Industrial Cell of Sri Aurobindo College of Commerce and Management organised an industrial visit to Vardhman Special Steels Limited (VSSL), Ludhiana, for BBA 1st Semester students to provide practical exposure to real-world industrial operations and to complement classroom learning in operations management. The visit began with an orientation session, where students were introduced to the company’s history, plant layout, safety protocols, and overall manufacturing workflow. A short presentation also explained the basics of metallurgy, highlighting that steel is an alloy of iron and carbon (less than 2%), with additional elements like chromium, nickel, and molybdenum to enhance strength and durability.
VSSL follows the Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) route for steel production, which uses recycled scrap and direct reduced iron (DRI). This method is more energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable compared to the traditional blast furnace route. The manufacturing process involves melting, refining, casting, rolling, and finishing steel into specialized products such as forging quality bars, alloy steel bars, and bright/peeled bars used in precision engineering.
The plant emphasizes strict quality control and safety measures. All employees adhere to mandatory Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) standards. Advanced systems such as radiation detection at entry gates and automated defect inspection ensure high product quality. Additionally, laboratory testing, including spectrometry and mechanical testing, is conducted to maintain precision. The company is certified under international standards like IATF 16949, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001. VSSL primarily serves the automotive sector and supplies high-precision alloy and engineering steel to major global and domestic automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and engineering companies, including Toyota, Volvo, Maruti Suzuki, Hero MotoCorp, Honda, and Bosch etc. These products are used in critical components such as crankshafts, gears, axles, and fasteners
The Principal of the college, Prof. (Dr.) Vishal Kumar also emphasized that such industrial visits are essential for students as they bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical exposure, helping them develop a deeper understanding of industry practices and enhancing their employability skills.
Overall, the visit provided valuable insights into sustainable manufacturing, quality assurance, and supply chain coordination, enh
