Kimura Foundry India (KFI) hosted seven department and section managers from Kimura Foundry Co., Ltd. for a 7-day on-site inspection and consulting program in India from July 11 to July 17. This visit was conducted as part of KFI’s Strategic Sourcing Development (SSD) services.

■ Overview of the Visit

• Cities Visited: Delhi, Agra, Nashik, Mumbai, and Bengaluru (5 cities total)
• Companies Visited: A total of 5 companies, including casting manufacturers, HR services firms, and mold-making plants.

■ Purpose: Three Objectives of “Genchi Genbutsu” (Go & See) Training The executive managers visited India to assess KFI’s local operations and identify new business opportunities firsthand, aiming to gain a realistic understanding of the current landscape through a Genchi Genbutsu (hands-on observation) perspective.

• Understanding the Automotive OEM Frontline and Market Trends Directly inspecting cutting-edge manufacturing environments and operational practices in India’s automotive OEM sector to assess the market’s current position from multiple angles.
• Strengthening Relationships with Local Partners Deepening engagement with local partners—including casting suppliers, mold factories, and HR services companies—to establish a stable, long-term collaborative foundation.
• Multifaceted Business Environment Analysis & Information Gathering Evaluating KFI’s local activities and the regional business landscape to gather actionable insights for future business expansion.

Additionally, to foster a deeper appreciation of the local history and culture, participants visited landmark sites such as the Taj Mahal, Qutb Minar, and Sula Vineyards. This allowed them to experience India’s history, nature, and culinary culture firsthand, enhancing their global adaptability and well-rounded regional insight beyond industrial aspects.

■ Participant Feedback Following the program, participants provided positive feedback on the real state of modern India and future business opportunities:

• “A Comfortable Local Environment That Shifted Past Perceptions” “The accommodations, transportation, and overall hygiene conditions were surprisingly comfortable, allowing us to fully focus on the training throughout the trip. Any negative preconceptions were swept away, and it served as a valuable opportunity to witness the rapid development and high maturity of the Indian market.”
• “Frontline Field Inspections and Promising Prospects for the Next Phase” “Observing the frontlines of automotive manufacturers and mold plants was immensely valuable for considering our future business development. Witnessing the operational speed and high quality standards firsthand gave us a strong sense of new business possibilities. We intend to transform these valuable insights into concrete actions for our next phase of growth.”
• “Stronger Alignment with KFI & Building Talent for the Future” “Direct dialogue with the KFI team working hard on the ground deepened our mutual understanding and reaffirmed strong alignment between our HQ in Japan and the local subsidiary. Moving forward, we will share these practical business insights across our company and accelerate strategic challenges—such as considering new training programs to cultivate the next generation of global talent.”

KFI remains committed to delivering valuable solutions from the forefront of the evolving Indian market through its Strategic Sourcing Development (SSD) services. Leveraging our robust local network and a hands-on Genchi Genbutsu approach, we will continue to act as a bridge between Japan and India, contributing to sustainable industrial growth in both nations.