New Leader

He is well-learned & is a man who thrives to work towards a purpose he is one of the crème-de-la-crème, a true leader & yet, success has only made him humbler…
we present the man of the hour, Anoop Kumar Trivedi, MD, TataBlueScope Steel…

Q It’s been exactly a year since your appointment as the MD of Tata BlueScope. How has your journey been in this new role? How do you intend to bring about a new change in the steel construction industry in India?
A The journey has been exciting; I have completed a year and yet it feels like yesterday. I feel fortunate to be part of a team that is well-aligned with the organization’s strategic vision. Tata BlueScope Steel focuses on people and processes and is poised for the next level of growth with a well-defined purpose and consistent performance.

We have been doing some excellent work in various segments, be it manufacturing, supply chain, new product development, or channel management amongst others. It is time to now unify this strength as one team for a full-throttle orbital change; we have started simplifying our structures across business verticals for newer synergies and scaling our operational efficiencies and ramping up production through an aggressive expansion plan is already underway. Adding to this league, optimized process efficiencies through digitization will further accelerate the growth of the organization.

Besides introducing quality products and innovative business solutions, we have tried to support the Indian steel building and construction industry through Kawach Pro-Certification Program. This initiative is aimed at addressing the shortage of professionally trained structural riggers and roofers the industry is currently facing and increasing the employability of these skilled labors. On another front, to increase our proximity to customer experience and encourage quality products in tier two and three cities, project Vistaar was implemented. The main objective of this project is to develop a strong value chain in the remotest areas pan India and to create entrepreneurial opportunities through dealerships by boosting the overall economy, creating new job opportunities, and encouraging allied industries and services.

We also continue to focus on adding value to our customers by offering new products and solutions by shaping up for the next wave of innovation within the steel construction industry. One of our important strategic goals is to weave in better sustainability in our products and solutions and continue the good work with communities through CSR initiatives and we are closely looking at opportunities to expand our midstream and downstream businesses

Q Tata BlueScope is a union between Tata Steel, India and BlueScope Steel, Australia. What role do the visions of each company play in the vision of Tata BlueScope?
A Tata BlueScope Steel is an outcome of a vision set by two strong parent companies. Tata Steel is one of the largest private-sector manufacturers of steel in India, with a 100-year legacy. With deep customer insights, both companies are committed to develop innovative solutions through sustainable architecture. The idea was to bring more than just steel to the lives of many, who directly or indirectly, benefit from its existence. The JV ushered innovative, new-age, quality-driven color-coated steel building products and solutions. BlueScope Steel is the global leader in metal-coated and color-coated steel.

Q According to you, how has the industry transformed over the years, especially when it comes to steel construction?
A Steel is still the preferred construction material, it helps in practical and functional construction while providing aesthetic value to buildings and with new technological advancements, structures are becoming better and safer. There has been a changing culture in the lifestyle and infrastructural development of modern India and nowadays, steel is used in all aspects of architecture and building construction.

Over the years, steel has grown more adaptable in its use and has the ability to be integrated with other high-elastic-limit and structural-strength building materials such as glass, cold-rolled, and galvanized flat goods. Steel is no longer a labour-intensive business and the bulk of the building materials used are 100 percent recyclable. The steel industry has seen the adoption of new steel modular frame systems on building sites which is a mark of progress that is leading us into the new era of connectivity with technology.

Q The Indian construction industry is on steady growth. Which prime sectors will turn the tables for India, what role can the steel construction industry play in the said growth in upcoming years and where do you see this new year headed?
A The infrastructure sector still plays a key role in the Indian economy and with the government’s push for infrastructure projects, our country is undergoing a fast-paced transformation. With a slew of infrastructure projects ranging from the construction of highways, rail lines, metros and airports, we will witness an increase in demand for steel, especially within the roofing and cladding industry. The Make in India – Make for World initiative will further boost growth in homegrown enterprises including warehousing, manufacturing, textile parks, pharma parks and agro-processing units to name a few. A growing interest in sustainable, low-maintenance and durable roofing material is further accelerating the adoption of metal roofing and stats say that a thermally efficient roofing system with green credentials is the future of construction.

