Q&A
The
Driving Global Growth Through Innovation and
Local Excellence
Q. Can you share your profes-
sional journey and how it has
prepared you to support Gra-
ham India
with
a
global
outlook?
My career has been a journey of
growth through technical design,
customer engagement, and global
leadership each stage building
on the last and shaping how I
approach
supporting Graham
India today.
I began with a strong technical
foundation in mechanical engi-
neering, focusing on heat transfer
and
finite
element
analysis.
In those early years, I designed
steam ejector vacuum systems
and analyzed complex pressure
vessel weldments. That work
instilled in me a respect for preci-
sion, problem-solving, and the
importance of getting the details
right.
After five years, I was ready to
connect that technical expertise
more directly with customers, so I
moved into sales engineering sup-
porting Graham’s heat transfer
products. Here, I learned the value
of listening closely to customer
needs and translating complex
designs into solutions that deliv-
ered real business outcomes. As I
transitioned into sales engineering
management, I took on broader
responsibility, overseeing manu-
facturing sales representatives and
traveling internationally to Korea,
China,
Japan, Germany,
and
Spain to support contract negotia-
tions. Those experiences taught
me how to navigate cultural
differences, build trust in unfamil-
iar markets, and develop a global
perspective on business.
In 2007, I stepped into operations
as our Vice President of Opera-
tions. This was a turning point, as
it gave me insight into the execu-
tion side of our business the daily
discipline required to delive-
high-quality products on time. It
also reinforced the connection be-
tween what happens inside our
walls and the promises we make to
customers. Even in this role, I
continued to travel abroad, partic-
ipating in negotiations and engag-
ing directly with customers to
ensure their voices were heard.
Five years later, I was promoted to
General Manager, where I became
responsible for all of our opertions
across the United States, China,
and
eventually
India. Leading
globally diverse teams brought
new challenges, from aligning
processes across different regions
to maintaining consistent stan-
dards of excellence while respect-
ing local practices. It was here that
I truly saw the importance of
balancing a unified vision with an
appreciation
for
regional
strengths.
Q. In what ways has India’s
growing engineering and indus-
trial
ecosystem
supported
Graham’s international
com-
mitments?
India’s expanding engineering and
manufacturing ecosystem aligns
with Graham’s
global
goals.
Government initiatives like Make
in India and PLI, combined with
strong infrastructure, have made
India a competitive manufacturing
hub. The country produces around
1.5 million engineers annually,
many skilled in automation, IoT,
and AI, providing high-value
talent for design, R&D, and
process engineering.
Local operations via Graham
India Pvt. Ltd. in Ahmedabad
enable faster customer
response
in Asia and the Middle East, while
robust supplier networks and ef-
ficient logistics support rapid -
scaling for export orders. Togeth-
er, talent, policy support, supply
chains, and local market presence
strengthen Graham’s ability to
meet international commitments
with cost-effective, innovative
“Made in India” solutions.
Q. Could you highlight some of
the technologica or process im-
provements introduced re-
cently in your manufacturing
opertions?
Our
manufacturing
operations
areevolving with continuous tech-
Mr. Alan Smith
Vice President General Manager
Graham Engineering Answers
20 | September 2025 | www.industrialoutlook.in