Engineer’s Day: Celebrating Engineers’ Crucial Role in MSME Growth

Engineer’s Day is a tribute to engineers who fuel the growth of India’s MSMEs through innovation, process optimization, and sustainability. Celebrated on September 15th, this day also honors the legendary Sir M. Visvesvaraya, whose engineering legacy continues to inspire. Engineers remain central to MSME success by embracing technology and delivering solutions for modern challenges. 

This article delves into the importance of Engineer’s Day in the MSME context, exploring the key roles engineers play in driving innovation, improving processes, and enhancing competitiveness for small businesses.

Why Engineer’s Day Matters for MSMEs

Engineers are pivotal to the MSME ecosystem, which forms the bedrock of India's economy. According to the Ministry of MSME, the sector contributes nearly 30% of India’s GDP and is responsible for over 110 million jobs. Engineers within these small and medium enterprises work on process innovations, product development, and technological upgrades that allow businesses to compete in a global market.

Key Contributions of Engineers to the MSME Sector

1. Process Optimization and Efficiency
   
   In the highly competitive MSME landscape, engineers drive improvements in manufacturing, production processes, and operations. Whether it's developing lean manufacturing techniques or integrating automation, engineers help MSMEs optimize their operations, reduce waste, and improve efficiency—critical factors for cost-sensitive businesses.

2. Technology Integration and Innovation
   
   Engineers lead the charge in adopting new technologies like AI, IoT, and cloud computing, making MSMEs more tech-savvy. By streamlining workflows and automating repetitive tasks, they help small businesses stay competitive in a digital-first world. This technology integration enhances scalability and enables MSMEs to deliver better products and services.

3. Sustainable Engineering Practices
   
   With the growing emphasis on sustainable development, engineers play a critical role in helping MSMEs transition to greener practices. From reducing energy consumption to developing eco-friendly products, they ensure businesses align with global sustainability standards, which are increasingly demanded by customers and regulatory bodies alike.

4. Product Innovation and Development
   
   Engineers are at the forefront of product innovation, especially in sectors like manufacturing, electronics, and medical devices. MSMEs rely on their expertise to design and develop new products that meet market demand, helping them grow and diversify their offerings. These innovations often lead to breakthroughs that give MSMEs a competitive edge.

5. Quality Control and Compliance
   
   Engineers ensure that products meet stringent quality standards, which is essential for MSMEs aiming to export goods or cater to international markets. Their expertise in implementing robust quality control systems helps businesses avoid costly recalls and maintain customer trust.

Engineers: The Unsung Heroes of MSME Success Stories

Across India, many MSMEs owe their success to the tireless efforts of engineers. From pioneering manufacturing innovations to helping businesses adopt Industry 4.0 practices, engineers are at the heart of every major milestone in the MSME journey. For instance, many successful MSMEs in the automotive and electronics sectors have relied on engineers to optimize production lines, develop cutting-edge products, and ensure compliance with global quality standards.

Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya: The Engineer Who Inspired a Nation

The legacy of Sir M. Visvesvaraya is a reminder of how engineering can transform a nation. Born in 1861, he was responsible for some of India’s most impressive engineering feats, including the design of the Krishna Raja Sagara Dam, which transformed the agricultural landscape of Mysore. His contributions laid the groundwork for India’s industrial and infrastructural growth, a vision that continues to inspire today’s engineers working within MSMEs.

The Future of Engineering in MSMEs

The future of MSMEs lies in their ability to adapt to evolving market demands and technology landscapes. Engineers will continue to play a pivotal role by embracing trends like automation, 3D printing, and digital transformation. With India's growing focus on 'Make in India' and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat,' MSMEs are poised to become global leaders, and engineers will be the driving force behind this shift.

Industry's Perspective

Virtusa Corporation

“On Engineers’ Day, we celebrate the brilliant minds whose creativity and logic fuel the innovations shaping our world. At Virtusa, engineering is not just a profession but a guiding philosophy behind everything we do. AI is transforming the engineering landscape, driving breakthroughs, and redefining traditional methods. Whether it is to optimize productivity, enhance automation and to stay competitive and innovative in a changing industry landscape, our engineering first approach helps deploy streamlined solutions that work in the real world. Our Engineering First approach empowers these visionaries, recognizing their ability to blend curiosity, creativity, and expertise to shape the future. By enabling them to tackle the toughest challenges, we are laying the foundation for tomorrow's game-changing innovations," says Ram Meenakshisundaram, Chief Technology Officer, Virtusa Corporation.

Carborundum Universal Limited

Subbu Venkatachalam, Head of Marketing, Carborundum Universal Limited commennted, "While engineering education has become more hands-on over the years, there is still a need for close collaboration with industry in shaping the curriculum to ensure it is on par with current

requirements. Students must have the opportunity to solve creatively for real-world, sector-specific challenges. For example, take aerospace and defence, which is emerging as a strategic sector for

India. Since protecting our soldiers is an important priority, students must learn about the importance of light-weighting of materials, advanced ballistic protection, ergonomics in designing

materials for defence and their relevance to current on-ground challenges. Technologies such as AI are still relatively new, but new engineers need to build skills in these areas. AI can play a pivotal role in helping shrink product development timelines by allowing us to anticipate the performance of products in various scenarios. It can help expedite innovation, whether it is around new-age materials or new manufacturing techniques. In addition to technical skills, there also needs to be a greater focus on soft skills such as relationship management, strong communication, creativity and adaptability in any given situation."

Marut Drones

“From the skies above to the dreams within, our engineers are shaping the future. Drones are rapidly emerging as a transformative force, from revolutionizing traditional farming practices to disaster management during heavy floods. The innovation in drone technology has taken India on the path of becoming a drone hub by 2030. We’re seeing a surge of young engineers leaving corporate careers to explore opportunities in agriculture and social sectors - from Agri-entrepreneurs embracing drone technology to solve real-world problems to young students creating firefighting drones. With young engineers getting inclined towards drone technology as a career, it will push India into an era of supernormal growth. This trend suggests a smooth adoption of technology, which will have a positive impact on the Indian economy in various ways. As a dedicated team of engineers at Marut Drones, we commend the creativity, dedication, and relentless commitment of engineers driving innovation, as approximately 1 million people are expected to use drones across industries. The Central government's efforts to indigenize a lot of subsystems of drone technology is helping uplift the drone ecosystem in India, essential in shaping India’s infrastructure for the next century," stated Prem Kumar Vislawath, CEO and Co-Founder Marut Drones.

Acer India

"On National Engineer’s Day, we honor the visionary minds whose ingenuity and problem-solving skills lay the foundation for a better future. Engineers are the driving force behind technological advancements that not only push industries forward but also enhance everyday life. At Acer, we deeply value their role in harnessing emerging technologies like AI, cloud computing, and green energy solutions to build smarter, more sustainable systems. Their commitment to innovation empowers us to achieve more, making the world more connected, efficient, and future-ready." — Sudhir Goel, Chief Business Officer, Acer India

Conclusion

Engineer’s Day is not just a tribute to Sir M. Visvesvaraya, but also a celebration of the thousands of engineers who contribute to the growth and success of India's MSME sector. Engineers bring innovation, technical expertise, and problem-solving skills that help MSMEs compete, grow, and thrive in an increasingly competitive global marketplace. As the MSME sector continues to evolve, engineers will remain the unsung heroes behind every small business success story.