Suresh krishna sundram fasteners
Home / Related Biographies / Suresh krishna sundram fasteners
Under his stewardship, SFL received international recognition by achieving several ‘firsts’ as mentioned below:
Suresh Krishna’s people centric style of management has ensured that SFL has not lost even a minute of work time due to any industrial unrest ever since it started more than 50 years ago, an achievement in the annals of Indian industry.
Suresh Krishna took active interest in representing the voice of the industry.
Krishna received his Bachelor of Science degree from Madras Christian College in the year 1955. Currently it has 25 factories in India and one each in China and the United Kingdom
Suresh Krishna’s passion for excellence and quality saw him steer Sundram Fasteners to be recognized as a leading manufacturer in the auto component industry. He received his M.A.
in Literature from the University of Wisconsin in 1959 and did his post-graduate work in Literature in the University of Munich, Germany.
Suresh Krishna started his career with TVS and Sons, Madurai. Krishna was the recipient of the “Entrepreneur of the Year” Award for 2001, from Ernst & Young.
The Government of India conferred the “Padma Shri” award on Suresh Krishna in 2006 for his contribution to industry.
Sundram Fasteners' Suresh Krishna conferred CII's 'Quality Ratna' award
Suresh Krishna, chairman of Sundram Fasteners, has been conferred India's first 'Quality Ratna' award by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) at the CII Institute of Quality's 27th Quality Summit held on November 23-24, in Bangalore.
The citation from the CII Institute of Quality reads, “Mr.
His mother, Ambujam Krishna, was a renowned Carnatic music composer who contributed over 600 kritis and supported cultural initiatives alongside her family's entrepreneurial pursuits.[6]Suresh Krishna is the grandson of T. V. Sundram Iyengar, who founded the TVS Group in 1911 as a modest bus transport service in Madurai, initially operating a single vehicle between Madurai and Usilampatti.[7] Under T.
S. Krishna and his siblings, the group evolved from a regional transport operator into a diversified conglomerate spanning automotive components, finance, and manufacturing, with a strong emphasis on ethical practices and employee welfare that shaped the family's business ethos.[8] This hereditary connection to the TVS lineage provided Suresh Krishna with an early immersion in enterprise, influencing his subsequent role in sustaining and innovating within the group's automotive sector.
Academic background
Suresh Krishna completed his undergraduate studies at Madras Christian College, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in 1955.[3][4]He then traveled to the United States for graduate education, obtaining a Master of Arts degree in literature from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1959.[3][4][1]Krishna continued his academic pursuits in Europe with post-graduate studies in literature at the University of Munich, completing a Master of Arts degree in 1961.[3][4]This international academic journey across India, the United States, and Germany provided Krishna with exposure to diverse intellectual environments, fostering skills in critical thinking and global awareness that supported his transition into technical and managerial roles within the manufacturing and automotive industries.[4]Professional career
Entry into the TVS Group
Suresh Krishna joined the TVS Group in 1961 upon completing his postgraduate studies in Literature from the Technische Universität München, following his Master of Arts in Literature from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Bachelor of Science from Madras Christian College, which prepared him for technical and managerial roles in the family enterprise.[9]As a member of the third generation in the TVS family, Krishna's entry marked his involvement in the group's strategic diversification from its origins in transportation services to broader manufacturing activities.Set up in 1966, Sundram Fasteners has grown into a global leader manufacturing critical, high-precision components for the automotive, aviation and windmill sectors.
Its expansive product portfolio encompasses fasteners, powertrain components, sintered metal products, iron powder, cold extruded parts, radiator caps, water and fuel pumps, and wind energy components.
An unwavering focus on manufacturing and product quality has, over the years, won Sundram Fasteners plenty of global awards as well as topnotch clientele in both OEM and aftermarket in competitive markets like India, German, UK, USA, Italy and France, among others.
Deming Prize for 17 Sundram Fasteners plant -- at one go!
A unique recognition came Sundram Fasteners' way in October 2018 when it bagged the prestigious Deming Prize for not one or two plants but all of 17 manufacturing facilities!
