Gokaldas Exports (A): The Challenge of Change

Gokaldas Exports was a family-owned business founded in 1979 that had grown into India’s largest apparel exporter by the mid 2000s. Its founder, Jhamandas H. Hinduja, had bequeathed control of the company to three sons, each of whom brought in his own son. By the end of 2004, Gokaldas had 43 factories with 258 production lines scattered in and around the southern India city of Bangalore. It had more than 35,000 workers, which was nearly double the number it employed in 1999- 2000, and its total sales had increased at an annual compounded growth rate of 19.67 percent over this period. The company was valued at approximately $215 million and exported nearly 90 percent of its production. However, to maintain its already slim margins in an increasingly competitive environment, Gokaldas needed to become more efficient. Company leaders hoped to improve profits by 10-15 percent without adding resources and Gaurav Hinduja, COO of the sportswear division and a third generation family member, became convinced that Lean would be the best means to make this happen.