Ordnance Factory Board set to become a complete solution provider

 The Dollar Business Bureau The Union Defence Minister, Manohar Parrikar, on Monday, informed his Ministry’s efforts and initiatives being taken towards improving the performance of Ordnance Factory Board (OFB). The Consultative Committee consisting of the Members of Parliament were discussing the role of the OFB, one of the oldest and largest production organisations of the Ministry of Defence. Informing the members, the Union Defence Minister said, “OFB is undergoing a paradigm shift from that of a manufacturer of defence equipment to a Complete Solution Provider.” The OFB’s new role will encompass design, development, bulk production and lifecycle sustenance equipment, the Minister said. The OFB would be made into a lead integrator of major platforms and will undergo a transformation into becoming a manufacturer of the world class defence equipment. The OFB is also looking forward to deliver many sub-systems to the leading overseas players with the offset regime in place, he informed. He further added that the defence procurement manual has been revised, keeping in view the Make in India plans to facilitate long-term procurement. The OFB is a conglomerate of 39 ordnance factories with two another new projects being set up at Nalanda in Bihar and Korwa in Uttar Pradesh. The Quality Audit of eight factories will be undertaken by a globally reputed firm, which would result in improvement of existing processes and further help in attaining Zero Defect production system, he informed. The Minister was earlier informing the members about the notable achievements of the OFB, which include Dhanush - Indigenously designed and manufactured 155mm x 45mm calibre artillery gun, which has met all the technical parameters in its summer and winter sessions, among others. The Assault Rifle ‘Ghaatak’ (7.62x39mm) Assault Rifle (AR) developed through in-house R&D has also met all the parameters as per the General Staff Qualitative Requirements (GSQRs), he said, further informing about the indigenous developed 40mm Multi Grenade Launcher (MGL), as the key achievements of the OFB. In response to the Minister’s address, some of the Committee members made a pitch for the setting up of a manufacturing unit of OFB in North-East. Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh, the Defence Secretary RK Mathur, Mallikarjun Kharge (MP), were among others present at the meeting.    

This article was published on April 27, 2015 – 6:32 pm IST