Rolls-Royce Expands Partnerships In India

BUSINESS
April 28, 2010

NEW DELHI — Rolls-Royce has signed Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), an IT services and outsourcing company, as its second engineering partner in India to help it expand its engineering footprint in the country.
Its earlier partnership with Quest Global has been extended for another five years.
“We will be developing TCS and expose it to Rolls-Royce’s exacting standard  methodologies,” Anil Shrikhande, president of Rolls-Royce India, told AVIATIONn WEEK. “The partnership with TCS is part of the continuing Rolls presence in India. We are focused on looking at India for all our business sectors ... and developing India as a research base for engineering services.” 
Rolls has been active in India and moving along with its plan to make India a node in its supply chain. The new collaboration with TCS, Rolls says, will give it additional quality and cycle-time advantages. “This partnership with Rolls-Royce is significant to TCS. This will lead to high-quality engineering solutions and services from TCS for complex aero engines under the Rolls-Royce standards of excellence,” says Regu Ayyaswamy, vice president and global head of engineering and industrial services for TCS.
TCS was selected for its technical and project management capabilities following an extensive, competitive evaluation process. It was recently rated as a market performer. In a recently published financial report for Fiscal 2010, the company’s performance was branded outstanding in terms of net profit and revenue.
Rolls says it has a two-pronged strategy. It will tap India’s market and also use it as one of its hubs for international requirements. For instance, it has signed a joint venture with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. to manufacture components for its Trent engine series.
There are ample Indian opportunities in marine engineering for the company as well. In 2008, the company opened a marine workshop in Mumbai. The volume of activity in the marine arena has grown tremendously with opportunities in the coast guard, navy and also the commercial arena, Shrikhande said.
“India is unique because it offers opportunities for market growth in all our business sectors. It is one of the few countries that has significant market potential for almost all our sectors,” Shrikhande adds.
- Neelam Mathews (mathews.neelam@gmail.com)