Toyota’s Skill Excellence Program Recognized Under “Manufacturing Skill Transfer Promotion Program”

Toyota Technical Training institute today celebrated a decade of Toyota’s excellence in imparting world class skill training to the young talents of Karnataka from underprivileged background. Established by Toyota Kirloskar Motor in 2007 within the premises of Toyota’s manufacturing plant at Bidadi (near Bangalore), the institute confers certificate to   deserving students every year. Students are exposed to global training curriculum to generate skilled talent for the rapidly growing auto industry.

The convocation certificates to the 8^th batch of graduates were handed over by the Chief Guest Jamshyd N. Godrej - Chairman of the Board of Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Company Limited in the presence of Akito Tachibana, Managing Director - Toyota Kirloskar Motor, Shekar Viswanathan, Vice Chairman and Whole-time Director - Toyota Kirloskar Motor, Yoshihiro Horinouchi, Deputy Managing Director - Toyota Kirloskar Motor, Sailesh Shetty, Vice President – Toyota Kirloskar Motor, Kan Asaine, Senior Vice President – Toyota Kirloskar Motor, V Wiseline Sigamani, Principal, Toyota Technical Training Institute, the faculty members and families of the graduating students. Other key guests who were present at the occasion were Takayuki Kitagawa, Consul General of Japan (Bangalore), Toshiaki Fukatsu, Principal – Toyota Technical Skill Academy, Japan.

In line with the company’s commitment towards the Government of India’s Skill India initiative, Toyota Technical Training Institute (TTTI) is a dedicated 3-year program that focuses on the holistic development of Knowledge, Skill and Body & ATTITUDE. With a structure that ensures the highest standard of education, the curriculum offers complete learning experience, along with basic subjects, recreational activities and comprehensive training on Automobile Assembly, Automobile Paint, Automobile Weld and Mechatronics (a combination of mechanical and industrial electronics). In addition, students are given practical training by applying the world renowned ‘Toyota Production Systems’ to the various manufacturing processes at Toyota plant in Bidadi.

Additionally from this academic year, a unique module “Karakuri” (“mechanism” or “trick”) is also introduced to the curriculum, which emphasis on Tools and Material handling. This method has been introduced and adopted in many leading manufacturing companies in Japan and highlighted as basic manufacturing technology as a key for low cost automation. Since establishment, the institute has trained 443 students who have been inducted at Toyota Kirloskar Motor, other Toyota Group companies & Supplier Partners. The students of TTTI can appear for NAC (National Apprentice Certificate) & ASDC (Automotive Skill Development Council) exams which enables them to secure Government recognized certificate/s enhancing their prospects further.

On Toyota’s relentless efforts to enhance a person’s employability in the automobile industry,  accentuating one of its founding principles – Human Development, the Toyota’s institute – TTTI was selected for “Manufacturing Skill Transfer Promotion Program’’ by the Government of Japan through Japan-India Institute for Manufacturing (JIM) certification in 2017. During the convocation ceremony, Mr. Kenko Sone, Minster (Economic & Development), Embassy of Japan, handed over the JIM certification to the Managing Director, Mr. Akito Tachibana of Toyota Kirloskar Motor. Announced after the talks between Honourable Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Honorable Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, this skill-partnership under the signed Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) provides an opportunity to facilitate the human resource  skill development in the manufacturing sector in India, which is expected to grow further more in the middle and long – term, through collaboration between the public and private sectors of both the countries in order to contribute to “Make in India” and “Skill India.”

Under India’s developing market scenario, with the launches of latest technologies by various auto manufacturers, there is a significant need for highly skilled service personnel. Toyota believes that they have a greater role to play in India than just manufacturing world class cars.  Toyota is focused on not just delivering first class products & services to the customers, but also building right set of talent pool that can create a sustainable business environment. The company has been tirelessly working towards enhancing the employability quotient in the automobile manufacturing industry in India by promoting unique skill development initiatives.