Notably, in 2006-07, SFL earned the EEPC Export Award Silver Shield from the Engineering Export Promotion Council of India (a body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry) as the Star Performer in the Large Enterprises category, underscoring Krishna's role in driving substantial export growth.[13] Additionally, in 2000, he received the National Award from the Asian Productivity Organisation, Japan, for outstanding contributions to productivity improvement in India.[13] In 1991, Krishna was awarded the Sir Jehangir Ghandy Medal for Industrial Peace by XLRI - Xavier School of Management.)These honors align with broader national efforts during economic reforms to bolster the automotive and engineering sectors, where Krishna's innovations at SFL contributed to enhanced productivity and international trade.[4]
Industry and corporate accolades
In 2000, Suresh Krishna was awarded the JRD Tata Corporate Leadership Award by the All India Management Association for his exemplary leadership in the manufacturing sector.[51] In 1995, Business India magazine recognized him as Businessman of the Year for his pivotal role in driving industrial growth at Sundram Fasteners Limited (SFL).[13]Under Krishna's leadership as Chairman and Managing Director, SFL pioneered Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) practices in India, earning the TPM Excellence Award from the Japan Institute of Plant Maintenance in 1998—the first such accolade for an Indian engineering company.[14] This recognition highlighted SFL's innovations in operational efficiency and quality management, setting benchmarks for the automotive components industry.[52]Krishna has received lifetime contribution honors from key industry bodies, including the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), which conferred upon him India's first Quality Ratna Award in 2019 at its 27th Quality Summit for his enduring impact on quality excellence.[53] In 1997, he was awarded the Qimpro Platinum Standard by the Juran Institute for being a role model in quality leadership.[13] Similarly, the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) has honored his contributions through multiple awards to SFL, such as the ACMA Quality Award in 1991 and the Technology Award in 2007-08 for the Puducherry unit, reflecting his strategic oversight in advancing sector standards.[13] He also received the Juran Quality Medal from the Indian Merchants' Chamber and the Ramakrishna Bajaj National Quality Award.[13] In 1987, the G.K. Devarajulu - NIQA Award for Outstanding Industrialist was conferred upon him.[13]
Suresh Krishna (businessman)
Mr. In 1962, he was given the responsibility of starting Sundram Fasteners. In the early 2000s, the company established a manufacturing facility in China via Sundram Fasteners (Zhejiang) Limited, aiming to capitalize on the region's growing automotive market and achieve substantial revenue contributions from exports.[16][17] By 2016, SFL restructured its overseas operations, including the sale of its German subsidiary and the formation of Sundram International Limited in the UK as a wholly-owned subsidiary to facilitate mergers, acquisitions, and enhanced European market penetration; this included the prior acquisition of Cramlington Precision Forge in the UK to bolster precision engineering capabilities.[18][19]SFL has innovated in developing auto components tailored for electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy applications, aligning with global shifts toward sustainable mobility.
He was one of the members of the Advisory Council to the Prime Minister formed to advise the Prime Minister on matters relating to trade and industry.
Awards and Honours
Business and Industry organizations have also recognized Suresh Krishna’s contribution.
Krishna, for his outstanding contribution towards productivity improvement in the country during the last five years.
Under his leadership, the company, which started its operations from a small industrial unit in Ambattur Industrial Estate, soon moved to its present location in Padi and has since expanded to multiple locations in India and abroad. He was appointed as a Director on the Central Board of the Reserve Bank of India.
Suresh Krishna (businessman)
Sundram Iyengar & Sons, exports to 35 countries (as of 2024) and emphasizes quality, innovation, and corporate governance, with Krishna's daughters—Preethi, Arathi, and Arundathi—holding key executive roles.[1][3][4][5] Krishna's business philosophy prioritizes transparency, employee welfare, and using enterprise to alleviate poverty, reflecting his commitment to sustainable industrial growth in emerging markets.[4]
Early life and education
Family background
Suresh Krishna was born in 1936 in Madurai, India, into the prominent TVS family, which traces its roots to the early 20th century in Tamil Nadu.[4] As the eldest son of T.S. Krishna, a pivotal second-generation leader who expanded the family's business interests, Suresh Krishna inherited a legacy deeply embedded in India's industrial landscape. The company has consistently achieved exceptional productivity on the shop floor, superior uptime of machines and minimal breakdowns.
Also read: Magnificent 17: All Sundram Fasteners plants bag Deming Prize
Interview with Sundram Fasteners' managing director Arathi Krishna
Tags:Suresh Krishna,Sundram Fasteners,Confederation of Indian Industry,CII,TPM,TVS Group
Board of Directors
Sri S Mahalingam, a Chartered Accountant, began his career at Tata Consultancy Services(TCS) as an IT consultant and thereafter played a major role in marketing TCS services across the globe, developing processes and creating large software development centers for the Company.
