Page 49 - KZN Top Business Women - eBook 2023

We need to have tenacity to keep going back, to have a thick skin and not be sensitive

and not take things too personally but really just push for what we believe in.

Shilpa added, “I think with every challenge there comes Her father, Bharat Mehta, is her role model and her
Owner Production Logix
an opportunity, where you can improve and become advisor. “I’ve always admired his business acumen and
hilpa Mehta owns and operates Production more efficient. We now see a vast improvement in our intelligence, as well as his keen attention to detail. He is
Logix, which is an electronics manufacturing service levels, efficiency as well as communication, someone who admirably has always remained curious
S services provider specialising in surface mount which has increased our levels of confidence as well as about the world and is motivated by continuous growth
technology (SMT) through hole technology, box assembly our customers.” and improvement – he never becomes complacent and
and harnessing. The company offers prototyping, repairs Production Logix has expanded their footprint to is always planning the next step.”
and modifications and supplies a variety of industries operate in different market sectors and have created Shilpa’s mother, she says, has shown her what it is to be
such as aerospace, military, mining, telematics, and IoT. strong relationships with their customer base. They a good, strong wife and mother. “She fostered a warm,
On the personal side, Shilpa is married to a wonderful man, now supply the aerospace, military, and defence sector supportive, and safe space for us at home, which provided
and they enjoy a social, active and healthy lifestyle. within South Africa, which are difficult to get into the ideal counterbalance to my father’s business-
because of their stringent supplier requirements. In mindedness. When life ever knocked us down or offered
Shilpa’s business journey evolved from its beginnings as
an article clerk, then to banking and structured finance. the future, Shilpa’s goal is to extend their footprint to us blows, she’s been that cushion that softened us and
After her time in banking, Shilpa moved to the UHC Group, a global customer base. They have a vision of being a then encouraged us to get back on track and told us to
which was involved in various forms of printing. “I gained proudly South African world class manufacturing facility be brave and move forward.”
immense experience in the manufacturing industry, which in the heart of KZN.
Advice to women
deals with a variety of customers, internal sales, pricing, Shilpa says that being a woman who has had the
costing, and supply chain logistics,” she said. opportunity to break into the electronics sector is an The world in general is a tough place said Shilpa. “If
From there, Shilpa moved to Production Logix, which achievement. “It’s very much a male-dominated space and I could give one piece of advice it would be to back
she bought in part ownership in 2016. I have found a way to navigate through this and make my yourself and don’t take no for an answer. I think as
mark. The electronics industry is very different to where I women, we are dismissed quite often. We need to have
Shilpa commented that she had developed sound business started out, but I have come to realise that any industry tenacity to keep going back, to have a thick skin and
principles and practice as well as had common sense and requires good principles, trust, and sound logic, which I not be sensitive and not take things too personally but
core values. Consequently, she knew that she would be bring to the table and very much uphold.”
able to take that leap from printing into electronics. really just push for what we believe in. I’ve been told no
“You start off every year with the plan of what you wish to numerous times and I’ve kept knocking on doors and
Barriers to entry achieve, and we have passion for what we do. We want to eventually the opportunity arose.
be the best, so I think that’s something that motivates us The other piece of advice is to not rely on anyone to
As does any business in South Africa, Shilpa has
experienced her fair share of challenges in making her daily,” added Shilpa. rescue you. When you learn to rescue yourself, you
business a success. Outside of Production Logix, Shilpa is proud to have become more confident and develop self-belief that
joined the Entrepreneurs’ Organisation where she served makes you unstoppable.
Post Covid their company was hit with a global supply
chain crisis in electronic chips and components which on the board in a marketing communications role and in In her free time, Shilpa enjoys spending time with her
were manufactured overseas, in very specialised facilities. the membership role. In 2020, Shilpa became first female friends over a good meal. Other than that, she loves
Consequently, one of the critical areas she had to focus on chapter president for Durban. They managed to grow the a good run on the Durban promenade with a coffee
was their supply chain management and the uplifting and chapter from a small to medium organisation to a medium afterwards and enjoys hitting the gym. She has recently
upskilling of their team and working with the supply chain to large organisation during the pandemic as well as started playing padel.
in much greater detail than before. support many owner-managed business in the province. Commenting on the KZN Top Business initiative,
Looking back a few years on, Shilpa says that they are Inspirational parents Shilpa says that it’s been an honour to participate
now are a stronger business; their planning productivity and to tell her story to inspire other women as well
and their efficiency has much improved which has Her parents, says Shilpa are the people who have inspired as show them that there is a different path to be
helped attract new customers. her the most in the world to do good and to be better. followed.

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