Dr. Jaya Rawat
General Manager (R&D)
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd.
PGEMP Batch 65 | Year: 2018-2020
2018: Chief Manager (R&D), Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd.
On being asked how a management programme would benefit me as a scientist. I replied that while I was well-versed in technological developments, I was eager to learn how to systematically manage and execute projects in alignment with strategic goals through innovative technologies, marketing, and pricing strategies. I believed I could effectively integrate technology with operations management and saw no reason why scientists shouldn’t gain knowledge in management.
My capstone project focused on saving energy at the BPCL Mumbai refinery and aimed at developing cost-effective solutions to enhance the efficiency of heat exchangers. It aimed to reduce fuel consumption and emissions.
Field trials at the Mumbai refinery showed excellent fuel efficiency. The project included product development, marketing strategies, benefits to BPCL, and user insights. This business application of R&D that enhanced system efficiency, reduced energy consumption, increased the life of the equipment, and simultaneously reduced maintenance could make a difference of up to 40 Cr/annum to the bottom line.
A fallout of the capstone project was a paper presentation at the Production and Operations Management Society (POMS) Conference 2021, a prestigious global society of academicians and practitioners of operations and management. As a scientist, I am used to writing and presenting technical papers, but writing and presenting a paper on management was beyond my wildest dreams. However, the conference shifted to an online format due to COVID-19. My paper, ‘New product development to reduce fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions in an oil refinery’, based on my capstone project, was highly appreciated by the POMS Panel. Prof. Jayaraman and my BPCL mentor, Mr. Sanjay Bhargava, were incredibly motivating throughout the entire journey of the capstone project and its subsequent presentation at POMS.
These are excerpts from her interview featured in the PGEMP Impact Book (January 2025)