The JIM certification accorded to Toyota recognizes the institute’s seamless efforts towards its immense contribution in up-scaling the skill levels of the industry, where the underprivileged young talents are trained on Toyota’s global manufacturing skills & world renowned Toyota way practices contributing to their skill refinement making them employable, thus enhancing livelihood of these trainees. The students are exposed to Toyota Way of Manufacturing ‘Monozukuri’ and familiarized with the global concepts of ‘Lean Manufacturing’, Kaizen, Genchi Genbutsu. Training at TTTI is not restricted to classrooms and workshops alone. TTTI exclusively emphasizes on over all development of the trainees as per industry requirements & towards “Perfecting people” making them multi skilled & enthusiastic to the nation’s growth prospects. The TTTI degree holders will be accredited with certification by the Japan-India Institute for Manufacturing from next year (2018).

Sharing his views, Vikram S. Kirloskar, Vice Chairman – Toyota Kirloskar Motor said, “When we set out to start the Toyota Technical Training Institute in 2007, our mission was to find a solution to one of the biggest challenges faced by the manufacturing sector - increasing demand for the right set of talent pool. As we celebrate Toyota Technical Training Institute’s 10 years of skill excellence, I would like to express my appreciation to all those who have worked tirelessly towards making this institution what it is today.

Needless to mention, we at Toyota are privileged to be a part of Indo-Japan Skill Collaboration under “Manufacturing Skill Transfer Promotion Program”, aimed towards India’s Skill Drive. Toyota Technical Training Institute has been making significant contributions to the dynamic auto manufacturing industry, by offering Toyota’s global expertise and advanced technologies to design the holistic training modules suiting the industry, which has been recognised & certified by Japan-India Institute of Manufacturing (JIM). The TTTI students have been representing & competing in various skill contests in India & globally, winning several accolades over the years through their varied skill strengths imparted by the institute. It gives me immense pleasure to say that each student who has graduated today walks out with the best technical know-how and I wish them all a bright future.”

Congratulating the graduates, Akito Tachibana, Managing Director - Toyota Kirloskar Motor said, “Toyota as a company has always engaged in nurturing talents through enhanced skill levels. According to the findings by National Sample Survey, out of the 470 million people of working age in India, only 10% receive any kind of training or access to skilled employment opportunities*.  Through Toyota Technical Training Institute, our focus has been to offer students an opportunity to acquire technical skills of Toyota’s global concepts such as “Monozukuri” (Skilled Manufacturing), Kaizen (Continuous Improvement), Genchi Genbutsu (Go & See) & other best practices of Toyota. The institute also provides opportunities for the deserving individuals, developing them into good corporate citizens equipped with right attitude and spirit of challenge.

Today, as we celebrate this momentous occasion of being certified by Japan-India Institute of Manufacturing under Indo-Japan collaboration for Human Development, I am overwhelmed by the successful journey of Toyota Technical Training Institute started with a mission to tackle the skill challenge of the industry. We hope with the “Manufacturing Skill Transfer Promotion Programme’’ more and more young talents in India will get wider global skill exposure. This partnership also creates a platform for knowledge sharing between the training institutes of both the nations (India & Japan).  I strongly believe that each candidate who has graduated from TTTI is flexible, focused and dedicated, with the institute making a mark and setting an example in all their attempts towards realising greater employability of youths in India.  “He added.

Established in the year 2007 as a part of TKM’s social initiatives, the students of TTTI have been receiving degrees from leading personalities of India like late Dr. Abdul Kalam - Former President of India, Sudha Murthy, Chairperson – Infosys Foundation, Veerendra Heggade – Dharmadhikari (Dharmasthala) & many, during the joyous moments of the institute’s convocations year after year.

The students during the course also get an opportunity to participate in the National Skill Competition & World Skill Competition (Skill Olympics) in 3 categories namely - Mechatronics, Car Painting, Prototype Modelling. The TTTI batch of 2011 secured 4th position in World Skill Competition 2015 held at Sao Paulo, Brazil & won “Medallion of Excellence”. The students from the TTTI batch of 2013 who secured the first position in the World Skill Contest (at the National level) under the categories - Prototype Modelling & Mechatronics, will be representing India in The World Skill Contest which will be held in Abu Dhabi during October this year.