“The future is created by your dreams because you don’t know what is going to happen next. How do you create your future? You create it by having a dream. And when your dream has a set of timelines, you automatically become passionate”
There is a saying that Arun Rao, Director, Geo Strategic Operations and Alliances at Dassault Systèmes truly abides by—the only way to do great work is love what you do! So what makes you fall in love with your work? we asked. Pat comes the reply, “The two things that pump me up is the continuous influx of challenges and the technology that Dassault provides.” During his recent visit to Pune for an event, Corporate Citizen caught up with him where he candidly spoke about the varied technologies, his fitness and much more
Born in Udupi, Karnataka, I spent most of my childhood days there. As my father was associated with a Central job, growing up we moved to many different places. Most of my school education was done in Delhi and rest of the parts of the country. There on, I pursed mechanical engineering from Bangalore University. Having received the right educational background, I am fortunate enough to acquire 20-plus years of work experience in various organisations. I started my career as Senior Application Engineer with Deneb Robotics (1996-1999), which predominantly dealt with software for robotic applications. This company was later acquired by Dassault Systèmes and they created a brand called Delmia which is the manufacturing firm where I was the Project Manager for six years. I started out as a Technical Sales Engineer where I dealt with various customers.
Later, I moved to Japan, where I received my initial orientation as I worked hand in hand with our regional customers. Soon, I was working at the headquarters in France, that’s when Dassault Systèmes acquired Deneb Robotics. Finally, after working in the technical sales for a longer period of time, I wanted some stability. As my family was growing, I relocated to Bangalore. This time domain was a whole new arena for me. The next seven years I spent in software development overlooking various products that Dassault Systèmes has. I was able to reflect my customer experience into our products. Here, I was offered the opportunity of working in various domains. Presently, I am handling the value channel business for Dassault Systèmes in India.
The French culture is unique. And Dassault Systèmes is a very stable organisation. This company has grown exponentially in the past years. The key reason why Dassault holds my loyalty is because it has been the flagbearer for bringing in the next-generation technology solutions. These challenges have kept me on my toes and in turn kept me at bay. Dassault has always challenged me with different roles.
Dassault works with many of the Fortune 500 companies who strive to bring the next generation of products. To do a great business we need to use cutting-edge technology. That’s when we come into the pictures, courtesy, our motive to provide the best solutions using technology. The most recent product that we launched was the 3D Experience Solution. This business platform connects different elements of the company in order to bring out the products in a very collaborative way. This collaboration is helping our customers transform the way they do business. Ashok Leyland is one of the biggest names in the commercial business arena. The market, in the recent past, has been through several ups and downs. But Ashok Leyland used this lean period to regroup their company. They wanted all their departments to work hand-in-hand and in an collaborative and effective way. Our 3D Experience Solution has provided them a platform that they wanted. This has leveraged their performance to bring in next-generation products. Their transformation is amazing, and Dassault is proud to be the catalyst.
Arun Rao (third from left), Director, Geo Strategic Operations and Alliances at Dassault Systèmes and Samson Khaou (sixth from left), Managing Director Dassault Systemes - India and the leadership team of Dassault Systèmes at the launch of 3DExperience on WheelsDuring my engineering days, we had a couple of 2D solutions. I used to complete the drawing using the drafters. Consequently, over the period of four years of my course itself, we started using 2D solutions. And since then, the scene has changed drastically. Then came the 3D solutions that completely revolutionised the way things were done. During this, Dassault came up with an interesting technology which we did not patent called the product lifecycle management. It is an effective way to manage the different activities that happen during the product design. It was a paradigm shift in the way things were done. Later, Dassault introduced a concept of digital mockup. It allowed the description of a product, usually in 3D, for the entire life cycle. The concept soon took over the market. In order to create a virtual view, the Boeing 777, which was introduced 20 years, used the digital mockup concept during the production and design. What’s commendable is that after every six-seven years, there comes a technology concept that transforms everything.
Across the aerospace and defence industry, rising customer expectations (lower costs, higher standards and increase capabilities) along with growing programme complexity make it more challenging to compete. As systems become more complex to design, build and deliver, Airframe Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and suppliers need to accelerate innovation, drive efficiencies and move to the factory of the future to allow for greater agility on production rate. This requires a new way to conceptualise, design, manufacture, test, certify and sustain new air and space vehicles.
Dassault has been fortunate when it comes to working with the top-notch companies. Globally (Boeing, Airbus) we have been working closely with the aerospace powerhouse. We take pride in providing them the desired solutions. With this, these aerospace powerhouses have been using are solutions for their local setups as well.
Since there is a lot of tracking in this sector, we broadened our horizons to join hands with the Government of Karnataka. At the 3D Experience Forum last year, Dassault announced the commencement of the first and second batch at the Aerospace and Defence Centre of Excellence (CoE) set up at Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) in association with Government of Karnataka. To make these millennials industry-smart, this CoE makes them familiar with the cutting-edge technology. The one-month foundation course has attracted over 50 students in two batches. In future, we hope introduced courses on Aircraft Design and Development process, Structural Engineering and Equipment Engineering.
“These millennials are very tech-savvy. They want to be connected and don’t wish to do things in a traditional way. Dassault Systèmes provides them with the technology which will enable them to design next-generation products”
Frankly, it is the most used and abused technology of all. At Dassault, we have leveraged IIoT for different applications. From an idea, to execution and then to the end product, our aim is to provide the best solutions. These solutions enable manufacturing components in the virtual world which is called as digital manufacturing. The idea is to replicate whatever happens at the shop floor in the virtual environment, so as get the desired end product. Here for us, connecting with those kinds of data and systems and getting the information is very important. For such activities, IIoT comes in handy for us.
Frankly, we passed through the same phase, only the circumstances and situations were a little different. These millennials are very tech-savvy. They want to be connected and don’t wish to do things in a traditional way. Dassault Systèmes provides them with the technology which will enable them to design next-generation products. To maximise they productivity, we should basically feed them with challenges which would motivate them. I feel our millennials are well-equipped to handle these challenges and technology.
When in Rome, do as the Romans. The right kind of exposure and attitude have helped me sustain in India. We have to adapt ourselves according to the needs.
I’m blessed to have gotten this opportunity of working in Japan and France. I was with the Japan firm at a very nascent stage. It molded my personality for better and provided me a great platform. The Japanese work culture has taught me to work hard, professionalism and made me understand the constraint of time. However, when it comes to Europe, they have a different mindset. They focused on innovation and next-generation products. That’s where I got the flavour of thinking beyond.
Your work schedule seems to be very hectic. How do you maintain work-life balance? Working with a French company can be hectic at times. Our philosophy is to work hard, and party harder. The work-life balance is pretty amazing here. Just two weeks ago, we had a corporate outing that helped us rejuvenate.
At such times, keeping yourself fit is the key thing. There is an old saying, the one who sweats in the morning, bleeds less in the war. I start my day at 5 am followed by a long walk. Sometimes, I do hit the gym. No matter where I am, I would have my workout shoes in my bag. That’s how I keep myself fit and calm. The workout gives me the mental and physical balance to achieve anything at work.
By Ekta Katti
