Mr. Ramratan Singhi,  27 April 2010

PackagingConnections: What is your educational background? How did you get involved in the Packaging industry?

PackagingConnections: Your key activities at work? What is the most rewarding part of your work?
Mr. Ram: Being a CEO of a SME, I am involved in every aspect of business like:Key Customer Relationship Manager, Mentor, New Product Introduction, Strategy and Change, Brand Building, Innovation; and the driving force behind the team, to motivate each one to perform better.

To solve a customer’s Transit Damage problem, and to get a smile on his face, is the most rewarding part of our work.

PackagingConnections: The most prestigious awards you have received? And the awards which meant the most to you .
Mr. Ram:We won the “OVERALL PRESENTATION” award at INTELPACK 2010 for the excellent effort put by all our sales people at Mumbai, recently.

PackagingConnections: Your key achievements? Have you, or your organization, been recognized in any way for your great work?
Mr. Ram: Our rewards come in the form of REPEATED BUSINESS from our customers and when they refer our name to other companies. We find that is the best reward we can get, as only genuinely happy customers will recommend us to other people.

PackagingConnections: What unexpected costs and headaches have you had to deal with?
Mr. Ram: Most of the time, it’s the delay in customer’s decision making process that at times can be very frustrating as we invest a lot of time and effort in providing a solution to the customer. Finding the right people for our SALES TEAM and making them to stay-on has been a challenge for us.

PackagingConnections: What is one thing about the industry that you would change?
Mr. Ram:The assumption that PACKAGING COST ONLY refers to material cost. More often than not, the TRANSIT DAMAGE is also a part of Packaging Cost. Customer’s should look at the BIG PICTURE, when it comes to packaging cost

PackagingConnections: Where do you see the packaging industry in next 5 years?
Mr. Ram: Packaging Industry in next 5 years should grow at CAGR of 25% plus and will be the major source of ADDING VALUE to the end-users as the industry moves towards MODERN MATERIAL HANDLING and TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS. RETAIL CHAINS and INTERNET will be key drivers of all future packaging development.

PackagingConnections: Could you share with us your key plans for the future?

PackagingConnections: What has been your biggest challenge? How did you overcome?
Mr. Ram: Convincing the customer that HIGH PRODUCT COST does not mean HIGH PACKAGING COST was a major challenge. By going for TRIALS, and VALIDATING the results, we were able to prove that QUALITY OF PRODUCT is as important as the COST. Hence, COST REDUCTION, in real sense, will be achieved, when TRANSIT DAMAGE is reduced. Not by using cheap packaging materials.

Most of our customers, now understand this philosophy.

Packaging Connections: What are three important tenets (Principles) that you work by when beginning a new packaging project?
Mr. Ram:

1.OBSERVATION
2.  PROCESS MAPPING
3.  INDUSTRY BEST PRACTICE RESEARCH

Packaging Connections: Your packaging dream?
Mr. Ram: Make every INDIAN, a responsible world citizen, by RECYCLING DRY PACKAGING WASTE, 100%.

Packaging Connections: Any tips you want to share with the packaging professionals across globe?
Mr. Ram: REDUCE, RE-USE, RECYCLE.