Wish you a Happy New Year - Innovation - L&T Valves
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Vol. 21, No. 1 The Employee Communication Newsletter of L&T Valves January 2021
Wish you a
Happy New Year
Innovation
Special
Vol. 21, No. 1 January 2021
CONTENTS
Message from the Chief Executive 05
Meet the Chief Executive (Designate) 06
Different Strokes – Innovation in Theatre 08
COVER STORY
Innovation
A Whirlwind Tour 10
Innovation in Valves Industry and Its Impact 13
Remote Inspection 15
Digital Datasheet Decoder 16
Express Delivery 17
Gate Valves for Hot Tapping Applications 18
V-Desk 19
Innovation – A Brain Game 20
2 V-connect January 2021
Vol. 21, No. 1 January 2021
CONTENTS
UPDATE
Quality Month 2020 22
Diwali Celebrations at KPM 23
God is Dead - A Maradona Tribute 24
PEOPLE
Long Service Awards 27
My Journey in Quizzing 34
Milestones 36
Homeward Bound 37
Showtime 38
V-connect January 2021 3
Editorial Board
Sameer Godbole, Chairman From the Editor
R Malar Vannan Fernando
Babu Kuriakose, Editor Dear Friend,
Ravisankar Necessity, the mother of Invention, has a lesser-
known daughter, Innovation. While Invention toiled
Thanks! long hours for many years with limited success,
Aditya Rai the smarter Innovation won fame and acclaim
Kiruthiga S tweaking her sister’s work. This issue is dedicated
to her.
Milton Danny
Movin Nasin Miranda The issue is also dedicated to beginnings and
transitions, staying true to Janus, the Roman god of
Muthukumar N
beginnings and transitions who lends his name to
Nithyavathi J the month.
Pemmaraju Raghavendra
The current issue of V-connect is the biggest
Prasanth Prasad newsletter we have ever released – in terms of the
Praveen B Karajagi size, the diversity of themes as well as the number
Reeja NP of people we have featured on the pages and the
contributors. We thank everybody who helped us
Sagar Kumar put together this jumbo new year issue.
Sreenivasan KK
We invite all employees to contribute ideas and
Saravana Raja Kumar T
content for the newsletter. Let us make V-connect
Siddharth PK a true employee newsletter that reflects and
Vidhyarthi S reinforces our culture and values.
Vijayarangan M Thanks, Babu
Yaser Ahmed Palikonda Latheef
Edited by Babu Kuriakose for L&T Valves, L&T Campus, Manapakkam, Chennai 600089.
The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Management of L&T Valves.
The contents of this publication should not be reproduced without the written permission of the Editor.
Only for circulation among employees of L&T Valves, L&T Group companies and associates. Not for sale.
4 V-connect January 2021
Message from the
Chief Executive
Dear Colleague,
I wish you a Happy New Year!
I hope you and your family members are safe and
healthy.
I thank you for the commendable contribution
to our team and the business in the year 2020.
The teamwork was very clearly visible and
admired especially during the pandemic crisis.
Your commitment towards the family, friends,
colleagues, society and our company was
exemplary in such a tough time. Each one of
you has displayed the true sense of dedication
in handling multiple issues involving business,
health and society. Your focus on taking care of
customer’s needs while addressing all the pandemic
issues helped our organization to navigate through
various issues during tough and uncertain times.
It is a matter of pride to be part of the L&T Valves
family where all of our colleagues displayed much-
needed kindness and empathy to take care of
fellow human beings across our global locations.
The uncertainties during the year were addressed by our team in many innovative ways in all our personal
and business activities. Our team created fresh ways of taking care of customers, social interactions, work
methodologies and uninterrupted communication. Some of you took it upon yourselves to take care of
people who were impacted by the pandemic.
Your sincere efforts to take care of the society and the business by developing many innovative methods is
highly appreciated. The rapid innovation you did in all day-to-day activities has opened many new avenues
to take care of the business and to nurture it to become a global leader in our segment.
Your attitude and actions during the pandemic have set our organization on a unique path to acquire and
serve our customers. We will continue to pursue the efforts of rapid innovation in our behaviour, processes
and products to become a differentiated market leader with social responsibility.
I wish you and your family all the best
Please stay safe and stay healthy!
Regards
Mahesh Joshi
V-connect January 2021 5
Meet the
Chief Executive (Designate)
My vision for L&T Valves
Our vision is a vision for the ages. It is more than a
dream or aspiration; it succinctly captures the essence
of our company and sets the course for our interactions
with all stakeholders.
Trust, as you know, is earned and reinforced over
time based on multiple transactions with different
representatives of an organisation. But it takes only one
bad experience to undo years of good work. My appeal
to the team is to internalise our vision and to use that
as a guiding light in all our interactions with customers,
associates, partners and colleagues. Let us all work
together to make L&T Valves a trusted global partner for
flow-control solutions.
Our focus will be to deliver value to customers. We
will leverage technology, innovation, digitalisation and
re-engineered processes to enhance performance and
profitability. We will be a nurturing employer and a great
place to work that offers equal opportunities to all.
My long-term vision is to secure a place in the
billion-dollar club powered by our global manufacturing,
sales, distribution and aftermarket capabilities.
Mr S Kalyanaraman (SKN) assumes office as The external forces shaping our business
Chief Executive of L&T Valves on 10 January Oil & Gas, our major customer segment, is witnessing
2021. major upheavals. Rising environmental consciousness,
emergence of non-conventional energy sources
SKN has over three decades of experience (including hydrogen) and disruptive technologies such
with L&T Group, in capital goods, as electric vehicles are expected to hamper industry
engineered solutions and industrial growth. The global pandemic, no doubt, has increased
consumables domains, of which 15 years the volatility in the market
were with L&T Valves.
We will continue to evolve and provide reliable flow-
Mr Kalyanaraman is a mechanical engineer, control solutions to emerging segments. I am sure our
an authority on the classic Tamil literature track-record in new product development will stand us
and a powerful business communicator, in good stead.
proficient in English, Hindi and Tamil.
Process automation will drive demand for actuated
valves. New MOCs will emerge powered by
advancements in metallurgies as well as changes in
processes.
