40th National Convention of Production Engineers Inaugurated at PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore

The 40th National Convention of Production Engineers and National Seminar on “Sustainable Smart Manufacturing for Circular Economy” was inaugurated at PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore, bringing together experts, academicians, researchers, and industry professionals from across the country to discuss the future of manufacturing and sustainability.

The two-day convention is being organized by the The Institution of Engineers (India), Coimbatore Local Centre, in association with the Department of Production Engineering, PSG College of Technology, under the aegis of the Production Engineering Division Board (PRDB).

Dr. M. Senthilkumar, Chairman of IEI Coimbatore Local Centre and Professor & Head of the Department of Production Engineering at PSG College of Technology, welcomed the gathering and emphasized the importance of sustainable and smart manufacturing practices in addressing the challenges faced by modern industries.

Dr. M. R. Pratheesh Kumar, Organizing Secretary of the Convention and Associate Professor in the Department of Production Engineering, delivered the theme address. He highlighted the growing need for integrating digital technologies, resource efficiency, and circular economy principles into manufacturing systems to ensure long-term industrial sustainability.

Dr. S. Satyanarayana, Chairman of the Production Engineering Division Board (PRDB), IEI, presided over the inaugural session and stressed the crucial role of production engineers in driving innovation, sustainability, and industrial competitiveness.

Dr. P. R. Thyla, Principal (FAC) of PSG College of Technology, delivered the special address and appreciated the collaborative efforts of IEI and the Department of Production Engineering in creating a national platform for knowledge exchange and professional development.

Er. N. Gopalakrishnan, Vice President – Manufacturing at ELGI Equipments Limited, delivered the Guest of Honour address. He shared valuable insights into manufacturing excellence, lean practices, quality systems, and continuous improvement strategies adopted by leading industries.

The convention was formally inaugurated by Er. Rajkumar Ammaiappan, Senior Vice President of TVS Motor Company, Hosur. In his inaugural address, he highlighted the increasing significance of sustainable manufacturing, digital transformation, and innovation-driven growth in strengthening India's manufacturing sector.

During the inaugural function, distinguished engineering professionals were felicitated for their contributions to the field. The honorees included Dr. Alluri Venkata Varaprasada Raju, Head of Project Planning & Coordination and Quality Management Systems at HES Infra Private Limited, Hyderabad, and Dr. P. Hariharan, Professor and Dean of the Department of Manufacturing Engineering at College of Engineering, Guindy.

The prestigious IEI Young Engineers Award was presented to Dr. Challa Suresh, Professor and Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Avanthi Institute of Engineering and Technology, Andhra Pradesh; Dr. Pradeep Kumar, Assistant Professor at MBM University, Jodhpur; and Dr. Tapas Debnath, Scientist ‘C’ at the Centre for Additive and Special Manufacturing Process, Central Manufacturing Technology Institute.

A highlight of the inaugural session was the release of the Convention Souvenir by the Chief Guest along with the dignitaries present on the dais.

The convention features memorial lectures, invited talks, technical paper presentations, panel discussions, and expert interactions involving representatives from leading industries, academic institutions, and research organizations across India. Key discussions focus on sustainable smart manufacturing, circular economy practices, Industry 4.0 technologies, operational excellence, quality engineering, and advanced production systems.

Dr. J. Pradeep Kumar, Honorary Secretary of IEI Coimbatore Local Centre and Associate Professor in the Department of Production Engineering, delivered the vote of thanks.

The convention will continue on June 20, 2026, with additional technical sessions, invited lectures, and discussions exploring emerging trends in production engineering and sustainable manufacturing. Nearly 150 delegates from academia, industry, and research organizations across the country participated in the event, contributing to meaningful technical deliberations and knowledge sharing.