Toyota Further Expands its Distinctive Skill Initiative Under TTEP Program

Toyota Kirloskar Motor [TKM] has announced its second institutional tie-up in Pune and third in the state of Maharashtra with the launch of its unique training model Toyota Technical Education Program (T-TEP) under Body & Paint Repair category at the Samarth Group of Institutions in Pune. Aimed at generating talented and technically skilled professionals for the automobile industry in Pune, the first TTEP program in the state was established in 2006 in collaboration with St. Joseph's Industrial Training Institute, Kurla [Mumbai].

This distinctive initiative by Toyota represents the incessant efforts taken by the company to bridge the skill gap that exists by developing trained personnel to meet the ever-increasing demand of the emerging industry for skilled resources. This association is aimed at providing a platform to Samarth Group of Institutions to train and equip their students with the best knowledge to thrive and succeed in the industry with right skill sets towards achieving employability status.

The event held at Samarth Group of Institutions in Belhe - Pune was graced by Vasantrao Gangaram Shelake – Chairman, Dnyaneshwar Gangaram Shelake - Vice President, Vivek Vasantrao Shelake – Secretary, and Vallabh Vasantrao Shelake - Trustee, Samarth Group of Institutions in the presence of the representative from Toyota Kirloskar Motor, Vedaparakash S. Tiwari - General Manager.

The Body & Paint repair, a 1-year syllabus has been developed in collaboration with the Department of Training and Technical Education, Government of NCT Delhi. The syllabus imparts training on basic body and paint repair skills in addition to dealer specific requirements, to students - thereby improving their knowledge of repair techniques and facilitating the adoption of latest technology in Body & Paint. At present, Body & Paint technicians have limited knowledge base and hands-on-experience under repair operations and techniques, forcing dealers to recruit manpower from local garages. Toyota in association with its dealer partners will provide all necessary support to the institute such as training consumables, visiting faculty, training material, tools, equipment etc.

Commenting on the new partnership, Vallabh Shelake, Trustee - Samarth Group of Institutions said, “It is an honor to be associated with Toyota through this unique program - TTEP. Our institution's mission is to give quality education and we see this partnership as a great opportunity to train students to become highly skilled potential employees. Toyota Technical Education Program is an interactive curriculum and we are confident that this platform will provide the desired opportunity for the aspiring students of our institution to excel and attain a successful career opportunity”.

Commenting on the need for skilling India, N Raja, Deputy Managing Director - Toyota Kirloskar Motor said, “The automobile repair industry is evolving and need to improve in professional training for repair and diagnostics of vehicles to meet the evolving needs of the market. There is a growing need to enhance the quality and build relevance into the current skill development programs. As per the figures released by the National Sample Survey, out of the 470 million people who are in the working age group, only close to 10% receive any kind of training or access to skilled employment opportunities*.

Through this Toyota Technical Training Program, we aim to scale-up the students’ skill levels with the required theoretical knowledge and practical exposure to confidently function in a seamless manner and effectively contribute to succeed in their designated tasks. Our focus is not only to support rising demand for skilled talent, but to match the skills programs with the future industry requirements.

With the continued emergence of new technologies and new business needs, Toyota recognizes that the skills required to succeed tomorrow are not the same as the skills required to succeed today. It now seeks to anticipate the benchmarks of the future and plan the skill development proactively. Toyota’s skill program focuses to hone one’s skill sets, not merely to match the current industry requirements, but to challenge future opportunities with right balance of education [knowledge], experience [on-the-job] and exposure [learning new advanced techniques towards building talent],” he added.

The main objective of TTEP training module [launched in the year 2006] is to enhance and augment the technical abilities and employability of Industrial Training Institute (ITI) students in the age group of 16 to 18 years. In its first year, the program was implemented in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Hubli. The program was subsequently introduced nation-wide covering Bengaluru, Mysuru, Lalru, Pune, Cochin, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Ghaziabad, Kolkata, Jaipur, Jalandhar, Indore, Vizag, Ludhiana, Cuttack, Haldwani, Nalbari, Gurgaon, Satara, Paramakudi, Chalakudy, Mangaluru, Calicut & Nashik.