6 V-connect January 2021
Key drivers of success in the valve industry My 2nd innings at L&T Valves
The valve industry will witness further consolidation and This is a homecoming for me. I feel comfortable and am
conglomeration. Size does matter, but speed and agility will happy to renew fellowship with my old colleagues. In the last
decide the winner in the future – with digital capabilities 7 years, I was able to gain a fresh perspective thanks to my
playing the role of a force multiplier. exposure to the global automotive/ tyre industries. I am sure I
will be able to apply some of the learnings in my new role.
The niche markets for customised solutions for critical
applications are expected to thrive. In manufacturing, cost Definition of success
competitiveness will hold the key. A global manufacturing To me success is an opportunity to achieve overall growth, a
footprint supported by a global distribution network will phenomenon which would help us reinforce our roots. It’s a
become a strategic imperative. great motivator and for my success mantra, I would like to
borrow Reliance’s motto, Growth is Life.
Innovation
Technology and innovation played a huge role in the growth Authors that have influenced me
of L&T Valves over the years. To take the company to the Always Subramania Bharati, for his ahead-of-time thinking
next level, we have to be more innovative in our products and open and fearless approach to independence,
and processes. I am sure the digitalisation drive will help us nationalism and women’s rights.
enhance process effectiveness. But do remember, innovation
is everybody’s responsibility. We all need to be alive to the Kannadasan, for the poetic greatness.
technological disruptions, identify opportunities and threats,
My family
and proactively align priorities.
My wife Jayanthi who was a Sub-Divisional Engineer with
Our culture BSNL took voluntary retirement in 2018 to pursue her
Being part of the Larsen & Toubro group, we draw from the devotional interests. Son Vivek – an engineering graduate
group’s shared values and ethos. We are customer-centric from NIT, Trichy and Young India Fellow – works as a Product
and result-oriented, our commitment to compliance is Manager with a tech company.
inviolable and we nurture all-round growth. I believe positive
My typical day
corporate cultures are built on the foundation of Total
I wake up early, and after a packed day relax with an evening
Employee Involvement and Empowerment.
walk. I enjoy simple vegetarian food and take that extra care
What differentiates L&T Valves from competition? to remain connected with people.
L&T Valves is an Indian company with a global perspective.
Customer satisfaction is at the core of our existence. We
have a 60-year-old tradition of trust and in many domains,
we were pioneers then, and leaders now.
My experience with L&T Valves as a customer
I have been a satisfied user of L&T Valves. My vision is to
make my customers also experience the same. My vision is to
deliver value to our customers rather than just a product.
V-connect January 2021 7
Different Strokes
Innovation in Theatre
Oxford Languages’ defines Innovation as a new method, idea or product.
Very clearly therefore, innovation cannot be a province of corporate pursuit alone.
Innovation extends itself much beyond the corporate sphere and enriches every other
walk of human existence.
Ghasiram Kotwal play at Bharat Bhavan Bhopal - Photograph courtesy Suyash Dwivedi
One cold evening at Chandigarh, in the and onto the streets and Tendulkar those in power. It is a political satire
year 2015, I had my second tryst with extensively deployed a confluence of based on the life of Nana Phadavnis, an
the epic play “Ghashiram Kotwal” at folk theatrical devices, especially in influential minister and statesman of
the Tagore Theatre, a cultural edifice of Ghashiram. Tendulkar was perhaps the Maratha Empire during the Peshwa
the tricity. It was around 20 years ago the best of them all. While this piece administration in Pune, India. It deals
that I had my first rendezvous with this is on innovation, it is quite important with how the men in power create
remarkable theatrical innovation called to mention that the historical, political ideologies to serve their motives and
“Ghashiram Kotwal”. The first one was and artistic significance of Ghashiram is discard them post their ‘use by’ date.
in Marathi and this one in Chandigarh, unparalleled even today, after 50 years. The play generated huge controversy as
staged by National School of Drama, Ghashiram was perhaps the biggest it offended the upper caste brahmins,
was performed in Hindi. theatrical innovation in Indian theatre portrayed the statesman Nana in poor
ever. It married conventional with light and above all allegedly vilified the
The 1970’s can be considered as a the modern expression and merged rising force - Shiv Sena. For now, let
period of renaissance in Indian theatre. folk theatre with popular theatre. us focus on the innovation aspect of
Undoubtedly “Ghashiram Kotwal” was Both in content and form, Tendulkar Ghashiram.
the flag bearer of this innovative and revolutionised contemporary Indian
experimental phase. It is a remarkable theatre with this innovation called The Experimentalist Ghashiram
coincidence that Vijay Tendulkar, Girish Ghashiram. Here’s how and why. The biggest innovation in Ghashiram
Karnad and Badal Sircar all emerged lies in its remarkable use of the concept
as prominent playwrights in the same The Play of time as ever spinning wheel. The
era. While Karnad experimented with The play “Ghashiram Kotwal” is theatrical construction of the maxim
the use of Yakshagana1, Sircar took based on a postcolonial modern and ‘history repeats itself’ is the core
the theatre out of the proscenium contemporary issue of oppression by innovation at the heart of Ghashiram
1 Traditional theatre form from Karnataka, a southern Indian state
8 V-connect January 2021
which renders the play its rare character conventional, but also popular. The play depicts is genius symbolism.
