T&M perspectives related to 5G based technologies!

 There is all round discussion on new technology introduction of 5G and we are constantly seeing updates on both the tech side and regulatory side.

Over the next few blogs will like to post my thoughts and summarise it from largely T&M perspective. Watch this space closely.

Recent paper on inexpensive BioChip may apply to T&M development too!

An interesting development happened recently,when the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences published about possibility of very inexpensive chip which is multifunctional and reusable as well.Stanford scientists claim this to be akin to a system on chip(SoC or LoC lab on chip) functionality and is print manufacturable in mass mode.This has potential of low cost of production,wider applicability and ease of use.

Although the primary and wide application of such chips are intended to be in healthcare area- that too in developing countries where large numbers of diagnostics and population targets are there,this chip technology can find application in more inexpensive and portable T&M instruments as well.Here the idea is to use the power of inexpensive and compact manufacturing techniques and make thousands of portable instruments,or labs and taking to the target DUT for doing diagnostic
measurements.High tech test probes can incorporate these multifunctional chips and the cost of measurement and checking the Quality can be brought down.

We foresee the above as a feasible pointer where India can absorb the IP associated with rapid prototyping and mass manufacturing techniques for making sophisticated instruments and apply to those T&M hardware situations where number can be large,and yet hi technology of design is needed.More investigations are required for viability but it points towards a possibility of looking
Indigeneous T&M industry from a different viewpoint.

I will be interested in discussing professionally with interested individuals or Organisations.

T&M new paradigm has to reveal itself thru 2020!

How the T&M industry changed totally in this decade is for every professional to see clearly through
an Engineers eyes.Engineers eyes are always looking for processes where the time to do a transaction can be cut,and the cost of execution can be reduced.The engineer is always looking for technology
intervention in cost and time of execution reduction.The ultimate idea is to test and monitor the necessary physical parameters into the series of working electrical parameters so that the process can
be efficiently controlled and monitored.What can be measured can be controlled better and improved
on to receive benefits of economy and time-saving.


In India we the technology thinkers and exploiters have to identify those sectors of economy where they form appreciable part of GDP.It is pure simplistic approach and for our 2.3 trillion Dollar economy we need to understand mathematically where we need to priorities and focus.Our empirical
knowledge says we must have top 3 sectors listed from various cuts.We need to first asses how they stack up from import trade is concerned?.Oil and Gas, Gold and Electronics sector imports may have
3 main segments.Likewise from the T&M industry we must focus on top3 Defense,Aerospace, Telecom and Industrial sector of manufacturing.From domestic manufacturing point of view we need to focus on Automotive and Industrial as the top two.

Another important cut is from the job creation point of view.The technology intervention is happening in both design,selection and delivery of vocational and academic curricula.Here we need to see how Automation, VR and Artificial Intelligence can be used to further the inclusion objective
and how we can improve using T&M technologies in the overall education space.Once we have done that,it's extension to all classes in the chain can be done horizontally.Education, Health and Smart city
vision can automatically lead to deployment of technology very well.We have to be T&M technology
oriented ,both in terms of application and skills for all stakeholders to draw benefit from T&M.

T&M services are at centerstage for Quality Assurance!

This particular writing is being done at the fag end of 2016 for an important reason.An important
Global telecom equipment procured for Indian operators is under severe threat of some unnecessary
delays and standoff due to new screening requirements of the telecom sector.The administration wants all imported telecom equipment must pass through local screening(for security against malware and the Equipment Quality) before it is inducted in the network.The telecom vendor community sees possibility of red tape and corruption due to expected delay in this process.

This issue has origin in the quality assurance of fast growing broadband network and hand held devices of modern generation,where local test labs and accreditation centers have not come up to
cater for this market.Also telecom engineering center and its associate Organisations regionally
are not equipped to tackle the additional load.They lack  both in terms of equipment of modern genre
as well as the trained staff for handling new age technologies and budget.Likewise the STQC organisation of Deity can't undertake testing of this nature on an All India basis.There are several testing requirements for assuring security(including cyber security) where Specialised digital testing
is required.

There are three interested parties involved in the process.Network Equipment Manufacturer,Telecon
Operators and System integrators- third party companies who install and test the equipment in and with the networks.System Integrators and Manufacturers share a plethora of complex relationships
and in many cases they roll into one entity as well.

We can safely conclude if we have team work between these three entities and the system integrators
companies we can achieve desired result fairly easily.The third party company should have skill set pertaining to T&M services and Cyber security as well.We will await comments from the telecom
community how feasible this arrangement will be,under present circumstances?

T&M services in particular can help Expand Make in India!