Till date, around 7,900 students have successfully completed this program, out of which around 4,900 are employed at various dealerships of Toyota across India. This is the 8th T-TEP in Maharashtra including all 3 trade categories offered – Body & Paint Repair [BP], General Technician [GT] & Service Advisor [SA].

T-TEP is widely recognized across the globe for its effectiveness. The program has been successfully introduced in 508 institutes across 55 countries by Toyota, which includes USA, Australia, Italy, South Africa, China, Vietnam and India.

HCL Tech to Create 7,500 New Jobs and Invest Rs 750 cr in Andhra Pradesh

IT services major HCL Technologies will invest Rs 750 crore to set up two facilities in Andhra Pradesh that will help create 7,500 jobs in 10 years.

According to an official statement, HCL is setting up its operations in Andhra Pradesh in two phases.

In the first phase, the Noida-based company will invest Rs 400 crore to build a R&D centre in Kesarapalli village in Gannavaram. The facility is expected to accommodate more than 4,000 IT professionals, it said. The phase-I will commence with the foundation stone laying ceremony on October 8 and is expected to be completed in seven years’ time, employing more than 4,000 IT professionals, the statement added.

The phase II will be taken up later in Amaravati, the new capital of Andhra Pradesh in a campus of 20 acres.

Redefining Mexican Food at 1MG- Lido Mall’s Foodie Fiesta Season 5

In a very unique and interesting event held in the city, Faheema Kathoom, was crowned the winner of the 1MG-Lido Mall’s Foodie Fiesta Season Five. Several local and very talented artists participated at this year’s Foodie Fiesta Cooking Competition. Each artist had to create an original creation of a Mexican dish and plate it at the venue.

Commenting on the event, Chef Savon from Foodhall and one of the judges of the cooking competition said, “This year was a tough call on the judges but at the end of the day our winner was Faheema Kathoom who recreated the dish with healthy ingredients and ensuring a fusion of Mexican flavors in her own creative way”.

“The Mexican pantry is really vast. There’s an endless requirement of chillies and spices, a lot of nuts, seeds and dried fruits – all key ingredients in the Mexican cuisine. It was great to see so more of the traditional fare being re-created by the contestants. The winner of the Foodie Fiesta cooking competition season five Faheema Khathoom was awarded for the use of Mexican flavors, presentation, plating, response to the interactive discussion, knowledge of the cuisine, preparation process etc.

“Sharing happiness through food is important to ensure a close bond with our community. The Foodie Fiesta at 1MG- Lido Mall is all about bringing our communities closer together and re-discovering good health and the joys of good food”, commented Suman Lahiri, COO – 1MG-Lido Malls.

Also commented Bhanu Praveen, Marketing Manager – 1MG – Lido Mall, “We received over 45 entries and our judges have sure had an incredible time in judging these sumptuous Mexican dishes. It was great to have an interactive session between the judges and the contestants and for the audience to learn so much more of the Mexican cuisine”.

Roby Varghese - Center Manager of 1MG – Lido Mall said , “The mall is already a crowd puller for gourmet food lovers as it already renowned for the numerous multi-cultural eating options it offers. The food festival has become a one stop destination and the mall has lately turned into a food lover's paradise. In a celebration of food with activities ranging from chefs demos and mixology sessions to Chefs workshops and a gourmet market, Bangalore is indeed a much loved food destination”

Sridevi, one of the contestants at the Foodie Fiesta Cooking Competition commented, “I wanted to try something new and hence used a different sauce with pinto beans. Just being part of this event gives me a great thrill and has been such a memorable experience”.

The winner Faheema Khathoom who prepared Tomato based chicken enchiladas incorporated a variety of Mexican flavours into a single meal. She had also made her own version of Mexican spices with bell pepper, grilled tomatoes and home made sour cream. Added Faheema, “I have also used sour cream which took me over 2 days to prepare. But I guess all my efforts have been worth it today!”.

Another contestant Rashmi Dugar commented,”I prepared a desert with almond chocolate and Banana boats. I revamped the dish and recreated the whole process keeping in mind the health perspective. I am also the south zonal winner for Big Bazaar and am glad to have made it here today as well”.

Another enthusiastic contestant Neha Gupta who presented the Mexican burritos created a different style making the desert using healthy ingredients.

