Skilling challenges in the automotive industry
Many automotive companies have already takes steps such as establishing skill training centers, setting-up center of excellences, hiring apprentices (where apprentice gets an opportunity to earn and learn at the same time) and launching training programs across the value chain i.e. OEMs, Supplier, Dealer and Service providers, as per their own needs.
However, there are many challenges such as attrition, spiraling wages impacting competitiveness because of inadequate standardization, certification, assurance of skill levels, multiskilling requirements, need for continuous improvements/upgradations, meeting WorldSkills standards among others, which the industry is currently facing.
To make India the Skills Capital of the World and meet industry’s requirement of skilled manpower, it is important that we attract potential candidates and equip them with the necessary skills to meet the requirement of the industry as well as their own aspirations. Higher value additions through skilling would need to be integrated into the skill development. Value addition will facilitate capital creation. This, in turn, would lead to more economic activity and consequent additional jobs. Most importantly, we should aim to make skills aspirational and integrated with academic and career pathways as also celebrate the skilling achievements.
With the setting up of ASDC by the automotive in, and the role envisaged for them, there are numerous areas and scope for automotive Industry and ASDC collaboration.