Technology

India’s Quality Leap: IFQM Leads CXO Study Mission to Japan with JUSE

Published

5 days ago

April 29, 2026

Delegates gained firsthand insights into the Toyota Production System, robotics driven smart factory transformation, and frontline quality cultures that have positioned Japanese enterprises as global benchmarks.

The High–level delegation benchmarked TQM, TPS, and Kaizen practices to strengthen leadership ownership, enhance supplier capabilities, and advance Quality 4.0 for global competitiveness.

BENGALURU, India, April 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Indian Foundation for Quality Management (IFQM), a Section 8 not–for–profit company dedicated to embedding a world–class quality culture across India’s manufacturing and services sectors, spearheaded a high–level industry delegation to Japan from April 20–24, 2026. Hosted by the Union of Japanese Scientists and Engineers (JUSE), the mission convened leading CXOs, and quality experts to benchmark Japan’s globally renowned practices in Total Quality Management (TQM), TPS, TPM, and Kaizen, with exclusive gemba access to leading corporations including Meidoh Co. Ltd., Yaskawa Electric Corporation, and Komatsu Ltd. Delegates experienced the Toyota Production System, supplier quality ecosystems, robotics–driven smart factory transformation, and reliability frameworks in heavy machinery.

The program also featured sessions and dialogues on different aspects of Quality with distinguished Japanese leaders:

Dr. Yoshinori Iizuka on the foundations of TQM and the Deming philosophy.Mr. Shinichi Sasaki, former EVP of Toyota, on ‘Quality Next’ and the future of manufacturing excellence.Dr. Masahiko Mori, President of DMG MORI, on enterprise leadership through precision and reliability.Mr. Fumio Fukumura, Advisor at Iizuka Hospital, on applying TQM in healthcare.Mr. Osamu Nagata, Independent Board Member, Nishi-Nippon Railroad and former President of Toyota Motor Kyushu, on executive decision–making and leadership accountability.

The delegation included senior leaders from Sankara Eye, Biocon Group, Tata Electronics, L&T Valves, Tata Steel, United Breweries, L.G. Balakrishnan & Bros, and IFQM, reflecting a cross–sectoral commitment to advancing India’s quality agenda.

According to Mr. Soumitra Bhattacharya, CEO & Director, IFQM, “Unlike other nations that had decades to build their ecosystems, India has a 10-year window to rise and prove its strategic indispensability to the world through uncompromising quality. A study mission like this one to JUSE, Japan helps compress the learning curve on how we can move the ‘Made in India’ label from a perception of cost-competitiveness to a global hallmark of quality, moulded by trust and precision.”

This mission to Japan is a key part of the annual itinerary at IFQM and its mandate to catalyze Indian businesses to become globally respected and export-capable by learning from the historical quality revolutions of nations like Japan. This visit aligns with JUSE hosting CEOs and CXOs for experiential learning and the IFQM delegation seeks to:

Strengthen Leadership Ownership: Reinforce the model where quality is a personal value institutionalized at the board level rather than delegated to isolated departments.

Study Quality 4.0 and TQM: Benchmark the latest evolutions in Total Quality Management and digital transformation to refine the ‘Indian Way’ for Business Excellence.

Scale MSME Supplier Clusters: Learn from the Japanese ‘cluster-based approach’ to bridge capability gaps in the MSME ecosystem, ensuring small/mid-level suppliers can meet global standards.

Building on the firm Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) already established between IFQM and JUSE, this visit aims to deepen a partnership that has already seen Japanese experts contribute to India’s national quality agenda.

About IFQM

Instituted in September 2023, the Indian Foundation for Quality Management (IFQM) is a Section 8, not-for-profit, industry-led movement committed to catalysing Indian organisations to become globally competitive and export-capable through Quality, Innovation, and Excellence. IFQM’s founding members include Biocon Group, Boeing, Larsen & Toubro, Motherson, Sun Pharma, Tata Sons, Tata Electronics, Tata Steel, and TVS Motor Company. IFQM has over 40 companies as member, including Bosch, Siemens, Nestlé, Titan, Tata Motors, Asian Paints, BIAL and others.