of being timeless. Tendulkar uses a keeps transcending between one form
historical time frame with the backdrop to the other, cleverly selected based There is innovation in the use of music
of the Peshwa rule (the 1800s) to depict on the choice of the most appropriate too. In the first half of the play where
the oppression by those in power as also form to depict the particular event/ the story builds up, mridangam or tabla
caste-based politics and yet explores the scene. Tendulkar as a playwright was a is used to render a light mood whereas
contemporary political issues and the proponent of naturalism as a theatrical in the second half when the story
politics of Shiv Sena (1970s). The viewer technique and yet ‘innovated’ with the climaxes more aggressive percussion
cannot help but make that connection. folk genre as a form for Ghashiram. instruments like dholki, tasha or
In fact, the theme, though depicted in a In doing so, he also adopted the cymbals are used. Certain sounds and
200-year-old era is still so relevant even Brecht way. I am sure one reason why body movements of the ALL (twelve
today. Tendulkar innovated with this form was men) are used as Gestus4. Unlike the
the fact that traditional forms involve conventional form, there is not a single
The allegorical nature of Ghashiram ‘assemblage’. Through Ghashiram, blackout in the performance to change
which depicts a period during the Tendulkar actually wanted to present the set. Instead, it is all blended with
Peshwa rule but actually is also a the psyche and emotions of the masses the use of music or narration by the
commentary on the ‘current’ political (on the either side of the spectrum). Sutradhar (central narrator). Every piece
situation makes it a little difficult for the What better form to depict it than the and fragment of the play adds to the
viewer to comprehend the vastness of folk? core. More importantly, the uniqueness
the subject. The viewer is experiencing of innovation in Ghashiram lies in the
the play at three levels. One, the The socio-political commentary does fact that unlike the convention, the
drama happening in front of her eyes, not merely lie in the scripting but also form was vividly described in the script
second, the politics of Nana Phadavnis in its screenplay and presentation. This itself rather than the Director presenting
and third, its subtle yet firm references innovation clicked too. his vision. Very rarely does a writer
to the present-day political situation. visualises his play as vividly as Tendulkar
The content being ‘heavy’, the subject The dramaturgical innovation is quite did with Ghashiram.
warranted a form which is simple. evident in most elements, big and small.
Innovation in Ghashiram also lies in Using a group of twelve men as ‘All’, There are many more innovations to
the way the ‘form’ and ‘content’ are portraying them as representatives Ghashiram’s credit which are well
blended to enhance the performance. of public to comment on the political documented and available on the
situation (much on the lines of Chorus internet for the readers to explore. Both
Ghashiram is moulded in Brecht’s2 as used in western theatre), using those in content and form and scripting and
Epic Theatre style. To describe what twelve interchangeably - sometimes presentation, Ghashiram Kotwal is an
Tendulkar did through Ghashiram, in as brahmins of Pune or at times as a innovative excellence experimented
Brecht’s own words, was to not use human wall is all too remarkable. In that back in the 70s. The use of traditional
art as a mirror to reflect reality, but as sense, Tendulkar the learned playwright, techniques and to transform them into
a hammer to shape it. Tendulkar was has also blended the western theatre a modern and contemporary form is
smart enough to realise that he needed extremely well. Human curtain with the greatest achievement in innovation
to use ‘popular’ form of conventional twelve Brahmins swaying rhythmically that Ghashiram should rightfully claim.
and folk based theatrical devices. is a delightful sight. The way it is used Innovations by Tendulkar in the form
He innovated the form through the in the play is outstanding. Innovations and content helps achieve his artistic
extensive use of musical and lyrical in using the curtain as a wall that goal by making the audience not just
depiction to portray the thoughts. swoops down on the oppressed and ‘watch’ but also ‘think’ the play.
He did not stop there. He introduced silencing them in one scene or suddenly
as many as six elements from folk dispersing into individual elements in End5
traditions to deliver his message. another makes a lasting impact and
These included Tamasha, Dashavtari enhances the understanding of the play. Sameer Godbole
Khel, Yakshagana, Lavani, Abhanga The forming and breaking up of the sameer.godbole@Lntvalves.com
and Kirtan3. All of it that was not just human wall and the various things it
2 Bertolt Brecht was a German theatre practitioner, playwright and poet
3 Tamasha: Folk art form that involves singing and dancing | Dashavtari Khel: Theatrical form that is performed without any technical props to depict mythological tales Lord
Vishnu’s Avatars | Lavani: Combination of traditional song and dance performed on the beats of Dholki - a percussion instrument | Abhang: Involves singing of devotional poetry |
Kirtan: Religious performance connoting a musical form of narrating religion ideas and tales
4 Gestus, an acting technique developed by Brecht combining physical gestures and attitude | 5 Citation: rupkatha.com
V-connect January 2021 9
Cover Story
Innovation - A Whirlwind Tour
“Innovation is taking two things that exist and putting them together in a new way.”
- Tom Freston
In 1853, a New York chef by the name bulb. Innovation on the other hand direction of approach into something
George Crum found himself facing a is a broader term that includes both entirely new.
customer irritated by the French-fries inventions and improvements to existing
that was served to him. The customer things, like how Nick Holonyak Jr took Action Oriented
kept sending it back to the kitchen the concept of the light bulb and came We mentioned how patents which are
saying that it was too soggy. To uphold up with LED lights. of no use are not innovations. Unless an
the reputation of the diner, George idea is acted upon and implemented it
decided to try something new. He cut Often companies claim to be a “leader stays redundant. Innovators are always
the potatoes into thin slices before in innovation” and highlight their list of ready to act and push their team to plan
frying them and served it with salt patents as evidence. Although patents and experiment on their ideas.
sprinkled over it. The customer loved are legal documentations of inventions,
it and this dish later became the most if the practicality of those inventions Opportunity Focused
popular snack in America, the potato are not established, inventions do not When there is an obstacle to complete
chips. By cutting the potato to slices equate to innovations. a project, people would normally see
instead of strips changed the user it as a dead end. But an innovator sees
experience. This change from French Key Qualities of several other routes to complete it.
fries to potato chip is one of simplest Innovative people Blocked paths are simply an opportunity
examples of innovation. A paperclip is a simple yet reusable to explore other paths to reach the goal.
product that improved the way we
compiled physical documents. It is just a Mental resilience
wire of metal that is folded three times. KFC is one of the largest franchises in
To have thought of this nearly a century the world today, but it started off with
ago, and still use it today is what sets a lot of failure. Colonel Sanders, the
innovators apart. To understand this founder of KFC, had to face rejection
special mindset, let’s look at some of of his recipe 1009 times before it was
the qualities that are commonly found accepted and became the success story
in innovators. it is now. This just goes to show how
much mental fortitude an innovator
Continuous Reflection must have to get his idea through.
