School of Management Hosts Leadership Talk Series on Dabbawala Excellence at SACAS

The School of Management of S. A. College of Arts & Science organised the Leadership Talk Series titled “Dabbawala: On-Time Every Time” on 15 December 2025 at the SACAS Theatre. The session featured a distinguished expert lecture by Mr. Sunil Gavande, Director & CEO, Dabbawal Enterprise Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, along with Mr. Sanjay Khumbar, Spokesperson of the Mumbai Dabbawala Association.

Mr. Gavande highlighted the unparalleled efficiency of the Mumbai Dabbawalas, focusing on their exceptional supply chain and logistics management. He explained the operational excellence, organisational culture, and unique management principles that enable the delivery of nearly 200,000 home-cooked lunchboxes every day with an error rate comparable to the prestigious Six Sigma standard. Mr. Sanjay Khumbar shared valuable insights into the communication system, coordination mechanisms, and collective responsibility that sustain the Dabbawala network.

A video presentation on the functioning of the Dabbawala system vividly illustrated their core values of discipline, trust, and teamwork. The lecture presented a compelling case study of a century-old, low-tech model that continues to serve as a global benchmark for precision, reliability, and employee engagement. The interactive session witnessed enthusiastic participation from students, making it both insightful and inspiring.