The IFQM Governing Council: Mr. N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman, Tata Sons; Mr. Dilip Sanghvi, Executive Chairman, Sun Pharmaceuticals; Ms. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Executive Chairperson, Executive Chairperson – Biocon Limited and Biocon Biologics Limited; Mr. TV Narendran, CEO & MD, Tata Steel Limited; Mr. K.N. Radhakrishnan, Director & CEO, TVS Motor Co; Dr. Randhir Thakur, CEO & MD, Tata Electronics Pvt. Ltd; Mr. Salil Gupte, President, Boeing India & South Asia; Mr. SN Subrahmanyan, Chairman & MD, Larsen & Toubro; Mr. Venu Srinivasan, Chairman Emeritus, TVS Motor Co & Chairman, IFQM; Mr. Vivek Chaand Sehgal, Chairman, Motherson Group.

IFQM on Web: https://ifqm.org.in/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ifqm

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Technology

FranklinWH Introduces Enhanced 15 kWh aPower in Australia and New Zealand

Published

44 minutes ago

May 3, 2026

Expansion comes as policy shifts and rising power costs accelerate demand for residential energy storage

SYDNEY, May 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — FranklinWH, a leading provider of whole-home energy management and battery storage solutions, today announced the launch of its enhanced 15 kWh aPower battery in Australia and New Zealand, as demand for residential energy storage continues to grow, driven by evolving policy settings and increasing interest in energy independence.

The updated aPower builds on the company’s established platform, increasing usable capacity from 13.6 kWh to 15 kWh and raising warrantied throughput from 43 MWh to 60 MWh, an increase of 40 percent. These updates deliver more usable energy over the life of the system while maintaining the same footprint and price.

“The energy landscape is shifting quickly, and more homeowners are thinking beyond the upfront specs to what really pays off over time,” said Steve Ruskin, General Manager of FranklinWH Australia. “This upgrade is about delivering more performance over the life of the system, more usable energy, greater throughput, while staying true to our ‘buy once, buy right’ philosophy.”

The increase in warrantied throughput translates into savings for homeowners. Based on typical usage patterns and an electricity rate of A$0.35 per kilowatt-hour, the additional throughput may represent up to approximately A$5,950 in value over the lifetime of the system. The increase in usable capacity also improves energy density, lowering the effective cost per kilowatt-hour and supporting more efficient use of stored energy.

The 15 kWh configuration also aligns with current and upcoming policy frameworks benefitting residential battery adoption. This includes the updated Cheaper Home Batteries Program, with changes coming into effect for Australian homeowners from 1 May, 2026, helping households maximise value as incentives continue to evolve.

As the residential battery market expands, FranklinWH continues to focus on reliability and system performance. The aPower incorporates design elements to support durability, including structural reinforcement to reduce cell stress over time, per-cell temperature monitoring, and the separation of the battery pack and control systems to maintain reliable performance.

“We believe performance should be measured over years, not just at installation,” Ruskin added. “We focus on building systems that deliver consistent, reliable results over time. That long-term perspective is what ultimately defines value for homeowners.”

The aPower is designed to operate as part of the FranklinWH System, an integrated home energy management platform that coordinates energy generation, storage, and consumption. The system is designed to optimise multiple energy inputs, provide reliable backup power, and support more efficient and independent energy use at the household level.

About FranklinWH

FranklinWH Energy Storage is the manufacturer of the FranklinWH System. FranklinWH is a market-oriented, research-driven company focused on next-generation residential energy management and storage solutions. Located in Macquarie Park, Sydney with a global head office in the San Francisco Bay Area, FranklinWH’s team has decades of experience in energy systems, from design, through manufacturing, to sales and installation. FranklinWH is AVL-listed with multiple financial institutions.

Contact: Media@franklinwh.com

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SOURCE FranklinWH Australia Pty Ltd

Technology

Peninsula Visa Launches Comprehensive OCI Processing Services

Published

3 hours ago

May 3, 2026

Peninsula Visa, a trusted leader in immigration and visa processing services with over 50 years of expertise, today announced the launch of its comprehensive Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) processing services. To celebrate this milestone, Peninsula Visa is offering new users an exclusive 20% discount with promo code OCI20 at checkout.

