A bicycle assembled is not yet an order fulfilled

In a selected five-day period in 2018, our workshop assembled 420 bicycles and released 300 through the required quality process. Another 120 awaited release. I had encouraged the assembly team to increase its local output without giving sufficient attention to the work downstream. The difference was neither a delivery success nor proof that 120 bicycles were defective. It was unfinished work that my preferred operating measure had made easy to overlook.

I am Gaurav Nersalkar, chief operating officer of Denvashi Cycle Works in Nashik. Our 186 colleagues assemble new bicycles and provide customer-authorised refurbishment services. FY 2025–26 revenue is ₹78 crore. Four heads coordinate the 141 people in my operating remit, while Farida retains enterprise authority and Deepak leads quality. I can organise resources and propose changes within my authority; I cannot replace a required release decision with an assembly count.

Later assignments made the same distinction more concrete. A selected review of fifty customer-returned bicycles separated thirty repair candidates, twelve proposed for parts recovery and eight for retirement, subject to the relevant permissions and qualified decisions. A dispatch review examined eighteen customer orders: twelve were complete and six lacked agreed accessory kits. Five were corrected and one remained held. Those examples show particular decisions, not a claim that every product or dispatch meets a universal standard. My COO appointment carries neither a statutory seat nor an ownership interest. A potential first outside contribution would require further governance preparation, company-specific assessment and a realistic twenty-two-day annual commitment. I would bring experience of asking which customer obligation remains outstanding when an internal account says the work is complete.

Current focus

Connecting workshop effort with release, completeness and the customer agreement

Conversations I welcome

Operating leadership and a carefully prepared first outside-board contribution