CEO - Millat Equipment

Evolve: Please share rundown of your professional background with us?

Ahsan Imran: I have studied mechanical engineering. After working few months for Fauji Fertilizer I joined Millat Group. Following some commercial leadership positions there at various areas; quality assurance, development, production I got an opportunity to establish their new business unit Millat Industrial Product Unit, where we manufacture Generators, Fork Lift Truck etc.; a sort of trading house. I went back to production activity and became Director Technical and for the last 4 years plus I am serving as a CEO Millat Equipment. During my tenure at Millat Tractors I accomplished my Masters of Administrative Science from PU, I am thankful to my senior colleagues for giving me leave for about 2 years to pursue my dreams, I went to USA to study Master of Business Administration (Finance & Marketing).

Evolve: Tell our readers about Millat Equipment Limited’s products and services, especially its achievements and consistent growth in Pakistan?

Ahsan Imran: Millat Equipment Limited (MEL) is a part of Millat Group, comprising of four other companies, Millat Tractors Limited (MTL), Bolan Castings Limited (BCL), Millat Industrial Products (MIPL) and TIPEG Intertrade (DMCC). Millat Equipment Limited is one of the leading manufacturing organizations in Pakistan producing high quality Transmission Gears, Hydraulic Pumps and Engine Balancers. The company acquired manufacturing setup from M/S AGCO LIMITED – UK (Holding company of the Massey Ferguson brand of tractors) with and understanding to buy back the transmission components after meeting the local requirement of AGCO Licensee in Pakistan – (M/S Millat Tractors Limited). M/S AGCO Limited provides all the technical support regarding products design, developments, specifications, and standards to produce world class quality components. Milllat Equipment Limited is equipped with complete in-house gear manufacturing facility supported by state of the art inspection and testing equipment to assure quality as per standards. We are pioneers in development of auto related engineering industry in Pakistan. At times it was government priority and then team Millat primarily led by Sikandar Mustafa Khan, Chairman-Millat Tractors, approached to the related & cottage industry and started developing tractors parts that created a base for auto industry today. If you reconnoiter any big auto-manufacturer, and you talk about Millat, they will say they started their journey with some components or part of Millat Tractors. Having said that, we have shaped a very stout supply chain network that has reached to various type of technologies. We jointly build up the proficiency, we created price competence by having so many local endorse and we have never been exposed to the exchange fluctuation that can create a business turmoil at times. Our consistent growth as I mentioned earlier depends on very strong dealership network, we supported our dealers through thick and thin. We have 250 workshop authorized of which 69 dealers are financially sound. It is the fundamental cause that has given us strength to sustain and to deliver. 

Evolve: What is your Mission for your organization?

Ahsan Imran: Our mission has always stick to be a preferred choice for customers and suppliers, competing in the domestic and overseas markets by continuously delivering value on a long term basis through a high performance team driven by innovation and adherence to Health, Safety and Environmental standards benefiting all stake holders.

Evolve: What kind of culture have you maintained at Millat Equipment and how would you throw light in its significance?

Ahsan Imran:  I believe the most imperative mechanism is ‘core values’ and that’s the operating system of any organization. We aspire to reach and sustain at ultimate heights of value and excellence in engineering. Integrity, honesty, merit based performance and mutual respect are the cornerstone of our organization. We try to maintain a friendly environment among the staff and incorporate a culture engraving harmony. We have sports week in which all the executives and workers play together. We arrange annual dinners, in Ramadan we have Talawat/Naat competitions. In short we have evolved a culture of mutual respect and honor for everyone.

Evolve:  What distinguishes your company from its competitors?

Ahsan Imran: We are immensely proud of our engineering excellence-our products are the most technologically advanced in the market. Since we offer such a wide portfolio of products, we can provide our clients with integrated solutions across the entire value chain. Our local presence is remarkably strong. The significant difference that sets us apart is value of money means the product has to be up to the mark at competitive price. Best option for the customer is to buy high performance component at the most viable value. We aim to be one of the globally prime manufactures of gears, we are improving facilities, enhancing capabilities by induction of state of the art inspection equipment and manufacturing equipment.

Evolve: You must be facing a number of business challenges. How do you address them? 

Ahsan Imran: You have to have your company running. You need to address challenges as if they are integral part of your life, because they truly are. In MEL we are going to acquire energy management system; few companies in Pakistan are already certified to it and we are the next one. We have generators for electricity; we have Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG) to run out our operations for our process. As far as cost cutting is concerned we have installed various softwares to control equipment that only run automatically when there is requirement otherwise they remained switched off. Also, we are working on air management, we reassure that there is no leakage of air. In last year’s profitability has tremendously improved because of cost cutting. I read an article in recent past and followed it rigorously in this organization which explains how generally our emphasis remain on improving sales to make more profits and how easy to enhance your profitability by cost cutting.

Evolve: What are the important benchmarks if kept in a right direction can help any company climb ladders of success?

Ahsan Imran:  First thing there is no alternative to hard work. It’s the will not the skill.  Talent is useless unless you work hard to achieve it. If you have talent it doesn't mean you can sit on the couch all day and then expect to be great. Just because you have talent doesn't mean you can go on the court be the star of the team. Just like Kevin Durant says "Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard". I strongly believe that one should never compromise on integrity. To grow and be successful in our jobs and our family lives requires that we keep on growing and learning, long after our formal schooling is done. The more we are able to know and the more skills we acquire, the more value we can offer to our employers, friends and families.

Evolve: How do you balance pursuing opportunities and maintaining focus? 

Ahsan Imran:  Prioritizing the priority and creating balance.

Evolve: Is there any company that has ever impressed you?

Ahsan Imran:  Apple, as just years ago Apple was on the verge of bankruptcy and now they have greatest and most resilient comeback story of all time. In Pakistan, I always like organization that is caring. I believe Telenor and Nestle are impressive enough to be quoted here. I don’t like such organizations which burn their executives out and don’t care about their personal life. 

Evolve: Where do you see yourself and your organization in next 5-10 years?

Ahsan Imran:  Heading a bigger portfolio developing into world famous international renowned manufacturer. I can’t be specific but I am sure that best is yet to come. I see myself may be on the bigger horizon with a balanced life and of course playing golf.

Evolve: Any message for the readers of EVOLVE magazine?

Ahsan Imran:  Never compromise yourself, your values and integrity. When you have to start compromising yourself or your morals for the people around you, it’s probably time to change the people around you.