BRANDED CONTENT: NPL's CSR initiative helps 2W mechanics update their skills

With the evolving trends in the automotive industry, technology has become an important factor to ensure that latest knowledge is given and made accessible. While Automotive OEMs do cater to the knowledge transfer to their connected service force, they miss out on the retail mechanics/technicians who frequently do not have access to latest technology.

The Nandan Group as a well-known leader in the automotive industry since 1992 has always strived to ensure that OEMs can manage their connected services and that the bottom line is not affected.

Continuing with this though process, Nandan Petrochem initiated a skill development program for its mechanics in the 2-wheeler segment. With BS6 Emission norms coming into force and OEMs incorporating the latest technology, NPL is striving to pass on the technological benefit in learnings to the retail mechanics.

During the pandemic period (the first and second waves) many mechanics lost their jobs due to closure of 2 wheeler garages and vehicle servicing centers. These were tough times as the mechanics had limited skills and capability with regard to handling the end-to-end operation of workshops and vehicle servicing centers.

Keeping the above in mind and to enhance their chance of earning a livelihood, Nandan Petrochem Limited opted for a unique initiative of helping the mechanics with technical and business training programmes so that they were equipped to manage and operate their own 2-Wheeler garages and vehicle servicing centers.

This programme was also aimed to help those entering into this field by enabling them to acquire comprehensive and updated technical and business training to establish themselves as successful entrepreneurs.

• Challenge: Due to the surge in covid cases, passing the advantage of the technological advancement with the person being present physically was not appropriate.
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• Solution: To overcome the above challenge and ensure the mechanics are taken care of within these tough times too, NPL undertook the process of training through online mediums. 2 Mobile devices were procured and provided in order to provide training to the mechanics through an online medium.  While understanding the limited literacy skills, NPL as an organization through its brand VELVEX ensured that it was able to provide the training in the best possible way and to deliver on its promise.

• Geography:  The training was enabled in regions such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab and Uttarakhand.

• Criteria:  2 Wheeler garages mechanics associated with VELVEX

• Development Partner: Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC)

• Concept of the Skill Development training: The VELVEX On-ground Sales team was the face of this programme for the mechanics who signed up, followed by the marketing team.

Benefiting the mechanic
Mera Ustaad, Mera Brand Ambassador is a small sentence with a big meaning.  It is the mechanic who represents the brand VELVEX and the organization NPL and its time to give back with endurance.

Concept of the Skill Development training:

• Training was given through online mediums in four batches comprising of 50 mechanics each.

• Mechanics did undertake the training followed by a test at the end of the training in order to get certified.

• NPL as a responsible organization will also help in increasing the business revenue and promoting the stores through different marketing initiatives.

The feature was first published in Autocar Professional's  April 15, 2022 issue.