One of the flagship program in India is "Make in India" and the emphasis is high on local manufacturing of all kinds of hardware and in all kind of sectors: be it consumer,capital goods or
any high tech equipment.Because of several factors prevailing today like Mobile Devices and broadband penetration and Attendant fiberisation etc Handset Manufacturing with foreign collaboration is going on.Some 20-25 manufacturers of handsets have come to the country to take
advantage of big Telecom Market here.The mobile or terminal manufacturing is dominated by Chinese Companies and different business models are being adopted to suit their investment pattern
and Capex requirement.

India has few options here.The total manufacturing involves investment in Capital Equipment and Raw Materials and Components.High Tech manufacturing involves quite a bit of IP of processes,patents and other proprietary materials.Normally the packaging and testing of individual
components modules is very low value add activity in terms of percentage of selling price of the so
manufactured products.As per industry the percentage is from sub 1 percent to three percent.The rest goes to areas where we don't have over riding control.So local value creation is very limited.

T&M services can impact in a major way here.All the variety of these services can be employed here,so that both the nature of hardware and value can be increased.Cost envelope of total device can be done to high scale.Suppose the services and application software generation to manufacture and test mobile devices is increased,and simultaneously the better sourcing of local components,the overall indigenous component will increase.We should easily aim for a 10 times improvement on packaging and assembly and test services.

We look forward for more ideas and comments how to step up the local manufacturing program?
Please share your views and comment.Thank You.

Recognition of T&M Services as a strategic item in Defense Plan!

The present Government is putting lot of emphasis on the Indigeneous development and procurement of Defense Equipment and services from indigenous sources.As part of the revamping the Defense procurement policy is totally overhauled and provision of creating Strategic Partners is also made.Basically we need fundamental changes in the development and production of new and innovative technologies,as most of the incumbent here is our evolved Public sector companies and the DRDO labs expertise.

The participative collaboration with the industry will have to include sharing of plan re possible areas of supply where private sector can collaborate more smoothly and ensure their contribution to the quality of Defense wings operation and maintenance.The services are drawing up their individual Modernisation plans,and the T&M services are mentioned as a separate prominent line item,perhaps for the first time in their official plan document.For instance Air Force are mentioning "Test Equipment and Ground Support" as this to denote these services!

The plan document is under public discourse thru CII and therefore the arithmetics of procurement will be known progressively,but we can expect 2-5 percent of total outlay of hardware spent here.
This obviously will be good area for Indigeneous supply of software development and engineering services and procurement thereof.Operation and maintenance thru T&M technologies will be a low hanging fruit here.I believe lot will depend upon the T&M industry itself to assert for its own share by creative Assesment of need behind the need of T&M and offering right optimal mix of hardware and services.

Opportunity for approx 20,000 Cr for next 10 years is laid out by IAF.Now it is up to the industry to seize and execute by quality deliver You!

Global R&D resident in India is exotic growth avenue for T&M

As Indias overall economic recovery is happening slowly and steadily(while the Global pains are
still to get over), one thing remains sure footed. This is an unassailed positioning as a frugal destination for Global R&D.India as a market for tech products and a resource center for the rare as well as generic skills in development remains intact.Well the R&D work is many times concurrent,and the manpower engaged here is either trying to augment the work in Corporate Labs at home country,or supplements by a synchronicity of time.Sometimes even the products are getting developed locally both for Global Market,as well as Customised for value engineered largely meant for India.

We need to get deeper and understand where these engineers and scientists reside in Indian innovation centers,what cities are the major hosts to the highly qualified manpower,and most importantly what sectors of technology these people are working on!If we quickly make a reference to Study by Zinnov, we find that the major talent resides in Southern cities of Bangalore,Hyderabad and Chennai and followed by NCR cluster.Pune is fast catching up,as the Auto sector related work picks up around this cooler town.

Because of very amenable nature of software and design services type of work Semiconductor vertical is at the Top of Electronics oriented R&D,and closely followed by Defense and Aerospace
sector.Due to number of Personnels engaged in the Industry Auto vertical is highest. It is our speculation that Digital India, local Defense Manufacturing oriented towards Make in India will increase substantially the Defense and Aerospace man powers.Looks like MNC R&D persons are the best catchment area for the High cost ,High technology T&M services and hardware from the Industry both now and future.Clentele is sophisticated,business processes are driven by Global procurement processes and opportunities to do a good job of selling and supporting is high.

Can our T&M services and hardware industry systematically go after this specific cluster of clients which are expected to top 1 Million in numbers over 3-5 years? This could be linked to an opportunity where sometimes window can be narrow,but pay off very high,!