Shailesh Mehta - Statement of Purpose

Manufacturing is the application of tools and the processed transformation of raw materials into
finished goods. Manufacturing industry is the root for the creation and retention of good jobs
and a good standard of living for working families. In both, larger cities and smaller
communities, manufacturing jobs especially unionized jobs offer powerful economic
benefits. As a sector, manufacturing firms are especially valuable to the economy because,
when they export goods, they bring back to their communities much of the wealth earned from
sales around the country and the world. Manufacturing, considered a wealth-producing sector
accounts for at least a quarter of the world's economy.
In the current scenario the biggest difficulty faced by the Super Power USA - is the
reducing numbers in their manufacturing and assembly facilities. Simultaneously, countries like
China, India and Brazil have their drivers as Manufacturing Industries, taking these countries to
the path of Economic Super Powers within a decade or even less than that. While China today
is termed as the "Manufacturing hub of the world", almost 70% of world's subsidiary and
ancillary production is happening in both, China and India. Yet, the irony is that these countries
are still to get into the band of realistic development coined with the people's growth inside the
countries. On a more personal perspective, the amalgamation of machine with a human being to
generate superior, efficient and beneficial output is greatly fascinating. On gaining first-hand
exposure to this union of machine and mind, I realized that this was a field in which I would
want to venture and thus I began to mould my education and career path towards the same.
The best ancillary to theoretical learning, I believe, is practical application. My in-depth
exposure to my family business comprising of manufacturing units of copper and copper alloy
products opened my eyes to the potential of the manufacturing industry. Further, my upbringing
in an entrepreneurial family has cultivated in me an inherent interest in business and
management. In order to exploit this interest further I secured admission in Indias highly
reputed and esteemed college, NMIMS University - Anil Surendra Modi School of Commerce,
Mumbai, where I opted to pursue Bachelors in Business Administration. The rigorous
curriculum here allowed me to develop strong logical thinking and analytical capabilities. I
expect that these qualities will prove immensely useful when engaged in business-related
activities, such as analyzing financial statements, developing strategies and solving problems.
While at university, I also participated in various activities in my department, such as
orientation, camping activities, and intercollegiate festivals, through which I got the
opportunity to meet and network with people from diverse fields. It helped immensely to
develop my communication and interpersonal skills, as well as build strong relationships for the
future. These experiences taught me the importance of taking initiative and dealing with
challenges. I have also equipped myself with foreign language skills by learning basic levels in
both French and German, which undoubtedly will be an asset, as I take my company into the
international arena in the future.
My college degree has been enriching and instrumental in instilling in me a strong foundation
in various aspects of business and management. In my first year of my B.B.A, I learnt the basic
concepts of management such as human resource management, accounting, economics,
computer applications and quantitative methods. In order to expand my horizon of knowledge, I
ensured that I was an active participant in class discussions and carried out intense research
beyond classroom learning for a better understanding of the subject matter. In the second year
of B.B.A, I gained in-depth knowledge about the practical aspects of business with subjects
such as Operations Management, Research Methodology in Management and Project
Management, which allowed me to delve deeper in my field of interest. I was particularly

