Tata Sons Chairman calls for quality and sustainability in manufacturing

Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran has called for a quality-driven transformation in Indian manufacturing to sustain long-term growth. Speaking at the Indian Foundation for Quality Management (IFQM) Symposium 2026 on Monday, he urged manufacturers to embed sustainable practices and quality at the core of their ambition, citing Toyota’s model where quality drove innovation and competitiveness.

Chandrasekaran stated that sustainable manufacturing must 'get embedded in our whole manufacturing ambition'. He pointed to the Japanese automaker as a prime example. "Quality is definitely important to produce the outcome that we want … But it became a key driver for innovation, productivity and competitiveness for Toyota," he said. The company never treated quality as a mere outcome but simultaneously focused on driving innovation and productivity.

Linking quality to national competitiveness and ecosystem strength

Chandrasekaran argued that a sharp national focus on quality can create a powerful competitive advantage. He cited nations like Germany, which triggered a transformation by defining standards and precision across their engineering and supplier ecosystems.

He believes India needs a similar shift. 'Be it for engineering of their products or defining standards or precision or building their entire supplier and SME or the middle strand ecosystem....I think in India, we need such a transformation,' Chandrasekaran stated. This approach would cultivate strong leadership not only in large corporations but across the entire middle-strand ecosystem of suppliers and small to medium enterprises. The goal is to create experts who act as global force multipliers, helping India shape international production standards.

Broader economic context underpinning the manufacturing push

The chairman's comments come against a backdrop of resilient economic performance. He highlighted that India's growth is being driven by strong domestic demand, services exports, and an enabling policy environment. The country has consistently exceeded growth expectations in recent years despite a difficult global landscape.

Multiple indicators show stability. He mentioned robust demand in auto sales, credit, power, and cement. Key macroeconomic markers are also healthy.

Chandrasekaran observed that it is fair to say the indicators are strong, positioning the economy robustly amid global uncertainty.

Vision alignment: Viksit Bharat 2047 and sustainable development

The manufacturing imperative is tightly linked to the national Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, which Chandrasekaran said has percolated across the country. Achieving this vision of a developed India requires inclusive and sustainable development built on world-class infrastructure, institutions, and intellectual property.

He identified three specific areas as critical for sustaining long-term growth: energy security, advanced and precision manufacturing jobs, and investment in human capital. 'All three will be critical,' he told the symposium. Delivering on the ambitious 2047 goal means building a foundation where quality manufacturing is not an afterthought but a central catalyst. Chandrasekaran's call aims to create a generation of experts who can define how products are made worldwide.