Unprecedented Lockdown Led To Unprecedented Initiatives: Padmakumar G
- By Sharad Matade
- May 04, 2021
The unprecedented lockdown imposed in March last year turned the supply chain of companies upside down, and the tyre companies were no exception. However, the intensity of disturbance was relatively high for Yokohama Off-Highway Tires (YOHT), which exports more than 90 percent of its production. According to Padmakumar G, Executive Vice President – SCM at YOHT, unprecedented lockdown led to unprecedented initiatives for YOHT. “Most importantly, we learned the importance of being able to react, adapt and set up crisis management mechanisms to weather situations of uncertainty,” says Padmakumar G.
Q) Was Yokohama Off-Highway Tires (YOHT) ready for the unprecedented lockdown?
Padmakumar G: The whole of 2020 was an extraordinary time when ‘business as usual’ was not an option. From the beginning of the year, it was clear that we were braced for a marathon and not a sprint.
At work, we had a unique period of simultaneous supply and demand shocks. Our plants in India were closed for a couple of weeks. As they (plants) were finally allowed to operate, we faced government-mandated operating restrictions and labour shortages that prevented us from running the plants at total capacity.
On the positive side, our plant in Israel was running at full capacity and continued shipments as planned. All sales and administrative employees at global locations were working from home and were doing their best to be accessible at all times. In North America, our network of national warehouses was open, stocked at historically high inventory levels and operating at full local, regional, and national distribution capacity to ensure continued deliveries to locations.
Our competitive position, market share, brand and diversification of our businesses in products and regions helped us see some all-time highs during these challenging times.
Q) Vendors and customers got panicked because of the uncertainties instilled by the lockdowns. How did you keep their morale and confidence intact in those tough times?
Padmakumar G: Unprecedented lockdown led to unprecedented initiatives for YOHT. The acute restrictions and lockdowns created many urgent situations that required immediate attention in the early days of the pandemic. At YOHT, we believe that no crisis should go to waste.
Adaptability, inventiveness and tenacity of our team paved the way to a ‘recovery mode’, and we started planning for the longer-term proactively. We did not face substantial business and operational disruptions – from mitigating the effects of reduced supply to managing disruptions to logistics suppliers and hurdles in meeting their contractual obligations to customers.
YOHT has an agile team that quickly reprioritised the customers’ requirement and ensured critical supply continuation through our multiple sourcing locations. We closely integrated with suppliers, vendors and customers to have better visibility. Consistent communication and streamlining the complexity helped us keep our commitments while keeping the morale and confidence in the most challenging times.
Q) YOHT is mainly into export of products and imports of raw materials? How did you cope up with the supply-demand situation?
Padmakumar G: Prioritisation of critical supply with effective utilisation of available inventories of finished goods, raw materials, and production capacities were the immediate focus in the lockdown situation. What also helped is that we have a wide base of sourcing raw material from multiple sources. We were able to keep our facility running at full efficiency to meet market requirement. We stepped up all measures to ensure that our customers get our products in the earliest shipments.
Q) ATG is now a part of Yokohama, a global giant in the tyre industry. What changes has Yokohama brought in the supply chain?
Padmakumar G: Yokohama has a strong legacy of quality, and its manufacturing and supply chain is very process-driven. The Kaizen processes and digitalisation of our daily supply chain activities helped us improve our process and culture.
Q) What did you learn from the pandemic?
Padmakumar G: The importance of supply chain resilience and risk management is more apparent than ever. Most importantly, we learned the importance of being able to react, adapt and set up crisis management mechanisms to weather situations of uncertainty.
Q) There has always been pressure to reduce cost and improve efficiency by shortening the order-to-delivery period. Could you share a couple of examples highlighting the company’s efforts that reduced the cost and enhanced supply chain efficiency?
Padmakumar G: To shorten the order to delivery, YOHT has initiated Strategic Inventory build-up through S&CP (Sales & Capacity Planning) and effective cost management through strategic buying of raw materials. We have also increased the manufacturing flexibility to reduce delivery in our business of handling 3500+SKU’s.
Q) What new ideas will the company implement at the Visakhapatnam plant to have better supply chain management?
Padmakumar G: Investment in technology that will gain data insights like MES & digitalisation, improving transparency and considerations on sustainability in the supply chain will be key focus areas of our SCM processes in the Visakhapatnam plant.
Q) What are the current challenges in the business?
Padmakumar G: Current situation of increased raw material cost, an aggressive demand for containers and increased shipping cost are some of the major challenges in SCM across industries.
TVS Srichakra reported higher revenue and profit for the financial year ended March 31, 2026, supported by stronger operating performance and exceptional gains.
The tyre maker reported standalone revenue from operations of INR 33.9 billion for FY26, compared with INR 30.2 billion a year earlier. Profit before tax rose to INR 1.1 billion from INR 486.1 million in FY25, while net profit increased to INR 827.1 million from INR 369.6 million.
