SAMARTH Stories Ep. 01 | Anup Wadhwa on Smart Manufacturing, Leadership & India’s Future

SAMARTH Stories begins with a simple belief: smart manufacturing is not only about technology — it is about people, values, journeys, and purpose.

In Episode 01, Tabish Haroon (Founder, TecRover Didactic) speaks with Anup Wadhwa (Director, Automation Industry Association | Co-Architect, IITD–AIA Foundation for Smart Manufacturing) at IIT Delhi — a space that connects the guest’s formative engineering years with their present work shaping India’s smart manufacturing ecosystem.

This conversation moves from childhood influences and IIT Delhi in the 1970s to the microprocessor revolution, the discipline of slow learning, and the deeper questions behind transformation — ego, leadership, human growth, and why technology must serve people, not replace them.
It also explores climate responsibility, the role of MSMEs as India’s true manufacturing engine, and why India must build manufacturing like a marathon team, not a sprint team.

What you’ll hear in this episode
IIT Delhi in the 1970s — a young institute finding its identity
The shift from vacuum tubes to transistors — and the mindset of constant change
“Joyous learning” — learning that must be munched, chewed, and digested
Why stillness and slowing down matters in a fast world
Ego-less leadership and why transformation needs inner growth
Organizations as living systems — people, processes, and intent
Digital transformation vs human transformation
Climate responsibility and “use-and-throw” consumption
MSMEs, precision manufacturing, and the shift from MSME → MNC
Why smart manufacturing matters now for India — quality, efficiency, attractiveness
FSM’s mission: Smart Manufacturing Simplified
Emotional intelligence in building ecosystems
A dream for FSM: not just a place, but a quality invited by people
Closing reflection: India as a marathon nation — “the elephant that has started moving”

Chapters / Timestamps
00:00 – Opening Sequence
01:13 – Laying the Foundation
02:32 – Where It All Began
04:17 – Seeds of Simplicity & Excellence
06:49 – Reflections from IIT Years
08:17 – The Microprocessor Revolution
10:24 – Joyous Learning
11:37 – A World Without Internet
12:57 – The Art of Slowing Down
14:57 – Ego-Less Leadership
20:57 – Organizations as Living Systems
24:39 – Digital Transformation vs Human Transformation
31:49 – Climate & Responsibility of Industry
35:11 –Sustainability & MSMEs (Practical Reality)
37:01 – Manufacturing as a National Priority (deep dive)
41:57 – MSMEs: The True Engine of India’s Smart Manufacturing
46:41 – Smart Manufacturing: India’s Opportunity
52:01 – Smart Manufacturing Simplified
55:33 – Human Transformation Beyond the Demo Floor
56:44 – Emotional Intelligence in Industrial Transformation
58:24 – What Remains to Be Built
59:43 – Closing Reflection: Hope for India

About SAMARTH Stories
SAMARTH Stories is a people-first storytelling series co-created with the Automation Industry Association (AIA) to celebrate the individuals and ideas shaping India’s manufacturing transformation — beyond machines and systems, into values, philosophy, and purpose.

If this conversation resonates…
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Comment below: What does “human transformation” mean in your workplace?

Host / Interviewer: Tabish Haroon (Founder, TecRover Didactic)
Guest: Anup Wadhwa (Director, Automation Industry Association | Co-Architect, IITD–AIA Foundation for Smart Manufacturing)

#SamarthStories #SmartManufacturing #Manufacturing #Industry40 #Automation #MSME #IITDelhi #Leadership #DigitalTransformation #HumanTransformation #Sustainability #LeanManufacturing #Kaizen #FoundationForSmartManufacturing #aiart

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🎵 Music Credits & Licenses
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All music tracks used in this video are licensed via Adobe Stock / Adobe Premiere Pro.

1. Track: Guidance
License Code: ASLC-472A5106-394CD83050

2. Track: Magical Feelings
License Code: ASLC-472A6EC8-E0DDA2C3D4

3. Track: Melodious
License Code: ASLC-472A7011-79B2C3EC5E

4. Track: Simply Put
License Code: ASLC-472A7196-0991AB8B90

5. Track: Inspiring Intro
License Code: ASLC-472A726A-7D249E197E

6. Track: Nature’s Beauty
License Code: ASLC-472A7382-F36DDE93BE

7. Track: Inspirational Cinematic
License Code: ASLC-472A748D-9247A6732A

8. Track: Life Is Great
License Code: ASLC-472A810D-794EA82963

9. Track: Emotional Piano
License Code: ASLC-472A8489-A9BAB6C601

10. Track: Motivation Documentary
License Code: ASLC-472A85B3-2E6130709C