Prior to becoming the Chief Financial Officer of TCS in February 2003, Sri S Mahalingam has managed many of the key functions including Marketing, Operations, Education and Training as well as Human Resources.
He managed the company’s operations in London and New York in the early days of TCS’ global journey.
Krishna's initial roles required navigating these obstacles, contributing to the group's adaptation and sustained growth in a regulated environment.[9]
Founding and growth of Sundram Fasteners
Suresh Krishna founded Sundram Fasteners Limited (SFL) in 1962 by incorporating Kasjax Engineering Ancillaries Private Limited in Chennai, initially focusing on the manufacture of high-tensile fasteners for automotive applications as the TVS Group's first wholly Indian-owned industrial venture.[10][4] The company was renamed Sundram Fasteners Private Limited in 1965, marking the beginning of its evolution into a key player in precision engineering components.[10] Under Krishna's leadership, SFL started operations from a single plant in Madras (now Chennai), emphasizing quality and customer focus to secure early contracts, such as with Tata Motors, which laid the foundation for its domestic market dominance.[4]The company's growth accelerated through organic expansion and strategic investments, transforming it into India's largest producer of industrial fasteners serving both automotive and non-automotive sectors, including infrastructure and wind energy.[4] By the 1990s, SFL had diversified its product portfolio beyond core fasteners to include powder metallurgy components, such as sintered metal parts for transmissions and engines, as well as radial oil seals and synchronizer rings for powertrain applications.[2][11] Further diversification into energy components, like specialized fasteners for wind turbines, supported its entry into renewable sectors and broadened its revenue streams.[12] This period saw the establishment of additional manufacturing facilities across India, growing from the initial Chennai plant to multiple sites that enhanced production capacity and operational efficiency.Key milestones in SFL's development included pioneering quality standards in Indian manufacturing, with the company achieving ISO 9002 certification in 1990 from BVQI, becoming the first Indianengineering firm to receive such accreditation and setting a benchmark for total quality management.[13] In 1998, SFL earned the TPM Excellence Award from the Japan Institute of Plant Maintenance (JIPM), marking it as the first in the Indianengineeringindustry to attain this recognition for operational excellence across its facilities.[14] By the early 2000s, expansion extended internationally with plants in China (Haiyan, 2004) and the UK (Cramlington), alongside domestic growth to over 20 facilities in India, enabling SFL to scale production for global OEMs like General Motors while maintaining its position as a leader in high-precision components.[10][15]Key business expansions and innovations
Under Suresh Krishna's leadership, Sundram Fasteners Limited (SFL) pursued significant international expansion through joint ventures and acquisitions to strengthen its global footprint in the automotive components sector.These early positions focused on hands-on learning in the automotive and engineering divisions, building his expertise in production processes amid the group's post-independence expansion.[9]The TVS Group, established in 1911 in Madurai as a bus transport service, faced substantial challenges in the early 1960s due to India's restrictive economic policies following independence.
Krishna's net worth has fluctuated in line with the Indian auto industry's performance, including stock price variations influenced by global supply chain dynamics and electric vehicle transitions.[49]In comparison to other TVS family members, Krishna's fortune is modest relative to Venu Srinivasan, the group's chairman emeritus, whose net worth stands at $5.8 billion as of October 2025, driven by stakes in TVS Motor Company.[50] This disparity highlights the diversified branches within the TVS empire, with Krishna's wealth concentrated in fasteners and ancillary auto parts.
Recognition and awards
National honors
In recognition of his significant contributions to trade and industry, Suresh Krishna was awarded the Padma Shri, one of India's highest civilian honors, by the Government of India in 2006.[32] This accolade, presented by President A.P.J.Thanks to his leadership and contribution to the TPM/Quality movement, India today has the maximum number of TPM award winners outside Japan.
Sundram Fasteners is part of the 21-company TVS Group of Companies, which is one of India's largest automotive component suppliers. He began with practical immersion in operations, serving as an apprentice at Wheels India—a subsidiary specializing in wheelmanufacturing—and assisting in management at Sundaram Clayton, which handled engineering castings for the automotive sector.
He served as the President of the Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India during 1982-84 and as President of the Confederation of Indian Industry for the year 1987-88.
Suresh Krishna’s counsel was sought after by many organizations by way of appointing him as a Director on their Governing Boards.