Also commented Divyashree Ravishankar who also took on the role of judging the competition, “Really wonderful to see innovative and creative concepts in the Mexican cuisine used by the contestants. Each one is a winner in their own ri It is great to see working women spending time to curate new dishes and balance their children and work at the same time. Today’s event at the 1MG-Lido Mall cooking competition is testament to that”.

The Foodie Fiesta was a culinary series being organised at the 1MG-Lido Mall to showcase the best of Food and Beverages comprising Indian, Coastal Cuisines, Continental and Chinese. The five - part series provided an opportunity to enjoy these exotic and gastronomic treats through the month of September 2018.

Tata Motors Signs Hrithik Roshan as Brand Ambassador for All-New Tigor

Gearing up for its 3rd festive launch, Tata Motors is all set to make huge strides in marketing its upcoming product– the all new Tata Tigor. The new Tigor is scheduled for launch on October 10, 2018.  Ahead of its launch, Tata Motors has signed-up the popular Bollywood superstar - Hrithik Roshan as the brand ambassador for its all-new stylish sedan, the Tata Tigor.

Speaking on this association, Mayank Pareek – President, Passenger Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors said – We are very excited to have Bollywood’s most loved style icon - Hrithik Roshan on board as the brand ambassador for the new Tigor. Built with immense attention to detail, the new Tigor promises to provide its inmates with a premium drive experience. Resonating with brand Hrithik Roshan, the new Tigor stands for versatility, consistent strong performance and unparalleled style. It’s built for those who are stars in their own right and have put all their heart into achieving the success they live today. We hope our customers like this new avatar of the Tigor and we look forward to their continued support.”

Endorsing the stylish Tata Tigor, Hrithik Roshan said – “I am honored to be associated with the Tata Motors family and excited to be part of this journey. The Tata Tigor is a modern stylish sedan, with fantastic features. I really like its coupe inspired design, which gives it a very luxurious feel. I wish Tata Tigor good luck ahead of its launch.”

This association comes at a time when the Company’s Passenger Vehicle Business is witnessing month-on-month growth on the back of its new generation products. With innovating marketing campaigns and exciting consumer engagement plans, Tata Motors has evolved as an aggressive marketer. Taking its marketing strategy to the next level, Tata Motors will continue to create compelling communication campaigns for the business and its brands to connect with its customers innovatively.

Tata Motors Achieves Milestone: Installs 1 Lakh Telematic Systems on its Medium & Heavy Commercial Vehicles

Setting a new benchmark in the connected vehicle technologies, Tata Motors becomes the first OEM to install 1 Lakh advanced telematic systems on its Medium & Heavy Commercial Vehicles. Tata Motors, continuing on its century old tradition of setting new standards, of pioneering new technologies and being the undisputed leader in the commercial vehicles, was the first OEM to adopt this technology and integrate it into its offering in India, under the brand name of Tata Fleetman.

This milestone was celebrated in the presence of Sir John Peace, Chairman of ‘The Midlands Engine’, Andy Street, Mayor of West Midlands, Matthew Hague, Owner and Executive Director of Microlise, William Hopkinson, First Secretary (Investment) in the presence of and other dignitaries from the UK Delegation along with senior leadership of Tata Motors – Gunter Butschek - CEO & MD, Tata Motors, O P Bhatt - Independent Director, Board of Directors of Tata Motors and Rajendra Petkar, CTO, Tata Motors.

Tata Motors launched the Tata Fleetman Telematics in India in response to a growing market needs for better fleet control and greater fleet utilization. Tata Fleetman however, goes much beyond the basic location-based services that have now become commonplace.  It generates a rich fleet insights, and goes on to collaborate with the customers to offer specific interventions towards improvement in the utilization, performance and safety of the fleet. With over 1200 workshops, Tata Fleetman is gearing up for next level of fleet telematics with advanced trip / journey management features that cater to the complex requirements of sectors like e-commerce. Tata Fleetman enjoys the patronage of happy customers benefitting from the rich data that gets generated.

Verisign Releases DDOS Trends Report of Q2 2018 Globally

Verisign Distributed Denial of Service Trends, observed attack trends of July – September, Q2 2018. This report provides a unique view into the attack trends that include attack statistics, behavioural trends and future outlook. Compiled on the basis of observations and insights about attack frequency and size obtained from mitigations enacted on behalf of customers from Verisign DDOS Protection Services.