People with innovative behavior
continuously reflect on their ideas. Innovation in companies
They are willing to go back to the Today, companies try to get their hands
initial idea and question it on way of on the many emerging technologies to
improving. They keep searching for new stay ahead of the competition. Several
information,that might be vital, to piece companies have hired Chief Innovation
into their project. Officers to promote innovation within
Invention Vs Innovation their businesses. But not all businesses
Innovation and Invention are often used Unattached Exploration are prepared to push innovations
synonymously, but they are not the Ideation is a time-consuming process within their organizations. Changing
same thing and using it interchangeably and at the end of it, the nurtured idea workplace systems and procedures
can be misleading in certain contexts. is hard to let go. But when it comes to needs resilience and flexibility, and it is
Invention is the creation of new innovators, they would be willing to an unfortunate reality that many people
products, processes, or ideas, like reconsider the original idea and explore are afraid of change and continue to
how Thomas Edison created the light more options or even change the resist it.
10 V-connect January 2021There are quite a few ways companies nowadays are emphasizing a lot more Manufacturing
try to encourage innovation within the on innovation within the company. Virtual manufacturing is an innovation
company. Intrapreneurship is one such that could possibly help achieve this
way. This basically means employees Latest Innovation in industries degree of accuracy with success. Virtual
can be entrepreneurs at the company We see industries bringing new manufacturing involves inputting the
they are working at, by bringing their innovations every year, either to reduce requirement into a platform digitally
ideas and implementing it within the costs, improve customer satisfaction and the computer would take care of
company rather than starting their own or to address even larger issues like all the processes with precision. All the
ventures. Fifteen percent time is a policy pollution. Here are a few industries that user would have to do will be to wait
implemented at 3M where employees has made some significant innovations. for the final product to come out. This
can think, doodle or experiment is already being implemented in several
with their ideas for fifteen percent of Automobile industries and allows companies to
their paid working hours. Employee In England in the 1890s, the industrial save money and release products to the
forum is another good example where revolution made more people move market faster than ever.
employees can put their ideas forward to London for jobs. At the time, horse
in a company forum to discuss and carriages were the commonly used Media & Entertainment
explore the possibilities of bringing the mode of transport, and the horses left The media and entertainment
idea to fruition. a lot of manure on the streets. People industry has seen a major shift to
predicted that there would be so much digital streaming services. Innovation
Companies need to constantly innovate manure on the streets that people in streaming services enables us
so that they can stay ahead of the would not even be able to walk. But a to consume content anywhere on
competition. Blackberry for example new technology offered a solution to any device if we have an internet
was a leader in the mobile phone this issue and provided reliable and fast connection. The biggest innovation in
market, but because it failed to keep transportation - the Internal combustion my opinion would be the introduction
up with the competition it’s no longer engine. But now we face another of streaming of games. Traditionally,
significant. Whereas Samsung on the problem with the increased pollution people would have to buy expensive
other hand keeps developing new from automobiles, which brings us to hardware to supports high performance
technology every year to stay ahead the latest innovation in the automobile games. But with the introduction of
of the rest. Therefore, businesses industry, i.e., the hybrid and electric services like Stadia by Google and
cars. Automobile manufacturers are Xcloud by Microsoft, with a 50-dollar
now looking for a more sustainable subscription we can play a game that
mode of fueling cars because of the usually require 1000-dollar hardware on
impending danger with climate change our mobile phones and experience the
due to pollution. We can see several same performance.
facets of the automobile industry
adopting this, for example, Formula Latest Innovations in
One race cars have started using Turbo business functions
hybrid power units,we see new electric Innovations occur in all aspects of a
car racing tournaments like Formula E business. Every business is constantly
and Extreme E. Car manufacturers are trying to increase profits and reduce
constantly trying to innovate on new cost. So, by innovating in every
types of electric cars with longer milage function, it ensures that company does
and lesser charge time to completely not have any weak points.
replace the traditional IC engine cars.
Innovation Clips
Road Safety
These traffic lights illuminate along the poles to better get the driver’s attention.
https://qrgo.page.link/6Q6g4
V-connect January 2021 11Marketing must deal with. Job adverts has been
Marketing has seen a lot of innovations constantly innovating to help companies
in the digital marketing side. But
the innovation that I would like to
find the right candidate. Now Job
adverts can target applicants who
Innovation Quiz
Movin Nasim
talk about is the concept of Inbound meet their specifications and target ads
marketing. Traditionally, inbound towards them so that it becomes easier
1. Steve Sasson, a Kodak
marketing was difficult to achieve to shortlist candidates. Rather than
engineer invented the first digital
because of the lack of reach of going to through hundreds of random
camera in 1975. The company
information. But that all changed when profiles to fill in one position this will
never launched this product and
the internet came into the picture. help shortlist it to just ten. This also
finally went bankrupt in 2012.
Inbound marketing involves creating helps is ensuring there is no shortage in
Why did Kodak choose to kill its
back channels where the customer manpower.
own innovative product?
reaches out to you instead of you
reaching out to the customer. This is a Future Innovations
2. The first brand of commercial
more cost-effective marketing solution There are several innovations that have
roll-on deodorant was developed
compared to the traditional outbound been conceptualized but are still in
by a company called Edna
marketing strategy. This innovation the works. These innovations could
Murphey in Philadelphia in
helps small businesses, with a lesser redefine our daily lives. Here are some
the 1940s. Where did Helen
marketing budget, flourish. of the innovations that could be game
Diserens, an employee of the
changers in the future.
firm, borrow the idea of the Roll-
Sales & Distribution
on device from?
The primary goal for operational Autonomous vehicles or self-driving
department would be to reduce cost vehicles have been in the works for
3. 3M manufactures 55,000
and increase productivity. One of the some time now. With companies like
products including Scotch Tape
major innovations that we see with the Google and Tesla making great progress
and Post-It Notes. It famously has
introduction of the analytical tools was in assisted driving, it’s only a matter of
the ‘15% rule’. Google, the 3M
forecasting. With the help of demand time till this comes to fruition. Having
of the digital world, has a similar
forecasting companies has started to a society where all the vehicles are
‘20% time’ policy. What are
shift from a push model to a pull model. autonomous would mean smoother
both these rules/policy about?
They could accurately predict and traffic, better road safety and more
where and when there is going to be a comfortable travel.
4. Around 1913, Ford was able
demand. So, all the companies had to
to capture and dominate the
do was place the right products at the Another innovation that has made good
automobile industry by lowering
right place at the right time. This helps progress is commercial space travel
the price of cars and quickening
reduce inventory costs and meet with and the colonization of other planets.
the production. He primarily did
quotas. SpaceX has made progress in making
this by borrowing what idea by
it much cheaper to travel to space and
the meatpacking industries?
IT this opens the possibility of humans
IT is relatively a newer business function colonizing planets like Mars. This way
5. Prof Patrick Brown from
but a very important one at that. one day we would explore deeper into
Stanford University is also
Decision making is not what it used the universe and possibly find other
chief executive and founder
to be before. Now companies have a life forms. Although this is a long
of Impossible Foods Inc. What
lot of data to go through and it is not way away, it is still something to look
is their signature product that
possible to manually analyse and make forward to.
contain ingredients such as soy
sense of it . Innovations in data analytics
and potato for protein, heme for
helps the IT department to capture Innovations paves the way to the future
flavor, coconut and sunflower
all this data and make sense out of it. of mankind. There is a solution for every
for fat and methylcellulose as a
This enables businesses to make more problem,the answers could be right in
binder?
informed decisions rather than going on front of you and all you have to do was
a hunch. look at it in a different way, just like
how chips were made. Let us break free Turn to page 35
HR and keep innovating. for more...
Getting the right person for the right
job is never an easy task, but it is Ravisankar
something that the HR department ravi.sankar@Lntvalves.com
12 V-connect January 2021Cover Story
Innovations in Valve industry
and Its Impact
Innovation is an improvement to modify or replace a process, product or a service. It
can simply be a technique, a method or a product which creates value to its users.
Innovations are always fascinating
and have been changing every aspect Figure 1: Innova�on in Valve Industry
of our lives. The hunger to try new
things is the key to the evolution of
humans. The past century witnessed
Precise
control / Valve manufacturers
many innovations that changedour
shutoff
Capabili�es
Less
world drastically, and some claim, even maintenance
Advanced
High Key to innovation New Smart
changed the Earth itself. reliability
and
Less space
Manufactu
ring
materials Valves
durability BUYER SELLER Advanced
Flexible with Smart
safety and designing
The concept of valve was incepted process
variations
health
capabilities
actuation
several centuries ago but in the 20th Innovative
adaptive to
Low weight low emission
technology
products/solution
century, the valves market grew
rapidly to address the needs of various End user expectations
industrial and process requirements. Opportunities in the market Challenges we face now
Currently, the valves market, with
thousands of manufacturers around the Depleting natural Increasing
resources complexity
world manufacturing millions of valves
per year, is clocking over USD 80 billion
in revenue at a CAGR of 5+%. The generation products like Triple-offset Welding. There were notable
growth was powered by innovations Butterfly Valves, Double Block and innovations made in welding
in design, manufacture, materials and Bleed Plug Valves and Top-entry Ball technologies which created better
applications. Valves became popular. Valves evolved joints and finer overlays. The ability
from hardware to intelligent integrated to overlay Tungsten or Chromium
Innovations in Design control and diagnostic systems, and carbide over carbon steel has provided
Design capabilities were dramatically demand for solutions such as High a cost-effective option to using exotic
enhanced by modern design, analysis Integrity Pressure Protection Systems materials/ high alloys.
and simulation software that became (HIPPS) grew.
popular in the last two decades. Tools Additive Manufacturing. This
like Computational Fluid Dynamics Innovation in Manufacture disruptive technology commonly known
(CFD) and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) Valve manufacturing saw an ocean as 3D printing, is the process of making
enabled greater understanding of the of change driving productivity and components by adding material layer
behaviour of fluids inside the valves as cost reduction in line with market by layer, compared to the conventional
well as its impact on the valves. New expectations. subtractive manufacturing.
Innovation Clips
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V-connect January 2021 13Figure 2 - Evolution of Valve from a product to system
Integrated
Plumbing diagnostic
Integrated
& Catalogue Engineered Automated Flow and control
hardware product product product control
system system
product
Innovations such as CNC Machines, quarter-turn valves over traditional gate/
Flexible Manufacturing, Enterprise sluice valves.
Resource Planning (ERP) as well as
advancements in foundry technologies Industry 4.0: An Era of Smart Valves
have significantly contributed to the Industry 4.0 is an ongoing industrial
growth of the valve industry all around revolution that connects information
the globe. technology with manufacturing.
Internet-of-Things-ready Smart Valves
Innovations in Materials with integrated diagnostic, monitoring
Ferrous materials are traditionally the and communication modules are
key MOCs in valves. The innovations gaining popularity, and are expected to
in metallurgy and invention of new dominate valves for critical and severe
materials have widened options thereby services in the future.
improving compatibility to a wider
range of applications. Summary
The collective impact of innovations in
Sour crude, minerals processing, oil designing, manufacturing, materials and
sands, desalinations, water and effluent smart devices are the real drivers for the
treatments and corrosive chemicals have valve industry’s growth in coming years.
contributed to the increased demand Remember, “The best way to predict the
for higher-grade alloy steels, stainless future is to create it”
steels, duplex stainless steels, Hastelloy,
etc.
The industry is embracing polymers
and composite materials as economic
and lighter alternatives to heavier and
costlier alloy steel valves. For example,
acid plants in fertiliser, pharma, chemical
facilities are replacing alloy steel and
duplex stainless-steel valves and fittings
with polymer or composite based valves,
fittings, tanks, piping, etc.
Sreenivasan KK
sreeni.kk@Lntvalves.com
Elastomers:
A wide range of elastomers in the form
of seats, seal rings, etc. are used in
quarter-turn valves to ensure
bubble-tight sealing. The advanced
moulding and mixing technologies have
increased efficiency, reduced costs and
enhanced the portfolio of elastomers,
thereby enhancing the acceptance of
14 V-connect January 2021Cover Story
Remote Inspection
The inspection and audit of valves From April 2020, we augmented Smart The procedure for conducting remote
used in industries such as oil & gas, View with MS Teams and video calls and inspection was documented and
refining and power are governed by ensured seamless business continuity. approvals and clearances were
international code and standards. We are able to deploy remote inspection obtained from customers and
Traditionally, inspections and audits of services around the world and carry certification agencies. Further, as a part
valves and components are carried out out operations safely and efficiently of our knowledge-sharing programmes,
at the manufacturers’ premises. without compromising on the quality of we conducted webinars for customers
experience. and suppliers on remote inspection.
The pandemic and the travel ban
brought audits and inspections to a Remote Inspection Workflow: Remote Audit & Inspection
grinding halt. But we were ready with • Stage 1 – Pre-requisites confirmation • To handle inspection during crisis
an innovative solution - Smart View, • Stage 2 - Booking • To handle travel restrictions
a digital collaboration platform that • Stage 3 – Pre-inspection Preparation • To minimize inspection arrangement,
leverages AR technologies to minimize • Stage 4 - Remote inspection delivery lead time and to speed up clearance
the limitation of distance and time. • Stage 5 - Report Distribution • To accelerate production and delivery
Audit Opening Meeting PO Verification Pattern Storage
Mould Assembly Mould Hardness Check Melting
Vijayarangan M
smARt.view vijay.m@Lntvalves.com
V-connect January 2021 15Cover Story
Digital Datasheet Decoder
Here at L&T Valves, we believe (machine readable format like PDF 1 Optical Character Recognition (OCR)
employees should put their time and generated by system) and then the to enable NLP to also understand
effort into using their skills in their program plays around with its contents non-machine-readable format such as
respective fields rather than doing to convert it as per the requirement. In scanned images
mundane repetitive tasks. So, whenever case of Pre-sales team, it was to read
folks come across work that is boring or the customer datasheet, which comes 2 Artificial Intelligence (AI) to
repetitive, it should strike a bell in their in various formats, and to convert it automatically remember manually
heads that there should be a technology into a standardized L&T Valves decoded corrected values and to decode it in
available to take care of such work. Mr format. Special credits to Ms Sanjana, the same way in future documents
Madhan and Mr Lokesh, managers in intern at L&T Valves digitalisation team
Pre-sales team had one such “aha!” for developing the NLP code completely 3 Cloud based application with login to
moment. Under the guidance of their in-house. Other applications of this access from any device, anywhere
department head, Mr Haribabu, and technology could include verification of
the encouragement from the Global supplier QC documents to see whether
Head of Operations, Mr Basavarajappa, the chemical and physical properties
they began exploring various options as seen in the Material Test Certificate
such as bots. At this auspice moment, is within the acceptable range as per
the digitalisation team was formed and our standards or not, whether the bank
began collaborating with Mr Madhan guarantee format as supplied by the
and Mr Lokesh to understand their customer has any unacceptable clauses
requirement. The problem statement or not, etc to name a few.
was a classic use case for Natural
Language Processing (NLP). Doing day- Kaizen is a way of life at L&T Valves,
to-day work in a new way is another and we at digitalization team will
form of innovation and kudos to Pre- continuously strive to improve the tools
sales team for coming up with one. provided with the latest technology
advancements available. The next
NLP enables the computer to read version of digital datasheet decoder will Yaser Ahmed Palikonda Latheef
the contents of any digital document contain below features: yaser.ahmed@Lntvalves.com
Demo
Working of Digital Datasheet Decoder
https://qrgo.page.link/nURjq
16 V-connect January 2021Express Delivery:
A win-win solution
Introducing Express Delivery, a customer-centric innovation from L&T Valves
that addresses the demand for quick deliveries.
During project construction, changes in
piping layout or process parameters can
trigger an urgent demand for valves.
In an operating plant, exigencies or
shutdowns also can spur an unplanned
demand for valves. These jeopardise
schedules and is a perennial cause of
concern for customers.
Leveraging our global project
experience, L&T Valves introduces
a solution that significantly reduces
uncertainty and delivery lead-times -
Express Delivery www.Lntvalves.com/
expressdelivery
Express Delivery is a web-based solution
for browsing and ordering valves from
L&T Valves inventory across the world.
Milestones make them highly responsive to enable We launched Express Delivery in
Forecasting customer demand: the quick turnarounds planned. September 2020, and the response has
Accurately forecasting the demand been very positive. We currently stock
for specific products across the globe Recently a major oil company from the over 15,000 valves at multiple stocking
was vital to the success. To calculate Middle East needed valves for an urgent points in the USA, Saudi Arabia and
advance order quantities, we correlated shutdown, and we were able to quickly India.
past project activity data with customer respond and solve the issue.
buying behaviour. The subject matter
experts from valve manufacturing, EPCs,
end-users and distributors reinforced
and validated our findings.
Streamlined manufacturing
operations: With multiple
manufacturing facilities spread across
the globe, streamlining the operations
to achieve a high degree of efficiency
and flexibility was very important.
Logistics readiness: Logistics, both
inbound and outbound, had to be Praveen B Karajagi Siddharth PK
revamped and digitally integrated to praveen.bk@Lntvalves.com siddharth.pk@Lntvalves.com
V-connect January 2021 17Cover Story
Gate Valves for
Hot Tapping Service
L&T Valves is a global leader in Gate What is Hot Tapping?
Valves. We offer an ever-increasing Hot tappingis defined as the method
range of solutions for a variety of of making a connection to an existing
critical applications: Cryogenic, High pipeline without emptying that section
pressure, Large-size, High alloys, Clean of the pipe. In other words, hot tapping
service, Low emission, Bellow-sealed, involves working on a live pipeline
Actuated...The latest addition to our carrying inflammable fluids.
Gate Valves portfolio is a high integrity
Gate Valve for hot tapping application. Recently we supplied valves for a
pipeline project in Singapore. The
project involved linking a rock cavern
storage to two refineries. These
pipelines had to be connected to
the existing pipeline at the refinery
using hot tapping and 48 inch Class
150 high integrity full-bore Gate
Valves manufactured at L&T Valves
Kancheepuram plant were used.
Innovation Clips
Road layer
Smart innovation saving back breaking work
https://qrgo.page.link/sQ1A9
18 V-connect January 2021V-Desk
SINGLE SOURCE OF TRUTH Single source of truth to monitor track and drive analytics on business
performance
ACCESS ANYTIME ANYWHERE Dashboards are hosted on L&T Valves Share point space to
access it anytime anywhere and multiple devices.
