Organizational Structure:

Though the Ordnance Factories are departmentally run units of the Government, a Board form of management was introduced at the apex level in 1979. This is headed by the Director General Ordnance Factories (DGOF) as its Chairman and has nine (9) members of the rank of Additional DGOF, each in charge of a division. Out of these nine divisions, five are operating divisions and four Staff divisions viz.,

Operating divisions:

(1) Ammunition & Explosives

(2) Weapons, Vehicles and Equipment

(3) Materials and Components

(4) Armoured Vehicles and

(5) Ordnance Equipment

Staff divisions:

(1) Planning & Materials Management and Technical Services

(2) Project Engineering Design Bureau

(3) Personnel and

(4) Finance

Each of the operating division has a group of Factories under its direct control. At the unit level, Ordnance Factories are headed by either a Senior General Manager or a General Manager, depending on their size and value of production eight large factories are headed by Senior General Managers and the medium and small Factories by General Managers.

Manpower Profile:

(a) IOFS:

All the management posts in the OF Organization are manned by the personnel belonging to the Indian Ordnance Factories Service (IOFS), an organized Group

'A' Central Service.

(b) IOFHS:

The Medical Officers giving medical coverage to the employees of Ordnance Factories and Allied Establishments are organized into Indian Ordnance Factory Health Service (IOFHS), a Group ‘A' Service. The IOFHS, having a cadre strength of 275, is a composite cadre of General Duty Medical Officers (GDMOs) and Specialists. GDMOs are recruited on the basis of the Combined Medical Services Examination conducted by the UPSC, which is common to the Central Health Service (CHS) and Indian Railway Health Service, etc. The Specialist Medical Officers are recruited through interview by UPSC, in the same manner as is done for the CHS.

(c) Supervisory Staff:

There are about 18,800 Group ‘B' and 'C' supervisory staff belonging to the technical, non-technical and stores stream, who form the vital link between the management and the industrial workers, and the non-industrial staff.

(d) Industrial Employees:

There are about 1.21 lakh industrial employees who constitute the main body of work-force in the Ordnance Factories. Industrial employees are distributed in the standard six grades of Master Craftsman, Highly Skilled Grade I, Highly Skilled Grade II, Skilled, Semi-skilled and Unskilled. 70% of the industrial employees are engaged directly in production activities and remaining is deployed on maintenance, material handling and inspection activities.

Classification of employees

Existing classification of civil posts under the Union is as follows:

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

Prime objectives of in-house R&D Activities in the area of Ordnance and Ammunition

n      To indigenously develop latest technology for product range of the factory.

n      To continually improve the manufacturing process for enhanced customer satisfaction.

n      To create new market and improve the existing market share.

155mm 45 calibre upgunning kit MK-III

n      Objective:

§         To upgrade the 130mm M-46 gun at minimum cost with NATO standard 155mm/45 calibre gun.

n      Status:

–        Development of 130/155mm45 calibre barrel with vaned slot muzzle  brake completed.

–        First phase of technical cum user trial revealed satisfactory performance of ordnance. Certain modifications recommended by trial team for castor wheels and jacks.

–        Modifications completed and user trial requested for resumption with ahq

–        Installation of inertial navigation based fire control system planned.

Development of vaned slot muzzle brake

n      Objective: to develop a futuristic design of muzzle brake suitable for towed and self propelled howitzer

n      Salient features:

–        Continuous guidance to the projectile leading to increase in muzzle velocity

–        High efficiency ,low blast and flash signatures.

–        Rapid discharge of burnt propellant gases to reduce the exposure of crew to fumes during opening of breech after firing of a round.

–        Low aerodnamic jump improves the accuracy of the gun

n      Status:

–        Vaned slot muzzle brake integrated to 155mm/45 calibre bofors upgradation barrel is under trial.

