P K Shrivastava

P K Shrivastava is an Indian defence-industry professional known for his long-standing service in the Indian Ordnance Factories system and for his leadership as Director General and Chairman of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB). With a career spanning more than three decades, he has contributed to strengthening India’s indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities, modernising production units, and promoting quality management within the ordnance sector. His work is associated with the broader national objectives of enhancing self-reliance in defence production and improving operational efficiency across government-run manufacturing establishments.

Background and Early Career

P K Shrivastava joined the Indian Ordnance Factories Service in 1982, beginning a career deeply embedded in India’s defence industrial infrastructure. Trained as a mechanical engineer, he entered a system responsible for supplying the armed forces with essential equipment, ammunition, and armoured platforms. His engineering background provided a foundation for understanding technical processes, production dynamics, and the complexity of defence manufacturing.
During his early decades of service, Shrivastava worked across several key establishments within the Ordnance Factory network. These assignments enabled him to develop practical experience in manufacturing operations, workforce management, quality assurance, and supply logistics. Such exposure built a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and requirements associated with producing defence equipment for large-scale national use.

Professional Roles Across Ordnance Factories

Throughout his service, Shrivastava held positions in some of the most significant units of the Ordnance Factory network. His postings included Ammunition Factory Khadki, Vehicle Factory Jabalpur, Ordnance Factory Varangaon and Ordnance Factory Khamaria. Each of these factories specialises in distinct product lines, ranging from small arms ammunition and explosives to vehicles, armoured components, and critical defence hardware.
Working in these varied contexts strengthened his command over diverse manufacturing processes, including assembly, precision engineering, metal fabrication, explosives handling, and high-output production systems. These experiences prepared him for leadership roles where oversight of multiple product categories and management of high-complexity operations became essential.
His responsibilities in these factories often included supervising production targets, ensuring adherence to safety norms, coordinating technical upgrades, and implementing efficiency measures. Such roles also required close engagement with research establishments, quality control units, and defence services that relied on the products manufactured within the Ordnance Factory system.

Rise to Senior Leadership Positions

As Shrivastava advanced within the service, he assumed increasingly senior administrative and technical positions. Before being appointed Chairman of the Ordnance Factory Board, he held the post of Additional Director General of Ordnance Factories. In that capacity, he headed the Armoured Vehicles Headquarters located in Avadi, an important centre responsible for producing and maintaining India’s armoured fighting vehicles, including tanks and ancillary systems.
His leadership at the Armoured Vehicles Headquarters required coordination with military users, technical institutions, and procurement authorities. The role involved planning production schedules, introducing upgrades, overseeing supply chains, and ensuring that armoured systems met operational requirements. This position strengthened his reputation as an administrator capable of managing high-value, strategically important defence projects.

Appointment as Director General and Chairman of OFB

On 1 July 2018, P K Shrivastava assumed the role of Director General and Chairman of the Ordnance Factory Board, the apex body administering India’s network of ordnance factories. As Chairman, he was responsible for guiding policy, production planning, strategic expansion, and modernisation across multiple manufacturing units. His appointment came at a time when India was intensifying its focus on defence self-reliance, with increased expectations from the OFB to deliver quality products efficiently and reliably.
His leadership coincided with national efforts to enhance the competitiveness of India’s defence industry. The OFB was expected to play a central role in supporting the armed forces, improving supply chains, strengthening quality control mechanisms, and promoting innovation. Shrivastava’s experience in diverse ordnance factories positioned him well to manage these responsibilities.

Contributions to Defence Manufacturing and Modernisation

During his leadership, Shrivastava worked towards improving the manufacturing efficiency of the Ordnance Factory network. His approach emphasised systematic modernisation, quality control, and the adoption of contemporary industrial practices. His initiatives frequently centred on:

• Upgrading production systems to support higher output and technological improvements.
• Enhancing quality standards, with renewed emphasis on precision engineering, reliability, and performance validation.
• Strengthening infrastructure, including machinery, testing facilities, and digital monitoring systems.
• Promoting indigenous manufacturing, aligning with national policy goals such as “Make in India” for defence.
• Improving coordination with armed forces, ensuring that products met evolving operational needs.

His focus on quality improvement extended to process optimisation and the inculcation of modern management practices within manufacturing units.

Interest in Total Quality Management and Organisational Efficiency

P K Shrivastava authored a book on Total Quality Management (TQM), highlighting his interest in enhancing industrial processes, minimising defects, and instituting systematic improvements across production lines. His advocacy for TQM reflected an understanding that defence manufacturing must combine precision, reliability, and consistency.
The principles of TQM emphasised by Shrivastava include:

• Continuous improvement
• Process-driven efficiency
• Employee involvement in quality enhancement
• Prevention of defects rather than correction
• Systematic monitoring and evaluation

His emphasis on such practices contributed to building a culture of quality consciousness within ordnance factories, particularly important in the defence sector where product reliability is critical.

Impact and Significance

Shrivastava’s work as a leader within India’s defence manufacturing sector holds significance for several reasons. His tenure aligned with a period of transformation in India’s defence industrial policy landscape, marked by:

• The pursuit of self-reliance in defence production
• Increased demand for indigenously manufactured systems
• Broader reforms across public-sector defence enterprises
• Rising expectations for timely supply and enhanced quality

His efforts to strengthen ordnance factories contributed to these national objectives, reinforcing the OFB’s role as a key pillar of India’s defence infrastructure.
His leadership style—shaped by long experience, technical grounding, and organisational insight—was central to navigating the complex demands of defence production. Through his initiatives, Shrivastava supported the modernisation of facilities, encouraged higher productivity, and promoted technological coherence across factories that collectively serve the needs of the Indian armed forces.

Legacy within the Ordnance Factory System

P K Shrivastava is remembered for his administrative clarity, technical competence, and commitment to improving production systems across the Ordnance Factory Board. His career reflects the evolution of India’s defence manufacturing sector from traditional production lines to more structured, quality-oriented, and strategically aligned systems.
His contributions continue to be seen within the framework of ongoing reforms and the continued relevance of Indian defence manufacturing capabilities. As India advances towards greater defence self-reliance and technological upgradation, the systems and approaches he supported remain part of the institutional memory of the ordnance network.