ferro Alloy industry was passing through a testing time, during the later part of the year 2002 with most of the industries closing down as a repercussion of depressed steel market worldwide ~ it was a matter of survival for the Balasore Alloys.

As the demands were slowing down; the cost of raw materials was rising. With countless limitations like breakdown of large number of equipment, poor housekeeping and operating conditions, lack of visual control and above all poor working condition ~ while the management wanted to close down the plant, Mr Rabindra Jena , who had headed the plant as the vice-president at age of 35, appealed to the former for providing a second chance. This was agreed to by the management. The turn-around story of the plant of Rs 300 crore, having over 600 regular and nearly 1000 casual employees, began under the stewardship of Mr Jena and as a result the company registered a 207 per cent quantum jump in net profit from negative Rs 5283.95 lakh during October 2002 to March 2004 to a profit Rs 5628.73 lakh during April 2004 to September 2005, according to the the visible script.

“By then we had realised the problems which needed to be attended. Besides taking initiation for rectifying them, we (all workers and management )took firm oath that we can make it yield,” said Mr Jena. The lack of ownership among workers coupled with lack of proper knowledge in the domain led to rise in production cost. The situation was further aggravated with globalisation firmly under belt, as competition grew stronger, the study revealed.

“We vied for Man and Machine, while keeping the method intact. Biggest challenge was to bring forward a change of attitude. An attitude backed by an ownership concept. We started with imparting training to key change makers, identifying the worst areas to transform them as model areas, formulating schemes focusing on basic equipment health status,” Mr Jena added. Measures to build confidence among the employees were implemented, first with empowerment followed by rewards and recognition. Modern management tools like Six Sigma, TPM, PMS, SCM were brought into the perspective to catalysis of change reactions. The breakthrough achievements were recorded through Six Sigma, one of the projects being adjudicated as best by National Productivity Council (Orissa) in 2004.

The product range of the company includes ferro chrome, charge chrome, ferro manganese, and silico manganese, used in steel making. The company has chromite and manganese ore mines of it’s own and a state of the art metal recovery plant for 100 per cent metal recovery.

As a noteworthy contributor of foreign currencies to the National Exchequer by way of it’s exports, the company was recognised as a Star Trading House by the government of India. The company’s export market is spread over 18 countries all over world including quality conscious countries like Korea, USA, Japan, Italy, Germany, Brazil, Argentina, etc. Balasore Alloys have been awarded India Manufacturers Excellence Award (Silver) for the year 2005. Mr Rabindra Kumar Jena having graduated in mechanical engineering from Institute of Engineers (India), started his professional journey with Ispat Alloys Ltd (presently Balasore Alloys Ltd, Balgopalpur) a leading ferro alloy industry in the country, as a graduate mechanical engineer trainee in April 1990.

Later he completed his master degree in business administration with specialisation in finance from Xavier’s Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar. With rapid strides in the corporate ladder, the reign of the company with which he had started his professional career, is presently in his hands.

He was awarded as the youngest executive director in the entire Ispat Group, recently. With strategic acumen, nimble man-management and visionary steps, while he has scripted a success story by transforming a loss making entity to a profitable one within the span of two years, the company is on the way of earning Rs 1000 crore in the next five years.

The turn-over of the company was a humble Rs 35 crore in 2001-02. While working in office, on invitation, he visited number of countries ~ Germany, UK, South Africa, Namibia, Thailand, Hong Kong and Switzerland to attend and participate in various discussions, seminars related to various socio-economic factors.

He has been an active participant of CII, Orissa, as the zonal chairman from Balasore and Utkal Chamber of Commerce, as an executive member. Presently working as the executive director, besides being responsible for operational excellence of one of the leading employers of the state and a contributor to the national exchequer, he is also in-charge of the overseas plant of the Ispat Group.

In recognition to his outstanding contribution to social cause and industries, he has been awarded by various prestigious organisations in recent years, which includes Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana Award, by Rajiv Gandhi Forum, Orissa,Utkal Samman 2004, Maharaj Sri Ramchandra Bhanjdeo Award,Industrial Promotion in the State Award 2005 by the Governor of the state, Excellence Award 2005 and a number of other recognition from local, state, and national bodies as well.