Industry Institution Interactive Meet at IMTMA

Indian Machine Tool Manufacturers’ Association (IMTMA) organized an Industry Institution Interactive Meet at Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC), Bengaluru on 25 September 2018. Around 80 participants comprising of academicians, human resource professionals and industry experts from various institutions as well as industries participated in the meet.

The objective of the meet was to provide a platform for both industries as well as faculty members from institutions to gain an insight into manufacturing industry’s expectations on the skill sets required for students when they step into the shop floors for work.

Linking technical education with the manufacturing industry is an important educational innovation emerging in this country over the last few years. The interaction between industry and institution is now widely gaining traction as an essential requisite to train and develop the right manpower for manufacturing industry to sustain which would eventually result in promoting industrial and economic growth. IMTMA by organizing the interactive meet took one more step in furthering this cause.

In his welcome address P.J. Mohanram, Senior Adviser, IMTMA spoke on the role of IMTMA Technology Centres in Bengaluru, Pune, and Gurugram as model digital manufacturing units for engineering graduates to become industry ready for shop-floor activities.

Indradev Babu, Vice President, IMTMA dwelled upon the growing opportunities in the machine tool industry and called upon students to seek their careers in this industry. Citing the recently concluded IMTS show in Chicago, which had a large visitor turnout to see and experience the latest technologies, he said that India is not lagging far behind and institutions should work closely with the manufacturing industry to narrow the gaps.

Dr. S. Devarajan, Senior Vice President, TVS Motors in his address stressed upon the inherent strengths of the Indian machine tool industry in terms of design skills and price competitiveness. He said that India’s economy is creating the right opportunities.

The one-day meet featured sessions on learning and development, faculty development initiatives, a panel discussion on skill gaps in institution and industry and the role of IMTMA in bridging those gaps. The meet concluded on a positive note by capturing the training needs of the industry.