Upgradation of 155mm/39 calibre bofors fh77b to 155mm/45 calibre

n      Objective:

            To upgrade BOFORS FH77B by mounting 155mm45 calibre barrel with vaned slot muzzle brake at minimum cost and with futuristic technology.

n      Salient features:

–        Increased range to 40km from 29km.

–        No upgradation of recoil system and gun super structure required.

–        Upgradation of fire control system with  inertial navigation system based fire control system for autonomous gun capability.

n      Status:

–        155mm/45 calibre BOFORS upgradation equipment is under trial.

Development of 125mm T-72 auto-frettage  barrel 2A46 maple

n      Objective:

            To develop a robust design of 125mm t-72 barrel with a capability to fire 250 FSAPDS leading to 100% operational economy over Russian design.

n      Salient features:

–        Capability to fire 250 numbers of fsadps

–        Very high fatigue life (1700 efc) for safety aginst catastrophic failure.

–        Robust design meeting safety codes of american society of mechanical engineers(asme)

–        Maximum safe pressures higher than russian design

Status:

–        Successfully proved after design clearance of DGQA and ARDE

–        Sent to IMI Israel for development of new design of FSAPDS

Indigenisation of 125mm t-90 ordnance

n      Objective:

            To indigenise the  ordnance production of T-90.

Status:

–        Ordnance components  are under advanced stages of machining

Development of Shell 130mm CARGO IMI Design.

STATUS :

50 nos. of machined shells after heat treatment at IMI Isreal were successfully fired at PXE Balasore & Pokhran. Further 100 Nos shells welded and heat treated in Ordnance Factory, successfully fired at PXE Balasore in Sept’05, Pokhran trials awaited.

Development of Shell 155mm CARGO IMI Design.

STATUS :

50 Nos. of shells produced as per IMI design. Proof trial done successfully at PXE Balasore & Pokhran.

Manufacture of T-90 Barrel

1 No. indigenous T-90 barrel is under assembly with OEM breech mechanism. It is proposed to subject this barrel to life cycle test (250 rounds) for ascertaining the suitability of indigenous steel. The article 2A46M will be offered for life cycle test at   PXE Balasore by end of July 2006. Further 2 Nos of T-90 ordnance will be produced with GOST specification steel during 2006-07.

125MM MAPLE Barrel ((MATERIAL ADDED AUTOFRETTAGE PROCESS LEADING TO ELASTIC RELEASE)

This barrel is offered as alternative to 125mm SB T-72 barrel. Combining the benefits of auto-frettaged and shrink fit designs, it offers various advantages over OEM T-72 barrel.

These include higher maximum safe pressure (800 MPA as compared to 670 MPA in
T-72 barrel),  higher fatigue life of barrel (1700 EFC as compared to 250 EFC for T-72 barrel).

 It is planned to manufacture and supply 2 Nos. of these barrels by Sept 2006 for trial and evaluation.

STATUS :

2 barrels successfully proven and issued to imi israel for fsapds propellant development. 2 more barrels are expected to be ready by sept 2006 for user trial at ACCC&S Ahmednagar.

130/155MM 45 Calibre Metamorphosis

This is a lowest cost upgrade of 130mm M46 field gun to 155mm 45 calibre.

CONFIGURATION :

•         155mm 45 cal barrel conforming to NATO standards with vaned slot muzzle brake

•         Stub cartridge case obturation.

•         Pneumatic ramming

•         Upgradation of jacks to castor wheels.

STATUS :

After successful proof in 2002, the equipment was a successful debuetante at idex Abu Dhabi in 2003. The equipment was admitted for technical cum user trial in which the performance of ordnance with vaned slot muzzle brake was found to be satisfactory and the equipment after suggested improvements is ready for further trials.

130/155MM SOLTAM

The prototype barrel has been machined up to finish turning stage. Further production will be planned after receipt of Mechanical Autofrettage Plant and 70 sets of Major Forgings from the OEM.

155MM/ 45 Cal Upgradation

OFC has designed and developed 155mm 45 Calibre ordnance and this is presently under DGQA proof trials. The proof trials are scheduled to be held at PXE Balasore from 20th June 2006 to 30th June 2006.