For the quarter ended March 31, 2026, standalone revenue from operations rose to INR 9.1 billion from INR 7.5 billion in the corresponding period last year. Profit before tax increased to INR 456.2 million from INR 118.4 million, while quarterly net profit rose to INR 346.2 million from INR 105.9 million.
The company recorded an exceptional gain of INR 29. Million m for FY26, compared with an exceptional charge of INR 114 million in the previous year. During the March quarter, exceptional gains stood at INR 8.9 million.
TVS Srichakra said the exceptional items included grant income linked to investment promotion incentives sanctioned by the Government of Tamil Nadu through the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu. The company also accounted for expenditure related to a voluntary retirement scheme and recognised an incremental obligation arising from the implementation of the Labour Codes.
Goodyear India reported higher profit for the financial year ended March 31, 2026, supported by an exceptional gain during the period.
The company posted profit before tax of INR 831.6 million for FY26, compared with INR 746.8 million a year earlier. Net profit for the year rose to INR 615 million from INR 551.2 million in FY25. Earnings per share increased to INR 26.66 from INR 23.90.
For the quarter ended March 31, 2026, Goodyear India reported profit before tax of INR 133.3 millon, against INR 333.5 million in the corresponding quarter a year earlier. Quarterly net profit stood at INR 96.9 million, compared with INR 245.3 million in the previous-year period. Earnings per share for the quarter declined to INR 4.20 from INR 10.68.
The company recorded an exceptional item of INR 217.7 million during FY26. In the March quarter, the exceptional item stood at INR 198.3 million.
Goodyear India said the exceptional item was linked to a reassessment of liabilities relating to gratuity and compensated absences under the Labour Codes. The reassessed amount relating to previous periods was reclassified from employee benefits expense to exceptional item in the financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2026.
Kumho Tyre UK To Spotlight Mixed-Service Tyres At RTX 2026
- By TT News
- May 28, 2026
Kumho Tyre UK is set to return to the Road Transport Expo (RTX) 2026, scheduled from 30 June to 2 July at Stoneleigh Park. The company continues to emphasise dependable tyre solutions tailored for United Kingdom fleet operators, reaffirming its commitment to the commercial vehicle sector.
At Stand R37 in Exhibition Hall 1, attendees can examine Kumho’s latest commercial vehicle tyre range, engineered for applications spanning long-haul motorway driving to regional and local delivery routes. The display highlights the regional multi-performance lineup, including the KXA31, KXD31 and KXT31. Designed for mixed-use fleets navigating motorways, A-roads and urban settings, these tyres balance durability, mileage and efficiency to maximise performance across varied routes.
Also on show are the KMA12 and KMD41, developed for mixed service applications where robust construction is vital to maintaining uptime. Engineered for tougher conditions, they offer enhanced durability for demanding environments. Kumho’s RTX presence underscores its ongoing support for fleet operators with high-quality, value-driven solutions focused on performance, longevity and real-world reliability.
Kumho’s TBR sales team and executive management will be available throughout the event to discuss fleet requirements and the company’s growing retailer network. Visitors can enjoy refreshments while learning about the expanding CV portfolio.
Richard Lyons, Managing Director, Kumho Tyre UK, said, “We’re looking forward to returning to RTX and building on the conversations we started last year. It’s a great opportunity to meet with fleets face-to-face, showcase the strength of our CV range and demonstrate the quality and performance that underpins the Kumho brand.”
Prinx Chengshan Showcases Full Agricultural Tyre Lineup At 2026 Xinjiang International Agricultural Machinery Expo
- By TT News
- May 27, 2026
Prinx Chengshan has introduced a new line of agricultural tyres at the 2026 Xinjiang International Agricultural Machinery Expo, which opened in Urumqi on 25 May. The Chengshan brand showcased products specifically designed for tractors and combine harvesters, responding to the growing performance demands of large-scale machinery driven by agricultural modernisation.
As tyres play a critical role in equipment efficiency, Prinx Chengshan has developed a full-chain innovation system covering fundamental research, application development and pilot verification. With a newly launched green and intelligent off-the-road tyre plant, the company now offers agricultural tyres that excel in durability and load capacity, providing cutting-edge solutions for global customers.
The Chengshan TX series addresses specific operational needs. The TX600, for tractors, features large tread lugs and flexible sidewalls to ensure stability and comfort during high-speed relocation. The TX700 uses a reinforced carcass and belt structure to handle heavy combined loads without deformation. The TX800 incorporates an R-1W deep tread pattern and wear-resistant compound to withstand sharp stubble, gravel and roots, extending tyre life and lowering costs. For combine harvesters, the TX2000 uses proprietary IF technology to deliver 20 percent higher load ratings at the same pressure, reducing soil compaction and protecting topsoil.
Moving forward, Prinx Chengshan will continue its product plus service strategy, supporting modern agriculture alongside global partners. The company aims to advance green farming practices and contribute to a sustainable future.
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