Nurturing Talent: How Trust and Training Create Engineering Leaders -

PAKISTAN

AI and emerging technologies have significantly impacted the HVACR sector: Saifuddin

The head of JES Instrumentation & Control speaks about AI, the quality of young engineers, and the ethics that drive business growth in an interview with Engineering Review (ER).

Engineering Industry, AI, and Emerging Technologies

There must be acceptance of technological trends within the industry, and in our HVACR sector their impact is quite significant. These technologies are being used almost 100 percent. For example, those of us working in controls integrate our Building Management System (BMS) software. The benefit is that predictive actions for lighting can be taken. All past data is incorporated, and future predictions are made with the help of AI. In this way, when BMS is directed toward energy efficiency, AI plays an active role, and this industry has accepted it very positively.

Good consultants, especially those inclined toward controls and automation, are accepting this technology and also explaining its benefits to end users (such as pharma, textile, and other sectors). However, when it comes to the Seth (traditional industrialist) culture, they become fearful of such terms and go on the back foot. Even hearing the term BMS makes them hesitant. Sometimes the consultant presents it in a softened way and even asks us not to explain it openly. Consultants are very interested in implementation. There is a need to educate those who are hesitant. The educated segment accepts this technology with an open heart. Older people want to run even controls on old systems; AI is a much more advanced concept.

Role of AI in Operations

Earlier, report writing, letter writing, and emails took a lot of time; now this tool saves many times over. It is a very good tool. Final copies, however, are still checked by us ourselves. There should be skill in knowing how to benefit from AI.

Quality of New Engineering Graduates

Two things are happening in the industry. There are employment difficulties as well. Good universities produce good graduates, but among them the best try to go abroad and do not stay here. Brain drain is taking place. Average graduates remain behind. Their level is not very strong, regardless of the university. There are also smaller institutions whose students are weak; in interviews they do not even know what final-year project they completed, yet they pass and graduate.

Very good students have very high expectations. Engineers should understand that they need to learn first; money comes with time. After two years, it becomes clear which field one should pursue—there are many fields. About 50 percent of people do not know what they want to do. I train them myself. Some other companies here also do this work because they have an interest in developing talent from young people.

I once spent a lot of time training a young man in BMS. One day he said to me that his electronics were strong and he wanted to go fully into electronics. I got angry at first, then asked him to wait for a day, and afterward I opened a separate electronics department for him. That department still exits, and we have created many value-added solutions. That young man progressed tremendously.

JES Instrumentation & Controls

Our original name is Jamali Engineering Services, which we started in 1995. I began my career in 1990. I did five years of service because I wanted to learn, and after another five years I decided to start my own business. In the Bohra community, our Syedna Sahib has always encouraged the belief that we are born to do business—it is in our blood.

When we founded JES, the beginning was difficult and it took time. Earlier I was alone; today we have more than 30 employees in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad. Our teams and offices represent JES. Product-wise, we started with Honeywell. After graduating from NED, I worked for Honeywell, and even today we are working with them. We have onboarded additional systems.

In 2009, we introduced a new technology: prepaid electricity meters, a Chinese brand, which is very good. Consultants like it, and it has been widely installed across Pakistan. This concept also exists in Europe and America—pay first, then use. We have brought in VAVs and are currently working with Air Venturi valves. We also manufacture field devices for other OEMs. There are many other products that we have onboarded and are marketing very effectively, while also using them ourselves. Alhamdulillah, the business has expanded. My children are also involved; two of them are now working with me in managing the business. We have a professional team, including diploma holders. This professional touch brings satisfaction to the company. Whatever we do, we try to do it in the best way. No matter how big the volume becomes, it still feels small as the team keeps growing. The real achievement is the young people I trained, who are now very successful in their respective fields.

JES–Honeywell Partnership

A person has their own nature; one should be content, and that nature should be long-lasting. Loyalty should also be part of one’s character. This is a natural process—do not be overly opportunistic, and relationships become long-lasting. The same applies to personal relationships; friendships last when there is loyalty and sincerity.

Honeywell is a good brand, a premium brand, with good people and no unethical practices. Their corporate culture has never promoted shortcuts. Their product line is also excellent. I always intended—and still intend—to work with good brands. Walking with Honeywell has been a major success for us because we have trained engineers. We received training ourselves; my cousin was with Honeywell, so we are trained according to their standards. Our strength is application and design—our designs have zero error. In 35 years, there has never been an error. Honeywell says, “You are the only partner who has given us no trouble.” Even today, they hold us in high regard. We continue this relationship with loyalty.

In the last two years, we have significantly increased Honeywell’s business without any failures, which is why the connection remains strong. We are the only HVAC controls and BMS partners of Honeywell in Pakistan. – By Muhammad Salahuddin

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