NIQR – Dr. V. Krishnamurthy Medal for Manufacturing Excellence
Recognising Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises demonstrating disciplined manufacturing systems, structured quality practices, and sustained operational performance aligned with global excellence frameworks.
Institutional Positioning
Instituted in honour of Padma Vibhushan Dr. V. Krishnamurthy, the VK Medal represents a national benchmark for manufacturing excellence among MSMEs.
Designed on principles aligned with globally recognised frameworks such as the Deming Prize, Malcolm Baldrige Award, and EFQM Excellence Model, the Medal recognises organisations that achieve excellence through:
- System maturity
- Process discipline
- Measurable performance outcomes
Scope
The VK Medal is exclusively applicable to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) engaged in manufacturing.
Why VK Medal Matters
India’s manufacturing competitiveness is anchored in MSMEs.
The VK Medal enables organisations to transition from compliance-driven operations to structured, system-driven manufacturing excellence, building long-term capability and competitiveness.
What the VK Medal Recognises
The VK Medal is not recognition of results alone—it recognises how excellence is built.
It honours organisations that demonstrate:
- Structured manufacturing system design
- Discipline in process deployment
- Stability in operational performance
- Continuous improvement culture
MSME Categories Covered
|
Category |
Focus |
| Micro Enterprises | Foundational systems, quality discipline, process control |
| Small Enterprises | KPI-driven management, supplier quality, structured systems |
| Medium Enterprises | Strategy-driven systems, analytics, innovation, ESG |
Evaluation Philosophy
Sustainable manufacturing excellence emerges from disciplined systems—not isolated improvements.
The evaluation focuses on:
- System design
- Process discipline
- Performance measurement
- Continuous improvement culture
Evaluation Framework (100-Point Model)
| Criteria | Weightage |
| Leadership & Strategy | 15 |
| Process Management | 20 |
| Quality Systems | 15 |
| Customer Focus | 15 |
| Data & Measurement | 10 |
| Continuous Improvement | 15 |
| Sustainability & Future Readiness | 10 |
| Total | 100 |
Minimum Qualification Threshold: 75
Category-Based Evaluation Depth
Micro Enterprises
- Basic system structure
- 5S and quality control practices
- SOPs and documentation
- Safety and customer orientation
Small Enterprises
- All Micro-level aspects plus:
- KPI-based management
- Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
- Supplier quality systems
- Maintenance systems
Medium Enterprises
- All Micro & Small aspects plus:
- Strategic alignment
- Advanced analytics
- Innovation systems
- ESG practices
Eligibility Framework
Applicant organisations must:
- Be registered MSMEs
- Be engaged in manufacturing operations
- Have a minimum of 3 years of operational track record
- Demonstrate structured manufacturing systems
- Provide documented performance data
- Comply with statutory requirements
Evaluation Process
The VK Medal follows a structured four-stage process:
- 1. Application Screening
- 2. Technical Assessment
- 3. Site Inspection
- 4. Jury Evaluation
What We Assess During Site Inspection
- Leadership commitment and strategic deployment
- Process management and system standardisation
- Quality systems and process control
- Operational performance metrics
- Continuous improvement practices
- Workforce capability and engagement
- Sustainability and safety systems
Assessment & Fee Structure
Category |
Registration |
Audit Team |
Duration |
Audit Fee |
Total Amount |
Micro |
₹30,000 |
1 × L3 |
1 Day |
₹25,000 |
₹55,000 |
Small |
₹75,000 |
2 × L2 |
2 Days |
₹75,000 |
₹1,50,000 |
Medium |
₹1,50,000 |
3 × L1 |
2 Days |
₹1,20,000 |
₹2,70,000 |
Post-Assessment Support (Optional)
Beyond assessment and recognition, NIQR offers structured post-assessment mentoring to support organisations in strengthening their systems and achieving higher levels of performance.
Mentoring Support (3–6 Months)
|
Category |
Monthly Fee |
|
Micro |
₹25,000 |
|
Small |
₹50,000 |
|
Medium |
₹75,000 |
Scope of Support
The VK Medal follows a structured four-stage process:
- Gap closure based on assessment findings
- System strengthening and process standardisation
- Deployment of improvement frameworks
- Capability development and training support
The VK Medal operates under a structured governance framework comprising:
- Governing Committee (Policy oversight)
- Technical Evaluation Board (Framework and scoring)
- Inspection Panels (Site evaluation)
This ensures rigour, transparency, and credibility in the evaluation process.
Awardees receive:
- VK Medal and Formal Citation
- Commemorative Trophy
- National recognition at the NIQR Convention
- Inclusion in Manufacturing Excellence Registry
- Publication in NIQR Compendium
- Structured diagnostic of systems
- Identification of improvement opportunities
- Benchmarking against excellence frameworks
- Enhanced organisational credibility
- Strengthened supply chain positioning
Additionally, participants receive detailed feedback reports, with optional post-assessment mentoring support to enable structured improvement.
|
Phase |
Timeline |
| Announcement | April |
| Applications | May–June |
| Screening | July |
| Evaluation | Aug–Sept |
| Inspection | Sept–Oct |
| Jury & Award | November |
Mr. M. Chelladurai is a distinguished leader in quality and manufacturing excellence, with extensive experience in advancing world-class quality systems across global automotive and industrial organisations. With a strong foundation in engineering, management, and doctoral research, he brings a unique blend of technical depth, strategic insight, and operational leadership.
Having held senior leadership roles at organisations such as Faurecia Clean Mobility and Lear Corporation, and currently serving as Regional Quality Leader – ZF Group, India, he has led large-scale quality transformation initiatives across multi-site manufacturing environments, strengthened supplier ecosystems, and enabled Zero PPM performance through disciplined system deployment.
As Project Director of the VK Medal, he provides strategic leadership in shaping the evaluation framework and ensuring the rigour and credibility of the award. His vision is to position the VK Medal as a national benchmark for manufacturing excellence, fostering disciplined systems, data-driven practices, and continuous improvement across MSMEs.
Mr. M. Chelladurai, BE, MBA, PhD (Pursuing)
Project Director – NIQR Dr. V. Krishnamurthy Medal for Manufacturing Excellence
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Strategic Positioning
The VK Medal is not merely an award—it is a structured mechanism to build long-term manufacturing excellence capability.