Rolls-Royce to step up sourcing from India

The UK-based aircraft engine maker Rolls-Royce is stepping up sourcing from India for its global operations. To start with, Rolls-Royce India has set up a purchase office in the country which would enable Indian companies to participate in global bids for component design and local manufacturing. Currently, Rolls-Royce sources steel forging from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) which is used in its civil aircraft engines. The company is also increasing the sourcing of engineering design from India. Rolls-Royce already has a partnership with Bangalore-based technology company, QuEST, for developing engineering design solutions. In the current calendar year Rolls-Royce India plans to start a research progamme in India in association with Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, while also stepping up hiring from India for its global operations.

Talks are on with potential partners for setting up aircraft engine maintenance, repairs and overhaul (MRO) facilities in the country. Rolls-Royce India managing director Tim Jones said that the company which has been in the country for 70 years, is in the process of moving from license-production to local-production in India. With setting up of a purchase office in India, Rolls-Royce India will now invite Indian companies to bid for global sourcing contracts. “We expect some specific sourcing opportunities to come up by the middle of 2007. The bidding is likely to take place by the year-end,” Mr Jones said. To bag any manufacturing contracts from Rolls-Royce, Indian engineering companies will have to match global quality and technical requirements. Rolls-Royce sources various engine components from around 80 countries globally.

visit us @ http://www.silkrouteholidays.com