Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel visited the world’s largest auto-parts maker Bosch’s facility here on Tuesday to get an insight into the group’s activities in vocational training, and in particular to see how it trains young people in India for technical trades.
Bosch has 29,000 employees in India and its vocational centre in Bengaluru launched in 1961 has so far trained over 2,500 apprentices in nine trades.
The German company reiterated that it will invest ₹650 crore this fiscal in its Indian operations and introduce high levels of technology in all its 14 manufacturing plants across the country.
“By 2018, we aim to implement connected production in all our 14 manufacturing locations across the country,” Bosch Group’s India President Steffen Berns said during the delegation’s visit. “The field of smart manufacturing also opens up possibilities for Bosch in India,” Berns said.
Bosch is a leading global provider and exponent of connected industry, or “Industry 4.0.” The supplier of technology and services offers range of solutions such as drives, automation, sensors, software, and predictive maintenance.
Industry 4.0 is already a reality at several Bosch plants in India. In Bangalore, the company uses real-time data to shorten throughput times for the calibration of pumps for tractors. The location also provides associates with smartwatches that promptly notify them of a machine malfunction. Thanks to real-time monitoring, manufacturing downtimes can be prevented and productivity improved.
In September 2015, production started at the new automotive-component plant in Bidadi, where Bosch applies connected industry principles to optimise manufacturing processes.
The visit to Bosch is part of the Chancellor’s three-day state visit to India, which focuses on innovation and skills development. At Bosch, the high-level delegation found out about the company’s research, engineering, and vocational education activities in India.
“India is a key location in our global innovation network. To further strengthen our presence in the country, we plan to invest over €100 million in 2015,” Peter Tyroller, the member of the Bosch board of management responsible for Asia Pacific, said after making a presentation to the two leaders.
Tyroller said Indian engineers have made key contribution to Bosch’s success story in India, as well as to their current importance for the company’s worldwide activities in many strategic areas such as data mining and smart manufacturing.