Global Entrepreneurs’ Organization inspires Durban entrepreneur Shilpa Mehta

Being an entrepreneur can be both challenging and lonely and the support of others, especially during the tough economic times that are pressuring many South African businesses can be invaluable, according to Shilpa Mehta, co-owner of Electronics company Production Logix and a member of the global non-profit group known as the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO).

Mehta joined EO Durban in February 2017 and says her eight-member forum that meets monthly has proved an invaluable sounding board.

“Surrounding myself with amazing entrepreneurs has definitely added value. In my experience, EO stops you from settling into a comfort zone and propels you to move forward. Being exposed to such dynamic people counteracts any negative mind set that you might have. You realise that you can turn a negative situation into a positive one and cope with tough challenges,” she says.

Mehta, who is a chartered accountant and part of one of KZN’s most successful entrepreneurial families, says that EO membership has taken her professional training and work experience to a whole new level.

In 2016, Shilpa and her industrial engineer brother, Ushir, purchased Production Logix that assembles the printed circuit (PC) boards which drive almost every electronic device used today.

The company, which is based in Westmead Durban, has 110 permanent staff and five assembly lines. It provides full turnkey solutions for an extremely diverse client base that includes manufacturers of military equipment and car tracking devices, electricity and water meters. A recent contract awarded via VW South Africa’s Ntinga Supplier Development Project has opened the way for the company to enter the automotive sector.

Mehta says competitive pricing, quick turnaround times, a quality product and working closely with clients to accommodate urgent orders and minimise down times are priorities.

Although Production Logix currently has a largely KZN client base, they plan to open a Gauteng office and to expand into the broader African market.

As a result, there has been significant investment in state-of-the-art technology and training to create a skilled workforce that will allow the company to be a world class manufacture.

During its first two years with the Mehta’s at the helm, Production Logix grew by  20% thanks to improved efficiencies. Mehta says that future growth will hinge on this strong foundation with additional large contracts and increased shifts expected to create additional jobs in the near future.