A growing interest in sustainable, low-maintenance and durable roofing material is further accelerating the adoption of metal roofing. A thermally efficient roofing system with green credentials is the future of construction.

Q What is your take on the latest innovation of modular construction and will the Indian construction industry be able to adapt it completely or will it stay on the fringes?
A At Tata BlueScope Steel we believe in safety and sustainability. Choosing the right building material especially roofing solutions have long-term impacts on structural performance. With minimum wastage in its built environment that starts right at the concept stage, structures made from steel offers optimal designs. Tata BlueScope Steel manufactures and supplies LYSAGHT® roofs, made of COLORBOND® steel that is thermally efficient due to Thermatech® Technology in-built into its paint system. Being an energy-efficient roof, it also reduces the overall energy cost. They are 100 percent recyclable and environmentally friendly, with a lead-free paint system, which is suitable for rainwater harvesting. Our roofing system also helps increase green rating, ideal for corporates looking for sustainable building materials. With compatible accessories that support sustainability such as skylights for daylight saving, louvers for natural ventilation and gutters for water harvesting our roofs are solar-ready.

Recently we received GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment) certification in Metal Coated Steel and Color Coated Steel. Our COLORBOND® steel is also recognized by CII Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) as Green Product in Green Building Ratings. We also published the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) for COLORBOND® steel & ZINCALUME® steel; the first of its kind within the product category. EPDs, GRIHA and IGBC certifications are important validation, both for a manufacturer to provide transparent data about the environmental sustainability of its products and for a responsible customer to make informed purchasing decisions.

These eco-label certifications will further step up Tata BlueScope Steel’s efforts toward leadership in sustainability. We are certain that the demand for environmentally sustainable solutions will increase in the near future, and we are only gearing up in that direction. It is a universal fact that a sustainable structure commands a competitive advantage by having lower costs, less potential for disruptions and an improved brand reputation. Additionally, the significant impact that it can contribute on the environment is beyond measurement.

Q What message or advice would you like to give to the new generation of industry professionals?
A I have still not reached a position where I can offer a textbook suggestion, but I can only share my experience. I have always enjoyed my professional journey since I have always worked on a purpose rather than being too focused on the outcome. I strongly believe that if one can identify a larger purpose in his/her assignment, passion follows, the task requires fewer efforts and it leads to self-satisfaction, which is more important than only looking for appreciation from others. It also propels you to excel and provides the necessary confidence to take up the next task, which could be more complex than the previous one and that is how one gets an opportunity to use his/her untapped potential.

Q What is your mantra for success?
A I would again connect back to the earlier question, I don’t know whether I should call it a success since success is a relative term since each individual can have a different measure of success. Hence, I would like to replace the word success with satisfaction. My satisfaction comes from four words courage, compassion, competence, and class. This is what keeps me moving and I plan all my actions to fulfil each of them.

Courage is the key to taking challenging tasks and also pushes one beyond his/her own boundaries to things that he/she always wanted to do but was afraid of the unknowns. The leadership style is undergoing a huge transformation, especially after the recent pandemic. Leader needs to demonstrate compassion without bothering about end results because if it is practiced genuinely, results will certainly follow. The way boundaries on technology exchange, talent availability is blurred, so it is important for organizations and people to stay ahead on competency. Days are not far when most of the positions would be advertised to the talent available anywhere in the world. Class, of course, is about setting a benchmark and our team has always been the torchbearer in the space in which we operate. We would continue to do so as we strongly believe in inclusive growth and would like to serve all the customers, even if it means reaching the remotest place of the country.

Q You are known as a ‘technically sound metallurgist’. How do your educational background and acquired knowledge of years affect your decision-making process and how do you balance technical specifications with business profits?
A It would be difficult to share any direct correlation. An educational institute in addition to theoretical inputs helps you teach the fundamentals of life. The way I have operated is to have a good 80/20 balance. In the initial years as you are new to an organization, 80 percent of the time you would tend to follow other’s advise and also learn in the process but I strongly suggest that during initial years, 20 percent of the time, one should spend on thinking and executing new things which will be first in country or world. Only a good proportion of both creates leaders for the future. As one moves up in the organization over the years, this proportion keeps shifting and it is expected that leaders spend more time thinking and motivating teams to try new products and processes and to remain relevant in this competitive world.