Overview

The third edition of the Indian Foundation for Quality Management (IFQM) Symposium 2026 convened in New Delhi on Day 2, emphasizing the urgent need for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to transition quality from a conceptual understanding to concrete adoption across design, manufacturing and delivery stages. The symposium’s overarching aim is to enhance India’s global competitiveness by embedding quality into every operational layer.

Key Announcements

IFQM unveiled a new leadership programme tailored initially for MSMEs, with a subsequent rollout planned for large industries. The programme will focus on sharing best practices, waste reduction, quality improvement and innovation through continuous education and learning. In line with this, IFQM set an ambitious target to bring 5,000 MSMEs into its quality and innovation movement, expanding its current engagement from over 200 MSMEs to 500‑plus in the near term and ultimately 1,000‑plus participants.

Aviation Sector Focus

Hon’ble Minister of Civil Aviation Shri Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu delivered the keynote titled “Wings of Viksit Bharat: Transforming India into a Global Aviation Hub.” He reiterated the government’s commitment to policy support for the aviation sector, especially Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO), and cited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s target of 350 airports by 2047. The Minister called for strengthening India’s aviation manufacturing ecosystem, urging global original equipment manufacturers such as Boeing and Airbus to convene industry forums that bring together their supply‑chain partners and Indian MSMEs. He stressed that clear product and quality specifications are essential for MSMEs to plan, innovate, design and manufacture to global standards.

Leadership Perspectives

  • Mr. Venu Srinivasan, Chairman of IFQM, stressed that quality must become a personal commitment from leaders, with daily discipline and continuous innovation being essential for building world‑class companies.
  • Mr. Soumitra Bhattacharya, CEO & Director of IFQM, highlighted the ambition to scale MSME engagement, noting the current 200‑plus MSMEs and the goal to reach 500‑plus and then 1,000‑plus.
  • Mr. T.V. Narendran, CEO & MD of Tata Steel, called for creating momentum and a critical mass of quality‑focused organisations, emphasizing industry‑academia collaboration.
  • Mr. K.N. Radhakrishnan, Director & CEO of TVS Motor Company, cited the transformation of 132 TVS‑linked MSMEs within the next 90 days as a concrete example of process‑driven change.

AI and Technology Discussions

A dedicated panel moderated by Mr. Girish Krishnamurthy (MD & CEO, Tata Technologies) examined the shift from AI experimentation to operational adoption. Panelists Dr. Gopichand Katragadda (Founder & CEO, Myelin Foundry) and Dr. Lucas Bretz (General Manager, KIT/GAMI) distinguished between Core AI (the intelligence layer) and Operational AI (embedded in workflows). The discussion underscored the need for an IFQM‑led platform to curate, validate and simplify AI solutions for MSMEs, turning AI into a practical force multiplier rather than a distant technology.

Global Partnerships

The symposium reinforced IFQM’s commitment to international collaboration. Mr. Masato Onodera, Managing Director of Japan’s JUSE, announced a two‑way knowledge exchange between India and Japan. Additional insights on quality governance were shared by Dr. Masahiko Mori (President & Group CEO, DMG MORI), Mr. Yugo Miyamoto (Managing Director, Kaizen Saudi Arabia, Abdul Latif Jameel) and Mr. Stefan Grosch (Board Member, Robert Bosch GmbH), who linked IFQM’s vision with global quality movements such as EFQM.

Participation and Governance

The two‑day event attracted roughly 50 CEOs, 200 CXOs, and a total of more than 400 participants, including academicians, students, government representatives and global quality institutions. IFQM, founded in 2023, is governed by a council comprising industry stalwarts: Mr. N. Chandrasekaran (Chairman, Tata Sons), Mr. Dilip Sanghvi (MD, Sun Pharmaceuticals), Ms. Kiran Mazumdar Shaw (Executive Chairperson, Biocon Biologics), Mr. TV Narendran (CEO & MD, Tata Steel), Mr. K.N. Radhakrishnan (Director & CEO, TVS Motor), Dr. Randhir Thakur (CEO & MD, Tata Electronics), Mr. Salil Gupte (President, Boeing India & South Asia), Mr. SN Subrahmanyan (Chairman & MD, Larsen & Toubro) and Mr. Venu Srinivasan (Chairman Emeritus, TVS Motor & Chairman, IFQM).

About IFQM

Established in 2023, the Indian Foundation for Quality Management (IFQM) is an industry‑led movement aimed at catalysing Indian organisations to achieve global competitiveness through quality, innovation and excellence. Its mission aligns with the nation‑first objectives of Viksit Bharat, seeking to elevate India’s brand by institutionalising continuous improvement across products and services.

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