In what is a vote for worker skills at Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), three of its personnel have laurels including the third and sixth ranks at the internationally renowned 44^th World Skill Competition held at Abu Dhabi from October 15-18.

Popularly known as the ‘Skill Olympics’, the event is one of the most prestigious forums recognising excellence in vocational education and skills.  All three contestants who represented TKM have graduated from the Toyota Technical Training Institute in Karnataka. While Kiran bagged the bronze medal in Prototype Modelling Skills, H Varun and T A Anand Kumar were ranked sixth amongst 39 participants from across the globe in the Mechatronics Skills category.

This year, the competition saw participation from more than 1,300 competitors from 59 countries in 51 skill categories. India took part in 26 categories winning two medals (silver in patisseries and bronze in prototype) and nine medallions of excellence in the respective categories. The team which comprised 28 talented youngsters displayed the best ever performance by India since the country began to take part in the competition in 2007. The participants were selected through a nationwide screening process under the guidance of the National Skill Development Council (NSDC).

Global connect
Initiated in 1950, the World Skills Competition is the global hub for skills excellence and development through international cooperation and development between industry, government, organisations and institutions. The competitors are all under the age of 22 years (except for four skills that have the age limit of 25).  It is considered to be the global meeting place for government, education, industry and association leaders to discuss relevant and important issues related to skills management.

Commenting on the performance of TKM staffers, Sailesh Shetty, vice-president (HR) Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said, “We at Toyota are honored that contestants who have been trained at TTTI are making the nation proud at an international platform. The young dynamic talents from rural Karnataka have time and again made their mark at the World Skill Contest under the rigorous training from TTTI.  Toyota’s skill development initiatives are aimed at contributing to the Skill India mission by bridging the gap between India’s rapidly growing industrial sector and availability of highly skilled workforce to match up with ever-changing auto industry. We further look forward to contributing to India by passing our global manufacturing skills to budding talents across the nation”

Making skilling a mission
As a part of its commitment towards developing a world-class skilled workforce for the emerging Indian auto Industry, Toyota in 2007 established the Toyota Technical Training Institute (TTTI) which offers a three-year rigorous full-time training in Automobile Assembly, Automobile Paint, Automobile Weld and Mechatronics (a combination of mechanical and industrial electronics) to financially challenged students hailing from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families from across Karnataka. This institute exclusively emphasises on overall development of the trainees as per industry requirements and contributing young multi-skilled, energetic, ideal students to the nation.

In August 2016, sixty-four students from the batch of 2013-2016 were conferred academic degrees for completing the 3-year course at TTTI comprising comprehensive, full-time training in automobile assembly, painting, welding and mechatronics. 

The training curriculum is a unique blend which focuses on the holistic development of Knowledge (16%), Skill (34%), Body and Mind (50%) of the students. Last year, TTTI was chosen for the ‘Manufacturing Skill Transfer Promotion Programme’ under the MoC signed by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, government of Japan (METI) and Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, government of India (MSDE).

Some of TKM’s other skill initiatives include:

- Gurukul, a well-equipped learning centre at TKM, that imparts diverse training to employees at all levels which helps them to improve their abilities and thoroughly fulfill their roles.

- Toyota Technical Education Program (T-TEP) provides technical know-how training to ITI students across India along with providing hands-on, real-time experience within Toyota dealerships.

- Toyota Tantrajna is a unique skill development project initiated in association with the Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC).  A comprehensive 13.5-month training module consists of an induction and fundamental skill training, On-the-job development and classroom training and trade knowledge training [including Language - English speaking skills, Computer soft skills, Interview etiquettes]. After completion of the course evaluation and certification by ASDC, TKM helps connect the trainees with prospective employers through a ‘Job Fair’. Toyota provides an attractive stipend, free commutation and canteen facility for the trainees during the training period.

- Toyota Apprentice Scheme (TAS): Under TAS, TKM has trained over 12,000 apprentice members (ITI, diploma and engineer) since 2002, which makes it one of the largest sources of providing such manpower to the industry

- National Sales Skills Contest: Launched in 2014, the National Sales Skill Contest is an initiative that provides Toyota dealer sales and service personnel to showcase their skill levels with a view to identify gaps and improvise. Held at three levels – across dealership, regional and national levels – the contestants are evaluated on various parameters such as knowledge, process demonstration, soft skills and role plays among others.

Also read:

Japan selects Toyota Kirloskar Motor to drive skill development in India

Toyota and ASDC see success in empowering youth in automotive skills

India and Japan to collaborate on Technical Intern Training Programme

Interview with Nikunj Sanghi, president of the Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC)