After Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, IIT Kanpur, Indian School of Business and Management, Hyderabad and National Stock Exchange, it was the turn of students of the Vinod Gupta School of Management of IIT Kharagpur to learn the six-Sigma dabbawallah doctrine.
Manish Tripathi, director, Mumbai Tiffin Box Suppliers Association, interacted with the students and faculty members of Vinod Gupta School of Management and Nebraska University of Omaha at IIT Kharagpur last Monday.
"We do not believe in technology as much as we do manual labour and use common sense -- these are the secret of our success, " said Tripathi while giving insights to management students.
And his lesson for the people of West Bengal was clear: "Strike is death, labour is life." However, when it comes to technology, the dabbawallas did not appear to be lagging behind.
With a website of their own and SMS services for instant delivery of lunch boxes, Mumbai Dabbawallas cater to about 2 lakh people in Mumbai, with an annual turnover of Rs 30 crore (Rs 300 million)
Without the aid of computer, many of them almost remember the names of their customers by heart, said Tripathi.
According to the Forbes magazine the Mumbai dabbawalla have a six sigma performance.
"I don't know why corporates rush for sigma six ratings. We got it easily just on the basis of hard work," said Tripathi.
Impressed by the sense and simplicity of Mumbai Dabbawallas, Krist Copich, advisor and member of the Nebraska University delegation said, the university will soon invite one of the Mumbai dabbawallas in Ohama for a lecture.
Even multinationals are now planing to tap the 2 lakh dabbawallah costumer base.
For instance, Microsoft has tied up with the dabbawallahs for marketing computers and laptops. Wearing Vista T shirt and cap, they distribute Microsoft leaflets as they deliver lunch boxes.
For the sale of each laptop or computer they get Rs 100.
In spite of all the media attention over the years and the experience of 115 years, each dabbawalla earns not more than Rs 5,000 a month, according to Tripathi.
There are around 5,000 dabbawallahas working in Mumbai. It is the hard work of Mumbai Dabawallas that has taken them to far off places.
"We are illiterate, most of us don't even know to sign our names, we are not capable enough to give management lessons," said Tripathi in his concluding remark.
