Tata Motors plans to equip over 50 per cent of its overall workforce with new-age auto tech capabilities within five years.
This is part of its strategy to develop skilled and future-ready staff focused on electric vehicles and other emerging technologies in the auto industry.
Partnering organizations
Employing over 57,000 employees across different functions, the company has partnered with organizations such as ARAI, Bosch, Mathworks, SAE, and Tata Technologies to provide its employees with professional certification programmes in connected, electric, shared and safe (CESS).
“A dynamically evolving industry like ours mandates consistent upskilling and training to remain ahead of the curve and future ready,” Tata Motors Vice President HR, Passenger Vehicles and Electric Vehicles, Sitaram Kandi said.
Who is targeted?
It has specially curated training modules to address the developmental needs of all — from shop floor technicians to line engineers, and plant management — to deliver relevant technical and functional skills along with managerial and leadership capabilities.
The company has also co-created bespoke courses in partnership with local universities around its different manufacturing plants.
Partnering institutions
Further, the firm has collaborated with various institutes, including BITS Pilani, MIT-ADT University Pune, Institute of Technology Nirma University, Symbiosis International (Deemed Universities), Ganpat University, DY Patil International University, Oxford Polytechnic, ARKA Jain University and Amity University, for specialised programmes for its workforce.
These programmes provide employees with higher education opportunities, including B Tech, M Tech as well as Executive MBA.
For shop floor technicians
Kandi also said a higher education programme has been designed for shop floor technicians working across plants.
It would enable them to pursue a diploma in engineering with a focus on auto electrical and electronics, mechatronics, and specialised welding skills to help them acquire necessary qualifications for growth.
It would also help them meet the evolving demands of the automotive industry.
Ford India workforce
After acquiring the Ford India facility at Sanand in January, Tata Motors has undertaken a programme to upskill the entirety of its newly acquired workforce of over 820 employees in partnership with Gujarat’s Ganpat University.
These curated learning programmes are focused on future-oriented manufacturing technologies, including Industry 4.0, smart manufacturing, advanced control engineering, and advanced manufacturing systems and processes.
Gender equity
The company is also promoting diversity and inclusion in manufacturing.
At present it employs over 4,500 women working on the shopfloor across all plants, exercising a range of functional capabilities.
“Collaborating with tech partners and academic institutions, tailor-made training programmes, a nationwide ‘learn & earn’ apprenticeship programme and a sharp focus on diversity and inclusion, is enabling us to develop and nurture a capable, future-ready workforce,” Kandi said.
Tata Motors was doing this not just for itself and its channel partners but also for the Indian auto industry at large, he added.
