The Rise of the Modern Samurai

In the early days of the pandemic, when India’s manufacturing ecosystem weathered disruption with grit and ingenuity, a quiet yet powerful idea was born — the Samurai Awards. Inspired by the timeless virtues of the Samurai — valor, discipline, and perseverance — these awards set out to honor the warriors of industry who kept the nation moving through its most testing times.

The first two editions, held virtually in 2020 and 2021, were humble in scale but monumental in spirit. Since then, the awards have grown every year — expanding across categories, deepening the collaboration between academia and industry, and bringing together an ever-widening circle of innovators, practitioners, and rising leaders.

This year, in 2025, the journey brought the community to Bengaluru, India’s vibrant hub of manufacturing and technology, for the 6th Edition of the Samurai Awards and Conference in Manufacturing and Supply Chain. What unfolded was not just an awards ceremony — it was the celebration of an ecosystem in motion, an ecosystem that continues to transform India into a global industrial powerhouse.

A Platform Strengthened by Knowledge and Neutrality

For over twelve years, one message has echoed consistently across factories, campuses, and boardrooms:

India needs deeper collaboration between industry and academia.

The Samurai Awards stand today as one of the finest embodiments of that partnership.
Their credibility rests on the shoulders of an exceptional jury whose academic depth, professional clarity, and unbiased perspectives shape the evaluation process year after year.

This year’s distinguished jury panel included:

• Dr. Ruchi Agarwal, Assistant Professor of Strategy, MDI Gurgaon
• Dr. Nikhil Agarwal, Managing Director, FITT–IIT Delhi
• Dr. Ranjit S. Patil, Head, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, BITS Pilani Goa
• Dr. Aditya Gupta, COO, Supply Chain Management Centre, IIM Bangalore
• Dr. Rakesh Sinha, Founder & CEO, Reflexive Supply Chain Solutions
• Dr. Ganesh Kakandikar, Associate Dean, MIT World Peace University
• Dr. Debmallya Chatterjee, Head – Operations & Supply Chain, SPJIMR

Their collective wisdom ensures that every recognition is meaningful, fair, and rooted in true merit.

The Samurai Stories of 2025

Across supply chains and shop floors, design studios and innovation labs, the 2025 winners reflected the spirit of modern India — agile, imaginative, responsible, and fiercely determined.

Supply Chain – MSME: Agility Meets Ambition

The MSME supply chain segment shone through stories of resilience and reinvention.
UNOXpress emerged as a dual champion, earning both Digital Samurai and Productivity Samurai, symbolizing the transformative impact that technology can have on small and mid-sized enterprises.

XRE Consultants Pvt. Ltd. was honored as Service Samurai, reflecting their commitment to enabling smoother, smarter, and stronger supply chain operations.

Innovation found its champions in PN MedicareLogix (Ecodome), who claimed both Innovation Samurai and Startup Samurai, representing the bold new breed of MSMEs redefining healthcare supply chains.

For its strong sustainability initiatives, TGTMC Supply Chain Limited received the title of Sustainability Samurai.

And at the helm, celebrated for his leadership and long-term impact, Jay Deepak Shah, Managing Partner & CEO of Jay Wood Industry, earned the distinguished title of Shogun Samurai.

Supply Chain – Large Enterprise: Transforming at Scale

In the large enterprise segment, transformation ruled the narrative.
The TATA Bigbasket Innovations Team brought home the Innovation Samurai for their groundbreaking Bbinstant Machine Manufacturing program.

Ace Designers Limited – Machining Center Division showcased their technological and operational leadership by winning both Digital Samurai and Productivity Samurai.

As the Service Samurai, INGRAM MICRO INDIA PVT. LIMITED demonstrated their prowess in enabling dependable, interconnected business ecosystems.

For their commitment to sustainable growth, Pladis Global was honored as the Sustainability Samurai.

The segment’s highest honor, Shogun Samurai, went to Mr. Anirban Sanyal of Century Plyboards (I) Ltd — a leader whose strategic clarity continues to inspire the supply chain fraternity.

Manufacturing – MSME: Inventiveness and Drive

The MSME manufacturing awardees painted a rich picture of ingenuity and determination.
m2nxt Solutions Pvt. Ltd. earned both Digital Samurai and Productivity Samurai, proving that automation and efficiency can amplify MSME competitiveness.

NICO Nanobubble India Pvt. Ltd. claimed the Innovation Samurai, showcasing scientific creativity with industrial relevance.

For their commitment to service excellence in mobility, Omega Seiki Mobility was recognized as Service Samurai.

The Startup Samurai honor went to Sagar Defence Engineering Pvt. Ltd., a shining example of frontier innovation.

For their eco-focused practices, ANCA Machines earned the Sustainability Samurai accolade.

Guiding MSME manufacturing’s forward march was Dr. Uday Narang, Chairman & Founder of Omega Seiki Mobility, honored as the Shogun Samurai for his visionary leadership.

Manufacturing – Large Enterprise: Champions of Scale and Precision

The champions of large-scale manufacturing continued to push boundaries in 2025.
S&T Group emerged as Innovation Samurai, blending creativity with engineering excellence.

The Productivity Samurai title went to Central Manufacturing Technology Institute, a symbol of precision-driven growth.

Tata Indian Institute of Skills received the Service Samurai honor for their invaluable contribution to industrial skilling.

Recognized as Sustainability Samurai, Dr. Ramesh Singh of Tata Elxsi was celebrated for championing responsible innovation.

The coveted Shogun Samurai award went to Neha Jain of JSW MG Motor India, applauded for her forward-looking leadership and transformative impact.

Student Samurai Award – Ms. Priya N. Rao, NSB Bangalore

A Community That Continues to Grow

As the 2025 Samurai Awards concluded, one thing became clear:
this is no longer just an awards platform — it is a movement.

A movement that honors progress.
A movement that bridges academia and industry.
A movement that celebrates the modern Indian industrial warrior — the Samurai of today.

And as India moves closer to its vision of becoming a global manufacturing powerhouse, these stories will continue to inspire the next generation of leaders, innovators, and changemakers.

With Gratitude to Our Sponsors

Finally, a heartfelt thank-you to the sponsors whose unwavering support keeps this initiative alive and growing:

• Yamazaki Mazak India Private Limited
• Marposs India Pvt. Ltd.
• Carl Zeiss India (Bangalore) Pvt. Ltd.
• Valgro India Limited
• Black Belt Global

Their commitment strengthens this community and enables the Samurai Awards & Conference to continue empowering India’s manufacturing and supply chain ecosystem.

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