Mercedes-Benz India trains Brazilian plant workforce

As is known, Mercedes-Benz inaugurated its all-new passenger car plant in Brazil last week. Interestingly, Mercedes-Benz India has played a key role in the training and production process familiarisation for the Brazilian workforce, in its production facility in Chakan, Pune. The training was conducted in September and November 2015.

In terms of training for the Brazilian workforce, employees were sent to other Mercedes-Benz plants where they were able to familiarise themselves with the production processes and further integrate the new location into the international plant network through personal relations. One of the leading locations here was the sister plant in Pune, India, which likewise produces the C-Class.

Roland Folger, managing director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, said, “It’s a matter of immense pride for us that Mercedes-Benz India was chosen to train the Brazilian colleagues and familiarise them with the production process, towards setting up the new assembly plant in Iracemápolis. India is a forerunner amongst Mercedes-Benz’s assembly plants globally, and in the past we have already supported the plant in Vietnam in the global network. Both the teams gained in creating trust, a bond of friendship beyond cultures and continents, and being an ideal example demonstrating the strength of collaborative working. Our contribution in training the Brazilian colleagues also strongly underscores our prowess and rich experience in local production of luxury cars, which we have pioneered 20 years back in India.”

Piyush Arora, executive director, Operations, Mercedes-Benz India, said: “The training for the Brazilian workforce was targeted to build a competent team required to smoothly start-up and run the production process in Brazil. We trained our Brazilian colleagues on how to build a product in the right sequence, with the right tools, in the right time. It was a highly enriching experience for both the teams and it endows the trust, ability and competence level of the local team seen as a benchmark plant in Mercedes-Benz’s Production Network.”

Arora added, “The intercultural experience for both teams has been immense and heartening. This is yet another instance of Mercedes-Benz’s leadership in local manufacturing, the core of which comprises our highly skilled staff members and operators in Chakan, Pune, who ensures our production quality conforms to the most stringent global standards, and creates new benchmark in manufacturing for the luxury car industry in India”

Mercedes-Benz India’s training focused on creating customised programs which emphasised on product quality, production processes and production systems with a clear focus on shopfloor leadership and ownership, without losing sight on the safety aspects. The training module being imparted, familiarised the Brazilian colleagues about the Mercedes-Benz Production system and its core philosophy of ‘Doing it right the first time’, which is being followed at every Mercedes-Benz plant around the world. The training module developed by Mercedes-Benz India, also detailed the different processes and systems involved in manufacturing the vehicle, including all aspects of vehicle manufacturing comprising quality, body shop, paint shop, assembly, logistics and planning.

The Brazil Production and Planning team have been interacting with the Indian counterparts to share experiences for the execution of their facility and smooth start-up. As integral part of the training programme, the multiplier training for the Brazilian team took place at the Chakan plant in September and November 2015. The team from Brazil received a head start with the training and understanding of the intricacies of different processes. The training imparted at Mercedes-Benz India enabled creating a competent workforce to start a new product on a new line. Some employees also spent several weeks training at the Mercedes-Benz Bremen plant (Germany), the lead plant for the C-Class, and at the Kecskemét plant (Hungary), which produces compact models.