OVERVIEW OF KEY
DRIVERS OF BUSINESS Key KPIs of different functions available & access on
a single platform
SCALABLE PLATFORM
FOR DECISION SUPPORT Platform can be scaled to include additional KPIs to drive actionable
decisions
DRILL DOWN
ARCHITECTURE
Reports can be aggregated and disaggregated at granular level details
thereby relevant to all levels in the organization
About Purpose The Way Forward
L&T Valves V-Desk is a Smart PMS V-Desk currently tracks the key The platform will be scaled up to
created under the aegis of the performance metrics of Sales & include metrics from other crucial
digitalization drive to facilitate data- Marketing, Operations, Finance and business functions and would include
driven decision making. The innovation Human Resources domains and is other value-adding functionalities
was conceptualised and helmed by accessible to the Leadership Team such as granular level drill down and
Sameer Godbole, CFO and launched on the L&T Valves workspace. The predictive analytics that will eventually
by Mahesh Joshi, CE and Mr S dashboard is enabled by Power BI with make V-Desk the single source of truth
Kalyanaraman, CE (Designate) in the anytime access and is device agonistic for business performance monitoring at
presence of over 60 employees. (laptop, desktop, tablet, mobile). L&T Valves.
Muthukumar N
muthukumar.n@Lntvalves.com
V-connect January 2021 19Cover Story
Innovation, a brain game
In the vast expanse of a sky starkly lit know that in fact it is quite the was a dream-far from real-yet it held the
by the blaze of the morning sun, what opposite. answer to his ever-evasive answer. Elias
could be a more bedazzling sight to Howe took the cue and started to build
watch? The rhythmic flapping of the Innovative ideas that have ordained his ‘dream’ machine. The model of the
wings by the birds as they set out to our rich historic past have always needle which had the eye at its point
begin their day or the V shaped flight stemmed from sporadic right came into full-fledged existence and
these birds manage to form and hold brain revelations. The springing up so did the invention of the lockstitch
until they reach their destination? of an innovative idea never follows a sewing machine.
structured step by step process. Rather,
Many behavioral researchers have the idea is spontaneous, out of the blue. For many this could be a confounding
studied the V formation and through The apple falling on Newton was not a conundrum. How can a dream hold a
careful observation have unraveled predicated event. It just occurred and logical solution to a logical problem?
lessons for humanity as a whole. In yet it was the source of Newton’s law Our left brain wired thinking could
a V formation flight, the bird behind on gravity. The principle fundamental make this sound as frivolous as it could.
flies slightly higher than the bird in the to fluid mechanics the physical law of But perhaps it’s too late. The process is
front and by doing so they manage to buoyancy came into being in that one already demystified.
tackle the resistance from the wind. By
handling wind resistance in this simple Creativity is a right brain process.
and cohesive manner, these birds are Full stop. Solutions to even the
doing what matters to them most - mundane problems need not necessarily
conserving their energy! stem from the routine; instead, it could
emerge from a zone beyond structure
What other profound example can there and routine.
be for innovation in daily life?
Obviously then, innovation is that If we integrate this understan ding
one idea which if taken into serious into us, then we can confidently work
practice can make lives easier not towards embracing a holistic approach
just for one but for many. An idea to innovation and that is to adopt
that is simple to implement and a thinking pattern known as Whole
yet with a potential for large scale brain thinking - an approach that could
impact. save us a lot of time, efforts and futile
consequences.
The question is how to get that one
simple yet transformational idea? What awkward moment when Archimedes But…. hold on. If creativity is a right
brain gimmicks does one need to lay immersing himself in a bathtub filled brain process, then why even consider
attempt to be that bright lad amongst with water. Innovation kept eluding Elias whole brain thinking? Wouldn’t it be
the competitive minds blinding the eye? Howe as he struggled to spot where beneficial if we transition into a right
After decades of research on Innovation to put the needle’s eye in the sewing brained approach instead?
and its core principles, it is no surprise machine that he was trying to build.
that the recent publications on Design But one strange incident gave him the Clearly not. To grasp this in totality,
Thinking all begin with one single answer. That incident was his dream. we need to first understand what
step and that is, to empathize. Yes, differentiates the two hemispheres of
empathy-the very utterance of the word It was a dream in which he was ordered the brain.
sounds like it is far from innovation. to build a sewing machine by a savage
But that’s our mindset problem. Over king. But since he could not build it Whole brain thinking - an
the years we have been programmed within the deadline he was being taken interaction between the two
to believe that innovation is a left brain for execution by the King’s warriors. hemispheres of the brain
function. Idea generation has been It was during that death march did
staunchly defined as a logical process ne notice something unique about Left brain focuses on structure, logic,
confined to the functioning of the the spears held by the warriors. These deduction, numbers, facts.
left-brain. Little did the researchers spears were pierced near the point. It
20 V-connect January 2021Cover Story
Right brain is about being intuitive, free Here are some ideas to start with. If you intellectually, creatively and emotionally
flowing, visual orientation with a focus are predominantly a left-brain thinker, well-rounded human.
on the larger picture rather than the then try breaking your thinking pattern
details by Da Vinci many of us know is a great
artist. But his creations were more
The right brain processes allow for 1. Writing with your other hand. Practice than just the Mona Lisa. He was also
creative and new ideas. Which is why writing daily with your non dominant a talented and skilled painter, sculptor,
Mozart, Van Goh and similar others hand for some time architect and engineer. His pursuit for
were believed to be truly right brained knowledge urged him to explore both
artists. Their dominant right brain 2. Draw a map of the locality you live in arts and science and his inventions are
allowed them to create master pieces in from your memory and imagination both left brain and right brain driven.
their respective fields. Their right brain He is today considered as the world’s
dominated creations broke conventional 3. Listen intently to the musical tones most successful whole brain thinker and
patterns and that made their work in your favorite songs try to zoom the world’s greatest creative genius.
stand out. out of the lyrics and instead focus And that is what is needed for a man
on the variations in the tones at the who managed to invent something
But, in the context of innovation, we background as small as Aerial screws to a series of
are not just looking for creative ideas inventions across engineering, music,
or creative music and arts. We are 4. Take 3 objects that you use in your painting, anatomy and architecture.
seeking ideas that solve problems, ideas daily life and think of alternative uses
that work, ideas that transform lives of for those objects keep doing this Da Vinci had a sharp perceptive
many. For an idea to be as sharp and eye. He could see things around
impactful, it need not and must not him differently. An aspiring inventor
be different and creative alone. It must therefore must first attempt to see the
necessarily also pass the test of logic. problem and then strive to understand
it. In one simple word-empathize.
The true test of an idea lies in the
magnitude of the problem it solves. Empathy, dear reader converts any
And it is here that the left-brain polynomial equation into a simple
steps in. To validate the creative binomial problem. It allows for simplicity
idea emanating from the right brain and paves way for a sustainable
and to rivet it to solve specific world and impactful solution. When that
related problems, the left-brain happens, one can be rest assured that
logical processes are absolutely an innovative idea is at the verge of its
required. irrevocable explosion.
Hence the need for whole brain Vidhyarthi S
thinking! exercise with different sets of objects vidhyarthi.s@Lntvalves.com
daily
The intent to adopt a whole brain
approach to thinking is just the When you have tried your hands on all
beginning. The contours take shape of the above and there is a yearning
only when there is discipline and in you for some inspiration to keep
determination in becoming a whole your journey on, then turn towards the
brain thinker. Renaissance man, Leonardo Da Vinci, an
Innovation Clips
Temporary housing
Quick build!
https://qrgo.page.link/Tew9R
V-connect January 2021 21Update
Quality Month
Celebrations
employees from offices and facilities both Kanchipuram and Coimbatore
across the globe. plants
The key take away from the Guru • About 150 people participated in the
Speak was that ‘Quality is the collective online technical crossword contest
responsibility of everyone in the
organization’. Mr Mukherjee mentioned • Slogan entries were received in Tamil
that the stages of inspection should be and English, and posters depicting the
The month of November is celebrated minimal, and that quality should be an Quality month theme received at both
as Quality Month across the globe to inherent property of the product. the Kanchipuram and Coimbatore
emphasize the impact of quality in plants
today’s competitive and fast-moving During the month, video messages from
world. functional heads on the quality culture
was shared via email. Technical training
The theme for the Quality Month sessions on Metallurgy, Welding and
celebrations at Larsen & Toubro was NDE were conducted and the contests
‘First Time Right’. L&T Valves based on (poster, slogan, quiz, crossword, etc,)
feedback from the employees refined drew good response.
the theme to include a customer angle
also and came up with the theme ‘First- Highlights:
time Right for On-time Delivery’.
• Technical training sessions: 600
The Quality Month was inaugurated manhours Pemmaraju Raghavendra
by Mr Mahesh Joshi, CE and was raghavendra.p@Lntvalves.com
followed by Guru Speak from Mr Tushar • Training session on PMI handling and
Mukherjee, Head-Quality, RIL. While the operation conducted for inspection
pandemic transformed the traditional personnel
quality month inauguration function
to an online event, the positive aspect • Technical Quiz session conducted with
was that it enabled participation of participants from various functions at
Thiyagarajan P Rajkamal R Rejul Ramesh
22 V-connect January 2021Update
Diwali
Celebration at KPM
Health | Happiness | Harmony | Hope
Twist ‘n’ Catch Tug of War
Up in the Air Baloon Burst
V-connect January 2021 23Update
God is Dead
What Zidane could do with a ball; Maradona could do with an Orange”
- Michel Platini
Once upon a time, greatness in sport
was not defined by statistics and data,
not bestowed in newsrooms or media
debates, not measured by fitness and
longevity and not determined on the
basis of astute professionalism or
political correctness. Thank god, we
weren’t as wise then, for we wouldn’t
then know what separates a ‘genius’
from the ‘great’. My first ever tryst in life
with the notion of ‘genius’ was Diego
Armando Maradona.
Romantics have no place in the
ruthlessly professional and data-oriented
world of today. Football continues to
remain the first love for many and yet
the aura of romanticism around it has
been peeled off completely with over
scrutiny. The art and mystery in sport
has been decimated with excessive
use of technology. From the ‘hand of
god’1 folklore to the VAR2 - the game
has lost much more than just its speed.
I stopped writing or talking about love affair. Maradona was arguably angles, ball control, shooting, balance,
football ever since the discussions began the greatest sports person to have ever dribbling and straight-line runs. As
to be centred around the technical, lived. Mourinho said “With Maradona on the
physical and economic attributes of ball, you didn’t know where he finished
the game, slipping far away from the Maradona, much like the typical and where the ball started”. The guy
enthralling tales of superhuman abilities protagonist from modern-day cinema had ‘divine feet’ and could dribble
of those who set the fields on fire. had his shades of grey. Having grown the ball past opposition players while
Stories of rags to riches journeys, display up in the slums of Buenos Aires, his on the run. The second goal in the
of footballing genius, jaw-dropping legend was marred by stories of cocaine 1986 World Cup against England was
deeds, larger than life personas, problems, involvement with crime a testimony of his diminutive genius.
eccentric behaviours were the folklores syndicates, political affiliations, tax His sharp pivot and turn followed by
exchanged over a hot ‘cutting chai’3. evasions, an extravagant lifestyle and piercing through half a dozen England
Yet, here I am today, writing a piece to probably a few more. However, being defenders who possibly didn’t exist
mourn the departure of God, whom the old school, none of these would ever for him made the outcome divine. The
world of football knew as Maradona. cloud my love for the sporting genius bewildered Bryon Butler who was on
With him also ends the romanticism of Maradona - the phenomenon. His radio commentary at the time summed
in football. He was perhaps the ‘last genius lied in his sporting talent alone. up the goal and genius of Maradona,
man standing’ who epitomised the He possessed unearthly skills in sudden saying, “Maradona turns like a little
passing, scoring off acute (& impossible) eel and comes away from trouble.
1 A term coined by Diego Maradona for the goal he scored in 1986 FIFA World Cup using his hand | 2 Video Assisted Referee
24 V-connect January 2021You can also read
