How Multilingualism Builds a Better Business World

Until 2019, Ashwani Muppasani served as the vice president of operations and quality for TE Connectivity’s Automotive Division in the Americas in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. His decades of work in the manufacturing sector included executive-level, internationally focused positions at General Motors. Ashwani Muppasani’s ability to communicate with counterparts in multiple countries was aided by his multilingualism - he speaks English, Portuguese, Mandarin, three Indian languages, and has a basic understanding of Spanish.

Being multilingual has a number of significant advantages, notably in business. Studies show that multilingual executives and employees demonstrate sharper critical thinking skills. They can communicate with customers and colleagues more fluidly, which enables their transactions to proceed with fewer complications.

In the multicultural workplace of the 21st century, multilingual workers are better able to navigate cultural and social differences, which creates a more respectful and harmonious environment. Understanding and communicating in more than one language also brings an individual a greater awareness of differing perspectives, including the business strategies based on those perspectives.

Difference Between Goals and Targets

The recipient of two General Motors Transformers Awards, Ashwani Muppasani is the former vice president of the automotive division at TE Connectivity. Ashwani Muppasani is experienced in identifying targets for new product development and has also enhanced product suites in new markets.

Although they sound like the same idea, goals and targets are entirely different concepts in terms of scope. A business will specify its goals to portray a long-term vision of what it aims to accomplish within the specified period. Targets, on the other hand, are small steps aligned with deadlines and details of larger goals. To achieve a business goal, the team and individual within the organization will have to reach their targets. At this point, it is needless to say that goals and targets work hand in hand.

Target will help increase the sense of the importance of effort and activity that needs to be put together to increase the chance of accomplishing goals. For example, a business may plan to increase its efficiency - this is a goal. To achieve this goal, it has to get all equipment and machinery in the company functional - these are individual targets.

Direct and Indirect Procurement

Skilled operations professional Ashwani Muppasani most recently served as the vice president of operations and quality at TE Connectivity Automotive Division in North Carolina. Prior to this, Ashwani Muppasani worked for other companies such as OHorizons Global Network and General Motors, where he handled several responsibilities including oversight of direct and indirect procurement.

A complex business operation, procurement involves the sourcing and purchasing of goods and materials necessary for business operations. There are two main procurement processes to be aware of: direct and indirect procurement.

Direct procurement is necessary for any business that sells a tangible item to consumers or other businesses. The process involves acquiring the raw materials necessary for creating this item, such as wood or concrete. Most businesses purchase raw materials in large quantities from suppliers who offer varying levels of quality, reliability, and cost. Without direct procurement, companies that produce tangible items can no longer function because they cannot manufacture their product.

Meanwhile, indirect procurement involves the purchase of supplies and services necessary for the company’s daily operations. These include office supplies and pieces of equipment or furniture. Unlike items bought through direct procurement processes, the supplies and services purchased through indirect procurement are not necessary for product development or manufacturing. However, should a business not obtain these items, it cannot properly operate, regardless of whether it has the raw materials it needs to create a product or not.

Automotive Radar Sensors Industry Poised for Strong Growth

Most recently serving as vice president of operations and quality for the Americas at TE Connectivity, Ashwani Muppasani is an accomplished automotive engineering professional. Responsible for achieving year-over-year growth for an automotive products company, Ashwani Muppasani is experienced in the design and implementation of new automotive technology.

According to the technology market research company Technavio, automotive radar sensors, used as the basis of automotive safety systems, are an intelligent automotive technology poised to experience rapid growth. Over the next four years, the radar sensors market is expected to grow by nearly $4.5 billion, according to Technavio.

The growth is partially due to favorable legislation that promotes the installation of radar-based safety systems, include those that monitor blind spots and assist with parking. Another factor propelling the growth of automotive radar sensors is the worldwide push, including imminent global agreements, to coordinate vehicular radar in the frequency range of 77-81 gigahertz.

SME - Advancing Educational Platforms for the Future

Former TE Connectivity executive Ashwani Muppasani has worked in diverse business environments around the world and across industries in the manufacturing industry. In addition to his career, Ashwani Muppasani is a member of the manufacturing professionals’ organization SME.

SME is a non-profit organization whose members are professionals, educators, and students who also advocate for and promote, manufacturing industries. Its central mission is two-fold-to promote manufacturing and to develop a skilled platform. SME has established a platform for the latter goal of creating a skilled workforce through the SME Education Foundation.

The foundation’s goal is to encourage and inspire students to go into manufacturing fields. Through the Student Summit Series at SME, students get the opportunity to participate in student-centric programs, technology challenges (and competitions), and demonstrations.

More than attracting young people to the profession, SME advocates for integrating industry concepts into school curriculums throughout the country. The Prime program provides educators with curriculum guides created through collaborations between business and engineers so that they might integrate this information into their lessons and impart information to students.

Finally, it provides pathways for college students to attend college simply by establishing scholarships. Beginning with seniors in high school, SME provides scholarships to manufacturing and engineering talent for those even seeking credentials as high as the graduate degree.

Cricket and Calypso - Narrating and Unifying Caribbean Culture

Having worked at multinational companies, Ashwani Muppasani serves as vice president of Americas Operations and Quality in North Carolina. Outside of his profession, Ashwani Muppasani’s interests including watching cricket.

For many, cricket is a pastime enjoyed in countries that once comprised the British Empire (i.e. Caribbean, India, and Australia), but historically in the Caribbean, the sport goes hand-in-hand with calypso.

Both cricket and calypso have their roots in politics. Many calypso songs narrate events that happen on the islands. Cricket also has its roots in political expression. When originally established, pitting players from West Indies against English gentleman became a comment on colonialism and might being expressed through sport.

However, throughout the Caribbean, the sport (and its players) have been immortalized through calypso. As far back as the 1930s, calypso chronicled the events of the game. In the 1950s, for example, Lord Kitchener’s lyrics reflect a win by the West Indian team when he writes, “With those two little pals of mine, Ramadhin and Valentine,” discussing the exploits of the team's great players. Much later, in the 1970s when one of India’s greatest players faced off against the West Indian team (today referred to as the Windies), Lord Relator (of Trinidad) wrote: “Just like a wall, we couldn’t out Gavaskar at all.”

The popularity of the game is partly caused by its inter-connectedness with calypso, which has created a collective consciousness expressed throughout the Caribbean islands. Today, much has been discussed regarding the state of islander style cricket with the game not attracting as much interest. In this evolution, one has to consider the power of calypso to rally, impact, and pique renewed interest in the sport.

Wichita State Features Innovative Experiential Engineering Building

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Previously the vice president of quality and operations for the Americas at TE Connectivity, Ashwani Muppasani also served as an engineer and executive at General Motors for nearly 20 years. Possessing a master’s degree in industrial engineering, Ashwani Muppasani is a graduate of Wichita State University (WSU) in Kansas.

A public university that features a top-notch engineering program, WSU’s curriculum encompasses the disciplines of industrial, systems, and mechanical engineering. In 2017, WSU opened its $32 million Experiential Engineering Building, which was the first phase in the university's plan to establish an “Innovation Campus.” The experiential educational environment allows students to be involved in real-life engineering projects and provides a space for faculty members and students to engage in interdisciplinary learning.

The design of the 143,000-square-foot facility was the result of collaboration among all of WSU’s engineering departments and programs. In addition to a variety of labs for prototyping, design, testing, and manufacturing, the building is equipped with cutting-edge engineering technology and support systems, including a 3-D print center, business incubator and accelerator spaces, and a technology transfer office for patenting guidance.