Reportedly marked by a fragmented and highly competitive market, the global rubber industry has recorded a consistent transformation over the years. However, the domain has also witnessed a constant influx of market trends and technologies, as well as subsequent shifts in customer expectations. This calls for business leaders with proven mettle in blending their technical and non-technical acumen, passion, and vision to equip their businesses, especially manufacturing or product development companies, to achieve global reach and sustainable scalability. Soma Prabhakar, who boasts a disciplinary record of such accomplishments, stands out as a commendable thought leader and the driving force behind Kurashiki Siam Rubber Co., Ltd. (KSR), a prominent company that specializes in manufacturing and supplying rubber-based anti-vibration solutions.
Incorporated in 1996 in Thailand, KSR is an arm of Kurashiki Kako Co., Ltd. (KKC), a 60-year-old vibration solutions enabler in Japan, which is further a constituent of the reputed Japanesebased multinational company Mazda Motor Corporation. With its rubber and electronic-based vibration control solutions, R&D practices, and innovations, KKC is distinguished by its wide range of premier automotive, industrial, and seismic isolation building products. Run in alignment with its overarching mission, KSR has also emerged as a professional and trusted vibration control company catering majorly to automotive, marine engines, and general industrial segments. Adhering to ISO TS16949 and ISO 14001, the company ensures unparalleled Japanese quality and cost-effectiveness, which are reflected in all of its production, administration, and distribution processes. The company has also recently embarked upon developing specific products through its recently-launched product development function, eyeing at self-sustainability in the next 3-4 years. Spearheading such a value-driven company with strategic foresight, Soma Prabhakar has played a catalytic role in steering KSR towards becoming a formidable global supplier.
The Pivotal Factors
Having completed his mechanical engineering from India and engineering doctorate from Okayama University, Japan, Soma Prabhakar began his career at Crompton Greaves, India, in machine design before moving on to designing automotive products. However, a business trip to Japan propelled him to foray into the rubber sector and eventually shoulder leadership roles - some thing he had never dreamed of in his formative years. He also led different international projects, which helped him effectively handle cross-functional teams across different geographies. He attended courses like PGDBA and leadership development training programs from different business schools in Japan and Singapore, adding a diverse layer to his non-technical expertise.
Under his aegis, KSR has hit multiple milestones, including establishing cost improvement activities like T-KICK (Kurashiki Integrated Cost Kaizen), which is a unique cost Kaizen method and product portfolio expansion, and is planning to expand sales into India through technical partnerships and local alliances. “Re-identifying the ‘seeds’, we have also initiated ‘design-in’ activities, in which we collaborate with customers from the initial stage to develop unique solutions tailored to their specifications”, adds Soma Prabhakar. His contributions also extend to community welfare and green energy, which is evidenced in the sustainability initiatives, like installing 1MW solar plant this year.
Fostering a continuous learning environment within KSR, Soma is instrumental in rebuilding the education model to benefit both new and experienced employees
Upholding KSR’s ‘family mind’ values, Soma Prabhakar empowers his team to work with the customers as their partner by implementing close communication. By onboarding global engineers, specifically from India and Vietnam, at KKC, KSR helps its headquarters execute overseas projects, all the while honing the communication skills of its existing resources. Soma Prabhakar believes that cross-cultural teams can be managed by decoding the differences in not just their language but also overall communication and working culture, right from giving instructions to business conversation starters. One of the significant steps that he took was to implement a ‘valueadded strategy’, through which the company has prioritized global talent development, enabling the workforce to have business-must technical as well as communication competencies. The amalgamation of his experience in India and Japan also serves as an advantage in overcoming organizational challenges.
Soma Prabhakar perceives the ever-changing technological advancements as an opportunity to grow. Fostering a continuous learning environment within KSR, he is instrumental in rebuilding the education model to benefit both new and experienced employees. By utilizing a ‘vertical and horizontal strategy’, he encourages the teams to engage in cross-functional meetings and presentations and benchmarking and teardown activities. They are also coaxed to participate in different exhibitions to understand the customers preferences and technological advancements. The employees are equally supported to maintain a healthy work-life balance, but they can also choose to work additional hours. “Personally, I enjoy my work, and hence, I don’t feel the burden of working extra. However, I make sure to stay off work for at least one day”, shares Soma Prabhakar.
Relentless Pursuit for Excellence
According to Soma Prabhakar, his efficiency roots back to the positive vibration flow and support from his mentors, which he considers vital for any budding entrepreneurs or leaders to thrive. He also advises them to have clear purpose and perseverance to scale up. Walking the talk, he is currently reshifting his focus onto providing services, as part of which the company is set to launch its vehicle platform, named Active Vibration Control Chassis. Developed by its Japan headquarters, the technology will mainly aim at delivering a comfortable and immersive riding experience for the passengers, regardless of the circumstances. Emphasizing equally on its industrial offerings, the company aims to introduce a new sensing system service, named Factory M³, a Monitoring Maintenance Management system. By promoting such new value-added services and products in the near future, Soma Prabhakar is targeting to realize his vision of establishing KSR as a leading anti-vibration technology company in ASEAN and the Indian region.
Soma Prabhakar, President
Receiving his educational degrees in India and Japan, Soma Prabhakar holds over 20 years of experience of spearheading product and business development in the automotive and rubber industries and also possesses nine design patents. Currently, as the president of KSR, he oversees multiple functions, including restructuring long-term goals, drafting business and marketing strategies, business expansion, and handling cross-cultural teams across geographies. One of such adept leadership processes in steering a global project successfully has earned him two President Prize Awards at KKC.
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