Verisign observed the following key trends in Q2 2018:

•      Number of attacks - 35% increase as compared to Q1 2018 (April 1, 2018 - June 30, 2018)

* Peak attack size - (Volume) 42 Gigabits per second (Gbps), (Speed) 4.7 Million packets per second (Mpps)
* Average peak attack size – 5.7 Gbps which is 111% increase compared to Q2 2017, but a 49% decrease in the average of attack peak sizes, 26% of attacks over 5 Gbps
* Most common attack mitigated - 56% of attacks were User Datagram Protocol (UDP) floods; 20% of attacks employed multiple attack types with 52% of attacks employed at least two different attack types

DDoS Attacks Increase in Size and Number

Verisign observed that 58% of DDoS attacks were over 1 Gbps.  When comparing Q2 2018 to Q1 2018, Verisign saw a 35 percent increase in the number of attacks, and a 49 percent decrease in the average of attack peak sizes. Year-over-year the average of attack peak sizes increased 111 percent.  Verisign additionally observed that 62 percent of its customers who experienced DDoS attacks in Q2 2018 were targeted multiple times during the quarter. Overall, DDoS attacks remain unpredictable and vary widely in terms of speed and complexity.

Multi-Vector DDoS Attacks Remain Constant

52% of DDoS attacks mitigated by Verisign in Q2 2018 employed multiple attack types. Verisign observed attacks targeting networks at multiple layers and attack types that changed over the course of a DDoS event. Today’s DDoS attacks require continuous monitoring to optimize mitigation strategies.

Types of DDoS Attacks

UDP flood attacks were the most common attack vector in Q2 2018, accounting for 56 percent of total attacks in the quarter. The most common UDP floods included Domain Name System (DNS), Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP), Network Time Protocol (NTP) and Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) amplification attacks.

Largest Volumetric Attack and Highest Intensity Flood Attack

The largest volumetric DDoS attack observed by Verisign in Q2 2018 was a UDP fragment flood that peaked at approximately 42 Gbps and 3.5 Mpps and lasted approximately 3 hours. The highest intensity DDoS attack observed by Verisign in Q2 2018 was a multi-vector attack that peaked at approximately 38 Gbps and 4.7 Mpps and lasted for approximately 2 hours. The attack consisted of a wide range of attack vectors including DNS, NTP and SNMP Amplification attacks and TCP SYN and TCP RST floods.

Tata Motors Wins the RE Excellence End User Award at the Renewable Energy India Awards 2018

Tata Motors, one of India’s leading automobile companies, announced today that its Pune plant has been awarded the prestigious ‘Renewable Energy Excellence End User’ Award 2018 at Renewable Energy India Awards 2018, Asia's largest Renewable Energy Expo organized by UBM India.

The Tata Motors Pune Plant was adjudged under the ‘RE Excellence End User’ category, which recognized the company’s commitment to the ‘RE100 initiative’ and its work towards mitigation of climate change. Tata Motors’ Pune plant garners up to 51% of its annual power demand through the use of renewable energy including wind power and rooftop solar power.

Nitin Tilak, Head of TS, CVBU Pune and Vivek Joshi, Head of CMS, CVBU Pune presented the best practices adopted at the plant. Sudhir Bhale, Head, CPED Electrical collected the Award in a ceremony in September 2018 held at Greater Noida. The assessors congratulated the enthusiastic team of Pune plant employees and lauded their efforts to promote non-conventional sources of energy.

Speaking on the occasion, Satish Borwankar, COO & ED, Tata Motors said, “With rapidly evolving automobile landscape, it is vital to have a comprehensive approach for sustainable development of the entire ecosystem. Tata Motors has been paving the way for technology changes in the industry while at the same time striving hard to imbibe sustainable practices in every aspect of the business. We are pleased to have our work at the plant recognized and will continue to invest in building a sustainable future for our employees and our communities.”

The REI awards showcase the best practices adopted by the thought leaders in various categories of participants who propagate the idea of excellence & innovation in the field of Renewable Energy. This year about 50 Indian companies had participated in REI Awards 2018 in 17 different categories of excellence. The eminent jury included representatives from the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE), Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA), Central Electricity Authority (CEA), ONGC Energy Centre, Indo German Energy Forum (IGEF) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID).