Toyota Kirloskar Motor To Support 'Manufacturing Skill Transfer Promotion Programme'

In accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Government of Japan (METI) and Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India (MSDE) for a “Manufacturing Skill Transfer Promotion Programme”, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has announced its support towards the human resource development in the manufacturing sector in India. 

The MoU has been designed to enhance the manufacturing skills and practices through the establishment of the Japan-India Institute for Manufacturing (JIM) and the Japanese Endowed Courses (JEC) in engineering colleges designated by Japanese companies. These will be carried in cooperation between the public and private sectors in India. The first three institutes are expected to start in summer of 2017 in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Karnataka.

Bringing Japanese shop floor practices to use in India is not new for the Japanese automaker. In 2007, TKM established the Toyota Technical Training Institute (TTTI) in Karnataka which, apart from offering courses in automobile welding, automobile assembly, automobile painting and plant maintenance, also emphasizes on the overall development of trainees to suit industry requirements.

Commenting on this partnership between India and Japan, Vikram Kirloskar, vice-chairman, TKM, said, “We are honoured to have been given the opportunity to be a part of this collaboration between Japan and India to enhance Skill Development in our country. As the world’s leading automobile manufacturer, Toyota always has undertaken global actions to promote human resources development.”

He further added, “We hope with the ‘Manufacturing Skill Transfer Promotion Programme’, more and more skilled talents in India will be able to get a global exposure. This will prove to be a great initiative for knowledge sharing between the training institutes of both the nations."

India’s leading carmakers have embarked on the journey to make India a manufacturing superpower of the future. The top two car companies – Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL) and Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL) – recently announced initiatives to nurture local talent by introducing latest technologies and modern manufacturing techniques. While MSIL will also invest in the upcoming Japan-India Institute for Manufacturing in Mehsana in Gujarat, HMIL has joined hands with Chandigarh Polytechnic College to collaboratively run the Hyundai Professional Development Center which is based in Mohali, Punjab.