In its seven plants, Tata Motors employs about 25,000 people directly on the work floor.

As part of its aim to create knowledgeable and future-ready workers focused on electric vehicles and other developing technologies in the auto industry, Tata Motors announced on Thursday that it plans to equip more than 50% of its whole workforce with new-age auto tech capabilities within five years.

Through its upskilling program, the company, which employs over 57,000 people across various functions, has worked in partnership with groups like ARAI, Bosch, Mathworks, SAE, and Tata Technologies to offer its staff professional certification programs in connected, electric, shared, and safe (CESS).

According to Tata Motors Vice President HR, Passenger Vehicles and Electric Vehicles Sitaram Kandi, “a dynamically evolving industry like ours mandates consistent upskilling and training to remain ahead of the curve and future ready.” From shopfloor technicians to line engineers to plant management, the organization has carefully selected training courses to meet the necessary developmental needs of all and to teach right technical and functional skills, as well as managerial and leadership qualities.

Speaking to reporters, Kandi added that in order to upskill its employees, the business has also designed custom courses in collaboration with nearby colleges around its various manufacturing locations. In its seven plants, Tata Motors employs about 25,000 people directly on the work floor.

With the goal of providing its workforce with specialized training, the company has partnered with a number of institutions, including BITS Pilani, MIT-ADT University Pune, Institute of Technology Nirma University, Symbiosis International (Deemed Universities), Ganpat University, DY Patil International University, Oxford Polytechnic, ARKA Jain University, and Amity University. These company-sponsored programs offer employees chances for higher education, such as B Tech, M Tech, and Executive MBA.

In addition, Kandi stated that a higher education program has been created for shop floor technicians employed across plants, allowing them to pursue a diploma in engineering with a focus on auto electrical and electronics, mechatronics, and specialized welding skills in order to help them acquire the skills they need to advance and meet the changing demands of the automotive industry. He added that Tata Motors, in collaboration with Gujarat’s Ganpat University, has launched a program to upskill 100% of the newly acquired workforce of over 820 employees since acquiring the Ford India unit at Sanand in January.

Through carefully developed learning programs on modern manufacturing technologies, such as Industry 4.0, smart manufacturing, advanced control engineering, and advanced manufacturing systems and processes, it has been accomplished. According to Kandi, the corporation also promotes inclusiveness and diversity in manufacturing. Currently, Tata Motors has approximately 4,500 women working on the shop floor in all of its operations, using a variety of functional skills.

“We are able to develop and nurture a capable, future-ready workforce by working with tech partners and academic institutions, tailor-made training programs, a national “learn and earn” apprenticeship program, and a sharp focus on diversity and inclusion,” Kandi added. He continued by saying that Tata Motors was taking these actions not only for itself and its channel partners but also for the Indian car sector as a whole.