Ricardo to develop R&D capability for Sharda Motor

Sharda Motor Industries – a major first tier supplier to the Indian automotive industry – has turned to Ricardo for assistance in defining and implementing an independent, self-sustaining and state-of-the-art product development capability.

Sharda, whose impressive customer base includes both indigenous automakers and the regional operations of overseas manufacturers, has chosen to work with Ricardo to develop its research & development strategy in support of Sharda’s growth objectives. The programme of work, to be led by Ricardo’s strategic consulting and Indian divisions, will address key levers for the development of a future independent state-of-the-art product development capability for Sharda, including product strategy, product development processes, infrastructure requirements, development tools and facilities, and the skills and core competence requirements of the company’s staff.

In evaluating Sharda’s future product strategy in particular, the Ricardo team will carry out a rigorous analysis of the markets in which the company operates and the drivers likely to act upon them in the coming years. These will include, for example, projections of the technology road maps of Sharda’s customer base and estimations of the emerging engineering requirements likely to arise from this in terms of required future product portfolios. Detailed organisational development and implementation plans will be prepared for Sharda, which will focus on delivering the desired future product development capability within a clearly defined time period and against measurable outcomes.

Sharda and Ricardo are planning to collaborate in implementing the strategy. This will include comprehensive technology transfer and engineering & testing support by Ricardo in the interim period until Sharda has fully built up its research & development capabilities. Furthermore, in order to support Sharda’s ongoing product engineering requirements, Ricardo is also providing advanced Computer Aided Engineering services. This will ensure that the company has access to the technology it requires to meet its immediate programme needs – as well as having the long term plans in place to support its future strategic product development aspirations.

Commenting on the technical and strategic consulting support being provided to Sharda Motor Industries, Ricardo CEO Dave Shemmans said: “The support being provided to Sharda Motor Industries is an excellent demonstration of the breadth and quality of services that Ricardo can offer, as well as of the effectiveness of our strategy of providing a global reach to our business operations. Sharda is a leading automotive supplier to the Indian market and is able to benefit both from the expertise of our strategic consulting team in charting the future direction of its business, as well as that of our engineering teams in providing the expertise it requires for its immediate product engineering programmes. I look forward to a long and mutually beneficial partnership with Sharda Motor Industries as this project progresses.”