Ranjan is the factory manager for a large FMCG company specialising in the edible oil business. He reports directly to the managing director and has responsibility for manufacturing, quality assurance, packing and distribution, accounts and human resources. He has spent a considerable amount of time studying supply chain and e-manufacturing issues and presenting papers in these topic areas as a result of the upgrading of his plant and processes. He has an especial interest in tying the real time information derived from the factory and production environment to the business systems in a company.