SAN JOSE, Calif., May 3, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Peninsula Visa, a trusted leader in immigration and visa processing services with over 50 years of expertise, today announced the launch of its comprehensive Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) processing services. To celebrate this milestone, Peninsula Visa is offering new users an exclusive 20% discount with promo code OCI20 at checkout.

For 50 years, Peninsula Visa has helped families navigate immigration. OCI processing is one of our most impactful services, connecting the Indian diaspora to their heritage. We’re proud to bring our expertise to help families secure OCI status with confidence. Evan James, CEO

A Full Suite of OCI Services

Peninsula Visa’s OCI services cover every stage of the OCI lifecycle, ensuring that members of the Indian diaspora receive expert support from start to finish.

The four service types now available are:

New OCI Application — For foreign nationals of Indian origin, spouses of Indian citizens or existing OCI card holders, and minor children with at least one Indian parent applying for OCI status for the first time.OCI Card Renewal — For card holders whose OCI card has expired, or whose linked passport has been renewed or replaced and requires an updated booklet.Re-issuance (Age Milestones) — OCI cards must be re-issued when minors reach the age of 18 and again when card holders turn 50, due to significant changes in appearance. Peninsula Visa guides clients through both transitions seamlessly.Miscellaneous OCI Services — Covering corrections to existing records, lost or damaged card replacement, address changes, and other administrative updates to the OCI file.

Why Choose Peninsula Visa for Your OCI Application

Peninsula Visa brings decades of institutional knowledge and a client-first philosophy to every OCI case.

Key value propositions include:

Expert Guidance — Dedicated OCI specialists with deep knowledge of consulate requirements, eligibility rules, and documentation standards across all service types.High Approval Rate — A meticulous multi-stage review process that identifies and resolves issues before submission, dramatically reducing the likelihood of rejection or delay.Fast Turnaround — Standard processing in 12-15 Business Days for most OCI service types, with real-time status updates throughout the process.End-to-End Support — Personalized document checklists, secure document uploads, expert form preparation, consulate submission, and post-submission tracking — all in one place.

Launch Promotion

Save 20% on any OCI service — new users only

OCI20

Enter code OCI20 at checkout. Available to new users. No expiration date.

Leadership Perspective

“For 50 years, Peninsula Visa has helped individuals and families navigate the complexities of immigration documentation. OCI processing is one of the most impactful services we have ever added — it directly connects the Indian diaspora to their heritage country in a lasting, meaningful way. We are proud to bring our proven expertise and client-centric approach to this important service, and we look forward to helping thousands of families secure their OCI status with confidence.”

Founded in 1975, Peninsula Visa has built its reputation on precision, transparency, and a genuine commitment to client outcomes. The addition of OCI processing services reflects the company’s ongoing mission to expand its offerings to meet the evolving needs of immigrants and their families across the United States.

Get Started Today

Eligible applicants can begin their OCI journey by visiting Peninsula Visa’s dedicated OCI Services page. New users can take advantage of the 20% launch discount by entering promo code OCI20 at checkout when selecting any OCI service type.

Media Contact

Evan James, Peninsula Visa, 1 4087277515, media@peninsulavisa.com, https://peninsulavisa.com/

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/peninsula-visa-launches-comprehensive-oci-processing-services-302760544.html

SOURCE Peninsula Visa

Technology

Peninsula Visa Launches Comprehensive OCI Processing Services

Published

3 hours ago

May 3, 2026

A Full Suite of OCI Services

Peninsula Visa’s OCI services cover every stage of the OCI lifecycle, ensuring that members of the Indian diaspora receive expert support from start to finish.

The four service types now available are:

Why Choose Peninsula Visa for Your OCI Application

Peninsula Visa brings decades of institutional knowledge and a client-first philosophy to every OCI case.

Key value propositions include:

Launch Promotion

Save 20% on any OCI service — new users only

OCI20

Enter code OCI20 at checkout. Available to new users. No expiration date.

Leadership Perspective

Get Started Today

Media Contact

Evan James, Peninsula Visa, 1 4087277515, media@peninsulavisa.com, https://peninsulavisa.com/