CONTINUOUS MODERNISATION

                  Rule Making Power

Article 309 of the Constitution of India provides: “Recruitment and conditions of persons serving the Union or a State-

Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, Acts of appropriate Legislature may regulate the recruitment, and conditions of service of persons appointed to public services and posts in connection with the Union or of any State. Provided that it shall be competent for the President or such person as he may direct in the case of services and posts in connection with the affairs of the Union, and for the Governor of State or such person as he may direct in the case of services and posts in connection with the affairs of the State, to make rules regulating recruitment and conditions of service of persons appointed, to such services and posts until provision in that behalf is made by or under an Act of the appropriate Legislature under this Article and any rules so made shall have the effect subject to the provisions of any such Act.”

The first part of Article 309 reiterates the power of Parliament and legislature of a State to make laws relating to the services even in respect of recruitment and conditions of service, which is included within its legislative power under Article 246.

Under proviso to Article 309 it is provided that the recruitment and conditions of service could be regulated by the rules framed by the President or the Governor, as the case may be, subject to the Acts of appropriate legislature.

Rules made by the Legislature:

The main power to make rules regulating recruitment and conditions of service is conferred by Article 309 on the Legislatures. The power can be exercised only by enacting Acts. Parliament can do so in respect of persons appointed to the public services and posts in connection with the Union and State Legislatures can do so in respect of persons appointed to the public services and posts in connection with the States. A rule (Act) enacted by the Legislature will override a rule made under proviso to Article 309 by the President or the Governor of a State or one made in exercise of executive power.

Rules made under proviso to Art. 309 by the President or the Governor:

A rule under proviso to Article 309 can only be made when there is no such rule (Act) made by the Legislature. A rule under proviso can be made by-

(a) The President if India, or

(b) a delegate of the President in respect of services and posts in connection with the Union.

(c) The Governor of State, or

(d) a delegate of the Governor in respect of services and posts in connection with the State.

A statutory rule made under the proviso is subject to two limitations-

(a) it must not contravene any of the provisions of the Constitution, and

(b) it must not be inconsistent with any rule (Act) made by the Legislature under the main part of Article 309.

The power conferred upon the President and the Governor by the proviso to Art. 309 is a legislative power and is not a part of the executive power of the Union/State.

Administrative Instructions or Executive orders:

If the statutory rules framed by the President or the Governor or any law enacted by Parliament or the State Legislature is silent on any point, the Government can fill the gap by issuing administrative instructions not inconsistent with the statutory provisions  already framed or enacted. Administrative instructions cannot override the provisions of the Act or rules made under Art. 309. Once the field is occupied either by legislations or by statutory rules it is not competent for the executive to act contrary to or ignoring the statutory provisions. Though statutory rules made under Art. 309 can be retrospective in operation, administrative instructions issued under the executive power cannot be

retrospective in operation.

Publication of Rules:

Rules made by the Acts of Legislatures are usually published in Official Gazette; but their publication is not necessary for bringing them into force. Rules made under proviso and Administrative instructions or executive orders must be published in some form so that the person affected by them get knowledge of them.

Statutory Regulatory Orders (SROs)

The SROs in relation to recruitment for O.F. Employees are usually made by the President in exercise of power conferred by the proviso to Art. 309. The following details are generally indicated in the schedule to the SRO.

(a) Name of Post

(b) No. of Posts

(c) Classification of post

(d) Scale of pay of the post

(e) Whether selection or non-selection post

(f) Age limit for direct recruits

(g) Educational and other qualifications required for direct recruits

(h) Whether conditions at (f) and (g) will apply to promotees

(i) Period of probation, if any.

(j) Method of recruitment & percentage of vacancies to be filled by various methods

(k) Feeder grade(s) for promotion/deputation or transfer etc.

(l) If a Departmental Promotion Committee exists, what is its composition, etc.