Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Nov 13: The government’s Quality Control Orders (QCOs) appear to be giving a strong push to India’s manufacturing ecosystem, with global and domestic players ramping up local production. Hafele India, the Indian arm of the German furniture fittings and architectural hardware giant, has reported a threefold increase in locally sourced products — from 10% to 30% — over the past year.

“When I came to India three years ago, I was looking to drive localisation and quality control orders have helped accelerate that drive. It has also improved quality, an area where India needed to catch up,” said Frank Scholeder Hafele, Managing Director of Hafele India.

A similar trend is visible across multiple sectors, including insulated flasks and the screw manufacturing industry.

According to Vikas Jain of Nanobot Houseware Solutions, the introduction of QCOs has led to the issuance of 75 licences to domestic manufacturers. Major brands such as Milton, Cello, and Borosil have shifted focus towards domestic production, reducing reliance on imports.

In North India, small screw manufacturing units — particularly in Amritsar — have expanded their capacity by two to three times in recent months. Jasbir Singh, representing the screw manufacturers’ association, noted that QCOs have significantly curtailed the inflow of low-cost Chinese products, which were priced around ?70 per kg due to subsidies, compared to locally made screws costing Rs 129 per kg.

However, recent discussions about reviewing or easing QCOs have raised industry concerns.

“You need policy stability. We support localisation in select categories, but these measures should not be rolled back,” said Hafele, adding that implementation should begin with finished products to allow time for the ecosystem to adapt for intermediate goods.

Echoing the sentiment, Jain warned that India’s manufacturing momentum could “slow down if QCOs are removed,” pointing out that exports to countries such as Japan and the UAE have already seen a rise, with global supply chains sourcing from Indian facilities.

Meanwhile, Anil Bedi, from the Roller Chain Manufacturers Association, attributed opposition to the policy to a “powerful importer lobby.”

“There should be many more QCOs if you want ‘Make in India’ to truly succeed,” he said, highlighting that several Indian manufacturers are already expanding their production capacities in anticipation of sustained demand.