Decoding the DNA of a Successful Entrepreneur/Intrapreneur: Part II

Volume 21, Number 3; Article by D V R Seshadri, September, 2009

Decoding the DNA of a Successful Entrepreneur/Intrapreneur: Context of Interview with Chris Rao, Vice President and Member of the Board, Goodrich Aerospace Services India

D V R Seshadri is Visiting Professor, Indian Institute of Management Bangalore

India is now a favoured manufacturing and services destination for global aerospace majors, and Goodrich was one of the first companies to establish a base in India. Prof D V R Seshadri spoke to Chris Rao, Vice President and Board Member of Goodrich Aerospace Services India a subsidiary of the $9 billion US-based multinational on how he catalysed the evolution of the aerospace industry in India with his intrapreneurial vision.

Mr Rao talks about his transition from an employee in a large company, to an entrepreneur running his own business, to an intrapreneur in the corporate sector. When he joined Goodrich India in 1999, it was a loss-making unit, with only a small service centre; by early 2003 the Indian facility had become viable. Over time, some of the manufacturing processes were transitioned to India, and in 2005 a design centre was established in Bangalore.

Creating centres of excellence in India for various product lines, and making the Indian facility an integrated unit which is completely responsible for the entire product right from the design, to development, manufacturing and ancillary services are the next steps for Goodrich India. Mr Rao says that getting customers to accept a product manufactured in India, more so with the components being supplied by Indian suppliers, would be a challenge. The absence of a dedicated vendor base for the aerospace industry in India, and the shortage of skilled manpower are some of the issues that need to be addressed.

Reprint No 09303b