intrigued by the case of the Mumbai Dabbawallas that deliver with an error rate of just 1 in 16
million transactions, as well as with Six Sigma Performance (99.999966), where I got to
actually observe and learn the true sense of a perfect business operation. I also took the
opportunity to present a paper on setting up a wine-manufacturing unit in Tamil Nadu, which
demanded extensive research to fulfill each criteria of a project report. The report was not only
given full marks and greatly appreciated by the professor, but was also kept as a benchmark for
others. Needless to say, it was a truly educational and enriching experience.
In the third year of B.B.A, I became cognizant of the maturity and understanding required at
the corporate level. I was introduced to subjects such as Supply Chain and Logistics
Management supported by the example of Asian Paints, the first company in India to have
integrated Supply Chain Management from i2 Technologies and Enterprise Resource Planning
(ERP) solution from SAP. It being one-of-its-kind provided me with the exposure to one of the
most technologically updated supply chain systems.
In order to optimize and learn productively, I started interning in my family business during
my summer and winter breaks in college. After starting with a basic orientation course, I was
exposed to the manufacturing processes in various plants and put to training and working
under the scope of ISO systems, as required by the organizations. The ISO manuals defined all
the processes, which made it convenient for me to understand the procedure for incoming raw
material to final packaging and dispatch. Further, I was introduced to production management,
which involved planning, routing, scheduling, execution and follow-up of the orders. I also
became aware of the various quality control measures adopted by the company. Additionally, I
took the opportunity to gain knowledge on the purchase and the sales aspects involved in the
business. One of the main reasons for my internships was to gather sufficient knowledge of
business operations, which I found to be conventional compared to the modern, more
sophisticated systems prevalent in the industry. Therefore, I believe that the knowledge I will
gain through this course would help me to bring about rapid growth and innovation in my
business operations, thereby allowing me to take my company into the next stage of
expansion.
My undergraduate program has given me sufficient exposure to various avenues for research
and I have chosen Operations Management as my subject of study for which I have both an
aptitude and liking. In addition, studying the Masters in Commerce degree, I believe has
equipped me with necessary conceptual, entrepreneurial and analytical skills required for
handling business operations. Also, a course in Post Graduate Diploma in Foreign Trade has
provided me with a comprehensive coverage of all procedural aspects related to International
Business such as International Trade procedures and documentation, marketing, logistics,
export incentives and export finance. A good graduate program is now essential for gaining a
deeper insight and to make significant original contributions to this field. I am confident that I
possess the motivation, intellectual ability and preparation to succeed in a demanding graduate
program.
Besides academics, I have a strong affinity towards sports. Since childhood, I have played
sports such as football, volleyball, athletics, shot-put, and chess. I have participated in several
tournaments at school, university and community levels and even won awards for my
performances. Sports have not only made me physically fit, but also developed within me a
never-say-die attitude and a strong sense of camaraderie and team spirit. I have also
participated in extracurricular activities such as song and dance competitions and was a
member of editorial board of the departmental newsletter. My activities, both academic and

extra-curricular have taught me the importance of time management, leadership and discipline
to succeed in all aspects of life, which I believe I will be able to incorporate as I lead my
family business related to the manufacturing of copper and copper alloy tubes in the future.
The company, which began as a small factory has gradually developed and expanded through
the years becoming Indias largest copper tubes manufacturer and now it is up to me to take it
to the next level. However, with the markets shifting from local to global, juxtaposed by the
ever-evolving nature of the modern business world, it has become more and more difficult to
remain competitive. Rising costs and lower profits in recent years have threatened the vitality
of the company. This has been the main factor in my decision to pursue studies in Operations,
which will provide me with the skills necessary to help the business expand, thrive, and
remain viable in the future.
I have chosen to apply to the Masters program in ______ at _________ for various reasons,
the most important being the modules and options offered here that perfectly cater to my
interest. Besides the attraction of both modules, Manufacturing and Operations integrated into
one course, I believe that the core program comprising of Quality Management & Techniques
Supply Chain Planning and Management Design of Operations Facilities Management
Science for Decisions Support and Operations Strategy would provide me with adequate
knowledge in this stream. The challenging curriculum would also give me the requisite skillset and knowledge to enable me to join my business, as well as instill in me the capability to
make dynamic changes and take the business into the next phase. Post Masters, my immediate
goal is to work with our joint venture company Ameri Tube in USA for a couple of years. It
will provide me with the experience and perspective necessary to deal with current business
challenges, as I join my family concern after returning to India.
The modern business world demands professionals with an understanding of different cultures,
languages, and attitudes. In my view, pursuing a Masters Degree in _______at ______ is the
ideal way to broaden my horizon. I am eager to take advantage of the extensive resources,
learn from the renowned professors, and work alongside people from different countries and
backgrounds. I feel confident that my past education and work experience have prepared me
for the challenges that I will inevitably face, and I know that an advanced education in
________will serve as the best step forward in shaping my career path.