Supply Chains for the EV Era
A supply chain lead who moved from traditional manufacturing to lithium-ion batteries — and builds localised, compliant, resilient networks
Emphasising the importance of mentorship and knowledge-sharing, Mr. Umesh Dhankecha believes in nurturing the next generation of professionals to recognise supply chain as a strategic driver of business success. His professional journey spans General Motors, Sandvik, SKF, TUBACEX, and Klenzaids, and he currently serves as Lead (Supply Chain) at TDS Lithium-Ion Battery Gujarat, where he focuses on strengthening and building resilient supply-chain operations to support India’s growing electric-mobility ecosystem.
Along with this, he aims to build agile, technology-enabled, and resilient supply chains that support business growth and India’s clean-energy and electric-mobility ambitions.
With a commitment to turning operational challenges into measurable business value, Mr. Umesh Dhankecha is recognised as one of the 10 Leading Supply Chain Leaders in India 2026. He shares his perspective on the emerging trends and industry shifts that will reshape supply-chain strategies in the coming years in an exclusive conversation with Corporate TrendZ:
“Transitioning from traditional manufacturing to the fast-paced lithium-ion battery sector has highlighted a distinct shift in supply-chain requirements. Traditional environments have largely prioritised established Lean, Six Sigma, and Kaizen frameworks for incremental efficiency. However, India’s rapid electrification growth demands unprecedented agility, hyper-localised sourcing of imported spares, and sophisticated international logistics management. Going forward, supply-chain strategies will be increasingly shaped by stringent global trade compliance, making milestones such as AEO-T2 certification and effective hazardous-material logistics essential. The future will also depend on resilient, localised supply networks for critical materials and advanced reverse-logistics models, similar to the returnable export-packaging systems we have implemented for long-term sustainability. Insights from international battery exhibitions and critical-material conferences reinforce my belief that sustainable, localised ecosystems will be a key strategic differentiator.”
🏆 10 Leading Supply Chain Leaders in India 2026 — Mr. Umesh Dhankecha, Lead (Supply Chain) at TDS Lithium-Ion Battery Gujarat. ✨