Maruti Suzuki’s Japan-India Institute for Manufacturing (JIM) at Ganpat University in Mehsana, Gujarat has begun its second batch comprising 362 students. This comes on the back of a successful 100 percent placement for its first batch.

JIM is set up and managed by Maruti Suzuki India at Ganpat University. It is a part of a joint initiative between the government of Japan and government of India to create a pool of 30,000 skilled manpower for the manufacturing industry in India.

Welcoming the second batch, A K Tomer, executive director, corporate planning, Maruti Suzuki India, said, ”The growing skill gap is a crucial challenge faced by young India. Our aim at JIM is to reduce this gap and empower students with skills relevant to the automobile industry requirement. Besides the core technical skills, JIM grooms students in Japanese manufacturing practices and processes that are important to succeed at the workplace. Also, the mini-vehicle assembly line, well-equipped workshops give them an experience of working on a real shopfloor.”

Set up as a model ITI, JIM, Mehsana offers courses in eight trades related to automobile manufacturing, maintenance and services.

The courses include mechanic motor vehicle, mechanic auto body painting, mechanic auto body repair, welder, fitter, electrician, mechanic diesel engine and driver-cum-mechanic. JIM, Mehsana is equipped with modern classrooms and with the latest training tools and equipment.

The practical training workshop has been developed to mirror a real shopfloor assembly line. The institute claims that it is the only one of its kind in the country. Some other features of the institute include safety lab, virtual welding simulators and spot welding guns. This familiarises the students with all the tools they need to work with when on an actual industry shopfloor.

In addition to 38 hours of training meted out towards the National Council of Vocational Training- (NCVT) certified curriculum, JIM dedicates 10 hours/week to train students in Japanese shopfloor practices, soft skills, interview skills, English language and safety.

The Association for Overseas Technical Cooperation and Sustainable Partnerships (AOTS), Japan, along with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Japan have developed the soft skills curriculum for JIM.

Also read: Japan-India Institute for Manufacturing certifies first batch of 254 students

Maruti Suzuki staffers win laurels at India Skills Competition