Awards Function

The NIQR Awards Function was held on 29^th August, at Hotel Feathers, Manapakkam, Chennai during the NIQR Global Quality Convention.

Mr. Muralishankar, NIQR National President,welcomed the distinguished guests, speakers, awardees, and members of NIQR. He highlighted the organization’s deep commitment to promoting quality, reliability, and continuous improvement across industries, with a special emphasis on supporting small and medium enterprises.

He also underscored NIQR’s diverse initiatives — including monthly lecture meetings, student chapters, cluster programs, Six Sigma competitions, and publications — all aimed at fostering professional growth and organizational excellence. Stressing the importance of Total Quality Management (TQM) and Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), he noted their vital role as enablers of sustainable business success.

Mr. Muralishankar encouraged companies to progress to the next level of quality by focusing on design, testing, validation, and proactively anticipating future customer needs. He concluded by congratulating NIQR members, awardees, and all stakeholders for their unwavering dedication to advancing a strong quality culture in India.

Dr. Swaminathan, Convention Mentor,

briefed about the awards ceremony and guided the presentation of awards and recognitions with clarity and grace. He provided meaningful context for each award category, helping the audience appreciate the contributions and impact of the awardees.

In his remarks, he shared insights about organizations such as Akshaya Patra and eminent individuals like Baba Kalyani, highlighting their achievements in social impact, industrial excellence, and leadership in quality and innovation.

Guest of Honour – Mr. Viji, Chairman of Sundaram Finance Limited

His address, shaped by decades of experience in the financial and industrial sectors, offered invaluable insights into quality leadership, resilience, and agility. Her reflections on building organizations that balance innovation with rigorous quality standards resonated deeply with NIQR’s members and awardees. By emphasizing continuous improvement, proactive planning, and the importance of fostering a culture of excellence at every level, she reinforced the core principles that NIQR strives to promote across industries in India.

The examples she shared from her own journey were especially inspiring, illustrating how transformational leadership, an unwavering focus on customer satisfaction, and the courage to embrace change can lead organizations to exceptional results. Her emphasis on nurturing talent, encouraging experimentation, and integrating quality into every stage of the process further strengthened the core values that underpin sustainable industrial excellence.

Viji’s presence and perspectives added significant value to the event, motivating members, young professionals, and awardees to pursue continuous improvement, innovation, and global standards of quality. NIQR remains deeply grateful for her support and the inspiration she continues to provide to the broader industrial community.

Chief Guest Mr. T.K. Balaji, Chairman & Managing Director, Lucas TVS

His address was truly inspiring, blending the wisdom of his extensive leadership experience with practical insights from his recent global engagements. The observations he shared from his visit to China — along with his emphasis on fierce ambition, next-generation technology, and the need to leapfrog in innovation — resonated deeply with all attendees. He highlighted the critical importance of moving beyond incremental growth and adopting a mindset that integrates ambition, ability, and opportunity, delivering a powerful and enduring message for India’s industry and its young professionals.

His reflections on quality — particularly the principle of “zero defect as a starting point and quality innovation (F0QI)” — were profoundly impactful. By sharing his journey with Lucas TV Limited and the lessons learned from achieving and surpassing global quality standards, he offered a clear roadmap for corporate excellence and for cultivating a culture rooted in continuous improvement, humility, and innovation.

Balaji’s presence added immense value to the event, inspiring members, awardees, and guests to aspire to higher standards of excellence and leadership. NIQR is privileged to have benefited from his insights and remains deeply grateful for his continued support of its mission to promote quality and reliability across India.