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Failure: Understanding, Coping, and Rising Again

  यदृच्छालाभसंतुष्टो द्वन्द्वातीतो विमत्सरः। समः सिद्धावसिद्धौ च कृत्वापि न निबध्यते He who is satisfied with gain which comes of its own accord, who is free from duality and does not envy, who is indifferent in both success & Failure, is never entangled ( bandan of karma), although performing actions Failure is a word that can invoke fear and disappointment, but it is also a powerful teacher and a catalyst for growth. Throughout history, failure has shaped many of the world’s greatest achievements. In India, stories of failure and subsequent success are woven into the fabric of our culture, from the world of business and sports to the battlefield and historical events. This blog will explore what failure means, why it happens, how to detect it early, its mental and emotional effects, and ways to bounce back—drawing from Indian history, business, sports, and military examples.   What is Failure? Failure is the inability to meet a desired goal or standard, whether personal or societ
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Cost of Carry in an Indian Manufacturing Firm

 The "cost of carry" refers to the total expenses incurred by a manufacturing company to hold and store inventory over a period of time. This concept is crucial for effective inventory management, as it helps companies balance the benefits of holding inventory against the associated costs. In the context of an Indian manufacturing firm, understanding the cost of carry can significantly impact profitability and operational efficiency. Components of Cost of Carry 1. Storage Costs    - Rent or lease payments for warehouses    - Utility costs (electricity, heating, cooling)    - Salaries for warehouse staff    - Costs of equipment (e.g., forklifts, shelving) 2. Insurance Costs    - Insurance premiums to cover inventory against theft, damage, or loss 3. Depreciation and Obsolescence Costs    - Reduction in the value of inventory over time due to factors like obsolescence, perishability, or deterioration 4. Opportunity Costs    - The cost of capital tied up in inventory that could

Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) in an Manufacturing Company

Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) is a critical metric used to measure the efficiency and productivity of manufacturing equipment. It provides insights into how effectively a manufacturing operation is being utilized compared to its full potential. For Indian manufacturing companies, OEE is particularly valuable as it helps identify areas for improvement, optimize production processes, and enhance competitiveness in the market. Components of OEE OEE is calculated based on three primary components: 1. Availability    - Measures the percentage of scheduled time that the equipment is available to operate.    - Factors such as equipment breakdowns, maintenance, and setup/adjustments impact availability.     2. Performance    - Assesses the speed at which the equipment operates as a percentage of its designed speed.    - Performance is influenced by factors like slow cycles, minor stoppages, and reduced speed.     3. Quality    - Measures the percentage of good parts produced as a perce

Cost of Dispatch in an Indian Manufacturing Company

The "cost of dispatch" in an Indian manufacturing company refers to the expenses associated with shipping and delivering finished products to customers or distribution centers. This includes various costs such as transportation, packaging, handling, and administrative expenses related to the dispatch process. Understanding and managing the cost of dispatch is crucial for optimizing logistics and overall supply chain efficiency in the Indian context. Components of Cost of Dispatch 1. Transportation Costs    - Freight charges (road, rail, air, sea)    - Fuel expenses    - Vehicle maintenance and depreciation    - Driver wages and allowances 2. Packaging Costs    - Materials for packaging (boxes, pallets, wrapping)    - Labor for packing and labeling products    - Costs of special packaging for fragile or hazardous materials 3. Handling Costs    - Loading and unloading charges    - Warehousing fees if goods are stored before dispatch    - Costs associated with order picking and

The Cost of Quality - CoQ

  The "Cost of Quality" (CoQ) refers to the total cost incurred by an organization to ensure that its products or services meet quality standards. It encompasses all costs related to preventing, detecting, and correcting defective work. Understanding and managing these costs is crucial for maintaining profitability and customer satisfaction. Components of Cost of Quality CoQ is typically divided into four categories: 1. Prevention Costs    - These are costs incurred to prevent defects in the products or services.    - Examples include:      - Quality planning      - Training and education      - Process planning and control      - Product design verification 2. Appraisal Costs    - These costs are associated with measuring and monitoring activities to ensure quality.    - Examples include:      - Inspection and testing of incoming materials      - In-process and final inspection/testing      - Quality audits      - Calibration of measuring and testing equipment 3. Internal Fa

Big Cyber Challenge to Small Businesses

  The number of startups and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are growing in India. They contribute considerably to the Indian GDP. They will play a crucial role in making Bharat a $5 trillion economy in the near future. They face many challenges to making their businesses sustainable and profitable. Cyber threats have emerged as one of the significant threats for big corporations as well as MSEMs. Cyber threats remain similar for big corporations as well as MSMEs. This is because both kinds of organizations use technology to capture, process and store sensitive data and information. This data includes financial data, customer data, intellectual property (IP), transactional data, and business emails. Major cyber threats to MSMEs and startups are spam and phishing attacks, ransomware attacks, distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, identity theft, data theft, and IP theft. A recent report by the Cyber Peace Foundation revealed that 43% of cyberattacks target MSMEs and

Importance of Documentation in Start Up Investing

Pranam According to INC42 , the Indian start-ups have raised about $42 Billion in 2021 spread over 1584 deals, the same was $25 Billion in 2022 spread over 1517 deals . However, the same between the period I Jan 2023 till 21 March 2023 was $3 Billion spread over 3 deals. As per Tracxn Indian Start-ups raised a mere $5.46 billion in the first SIX months of 2023 as compared to $17.1 billion during the first SIX months of 2022 i.e a substantial decline of 68%. There are many reasons for this decline , however this post is not for understanding the reasons for such a decline . In this post I will like to highlight the documentations that goes with such Startup Funding Deals. All said and done, the start-up ecosystem is here to stay as the Government of the day is also promoting the same or atleast that is what is being said.  The investors are willing to set aside a part of their corpus to invest in this HIGH RISK asset class.  And accelerators and angel funds have made such a investing po