In this interview with Katie Rose, Sneha Vyawahare describes her journey to becoming a KNX product developer for the first company in India to produce KNX-certified products.
KNXtoday: Briefly, what is your background/biography?
SV: After completing a Bachelors Degree in Electronics and Communications (2013) and a Masters in Signal Processing, (2015) I undertook a three-month internship at the manufacturer John Deere before starting work at industrial automation company Messung Systems.
For the first six months, I worked as a trainee engineer in the building automation department, specialising in the application domain. At the time, Messung was exploring routes into the home automation industry and decided to go with KNX as it was a novel, upcoming and evolving technology. Part of our building automation team undertook KNX training and gained an understanding of KNX products. When Messung established a home automation department, I became a junior application engineer and gained a thorough knowledge of KNX whilst completing a few projects.
A couple of years later, I joined the industrial automation department to understand Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and worked on application projects. From there, I moved into the research & development department to develop KNX products for home, hotel and office applications.
KNXtoday: What has your experience been as a woman working in engineering?
SV: Messung offered me equal and excellent opportunities to learn technologies including KNX, PLCs and building automation through site visits and travelling abroad. I am grateful for the opportunity to create, lead and expand the research and development of home automation and enjoy mentoring our hardworking, enthusiastic and knowledgeable team.
KNXtoday: Founded in 1981, Messung is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the launch of the first indigenous Programmable Logic Controller (1984). What’s next for your ‘Made in India’ initiaive?
SV: Starting with home automation, Messung is hard at work across all departments, with a full range of products in development for the next five years.
As the first company in India to have KNX-certified products, we want to continue promoting KNX as an excellent protocol in home automation. We are primarily focused on designing, developing and manufacturing products using the KNX protocol due to KNX’s flexibility and adaptivity in integrating and accommodating technologies such as Wi-Fi, Zigbee, Bluetooth, IP, Wireless, KNX Secure, DALI and Modbus. We plan to become an accredited KNX Test Lab and training centre to support up-and-coming KNX companies in India.
Messung is also constantly evolving and developing innovations in industrial automation, building automation and workplace technology.
KNXtoday: What do you feel are the challenges and opportunities facing women working in engineering in India?
SV: Since independence, India has made great progress and women now have equal opportunities in every field, particularly in the major metropolitan cities. However, in Tier 2 cities, some women still lack access to education and career development due to their financial status or family problems. I feel that free education should be available to help women increase their opportunities.
KNXtoday: Messung is committed to giving back to society and supports Gyaan Adab, a literary and cultural center whose outreach project, Gyaan Ruchi, uses literature and learning to empower marginalised women. We’d love to hear a little more about the project and its impact.
SV: Registered in 2014, the charitable trust Gyaan Adab aims to create a platform for aspiring artists and creative individuals with unique skills in art, literature, music and culture. Gyaan Ruchi, an offshoot of Gyaan Adab, provides training for women who have fewer opportunities, including those who have been married early or have been unable to work due to family responsibilities. Offering free personal development and professional training courses, the project helps women build their confidence, find a sense of purpose and develop skills to find employment and income.
For example, Milan Mulani fulfilled her dreams of becoming a teacher after taking an online English language course and is now working in a Montessori School in Pune. She also won a baking competition. Mrs Swapnali Kadam is also now working as a teacher, having completed English language and teacher training with Gyaan Ruchi.
Messung also runs another charitable trust, Nityaasha, which supports underprivileged children with Type-1 diabetes.
KNXtoday: What changes would you like to see in the engineering industry and/or in the KNX world to support the advancement of women?
SV: Home automation concepts and related protocols should be introduced in the curriculum at engineering colleges and be more easily accessible to young engineers keen to explore diverse technologies beyond computer science and IT.
Sneha Vyawahare is Manager of Design and Technology at Messung Systems, a 43-year-old company based in India, designing, developing and manufacturing products in the fields of home automation, industrial automation, building automation and workplace technology
