Manpower Shortage In Automobile Industry

Introduction: Automobile Industry

Automobile Industry, industry that produces automobiles and other gasoline-powered vehicles, such as buses, trucks, and motorcycles. The automobile industry is one of the most important industries in the world, affecting not only the economy but also the cultures of the world. It provides jobs for millions of people, generates billions of dollars in worldwide revenues, and provides the basis for a multitude of related service and support industries. Automobiles revolutionized transportation in the 20th century, changing forever the way people live, travel, and do business.

The auto industry has also reduced the overall cost of transportation by using methods such as mass production (making several products at once, rather than one at a time), mass marketing (selling products nationally rather than locally), and globalization of production (assembling products with parts made worldwide). Auto making became the world's largest manufacturing activity, with nearly 58 million new vehicles built each year worldwide. The automobile industry continues to be an important source of employment and transportation for millions of people worldwide

The three major automobile manufacturers are General Motors Corporation, Ford Motor Company, and Chrysler provide much of the industry's total direct employment in the United States, but increasingly automakers, such as Toyota Motor Corporation and Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., are building automobile assembly plants in the United States.

Indian Automobile Industry:

The Indian automotive industry is being rapidly integrated into the global automotive supply chain and global automotive companies are looking to India not only for its burgeoning consumer market but also as an efficient supplier base. New technologies in the production process are constantly being introduced, and processes in the sales and service arena are shifting to meet the changing market. Today, it is amongst the main drivers of growth of Indian economy. In recent years there are increasing numbers of global players entering Indian market by way of Joint ventures, collaborations or wholly owned subsidiary. Sudden interest of major global players has made Indian auto industry very competitive as India provides twin benefit of ready market.

Indian Automobile sector is high on growth line. Based on estimates, the total sales (domestic + exports) for the financial year 2006 is around 10 million of which Commercial Vehicle Segment will contribute maximum. According to auto industry experts Indian Automobile sales will grow at a CAGR of 9.5%.

The opening up of the Indian economy has resulted in the entry of global automobile giants. They are looking at India as a big market and as a production base. Automobile giants in India are Hyundai, Fiat, Ford Motors, TELCO, Maruti Suzuki, Hindustan Motors, Mahindra and Mahindra and Escorts.

This has opened up numerous opportunities for persons with an automobile engineering, mechanical engineering and technical diplomas in this area. Mechanical engineers, electronics engineers, electrical engineers and those specializing in automobile engineering are involved in the assembly, testing, design, servicing and even marketing aspects of the automobile industry. Those who clear sections A & B of the Associate Membership Exam of the Institution of Engineers (India) are also eligible for jobs on a par with engineering degree holders.

An automobile engineer is key personnel of the automobile industry and is responsible for repairs, maintenance, designing and manufacturing of self-moving vehicles, such as cars, trucks, buses, vans, tempos, mopeds, motor cycles, scooters and tractors. An automobile engineer is concerned with the up-keep of vehicles to ensure their proper, efficient and economical running. At times, he may overhaul the vehicles by dismantling their assemblies and reassemble them after cleaning, removing defects and repairing or replacing worn-out parts.

An automobile maintenance engineer exercises general supervision over mechanics and other workers in the workshop, factory or garage. In addition, design new models, keeping in view their performance, capacity, durability and cost of manufacture and maintenance. For this, he studies the data of working of previous models, introduces fresh ideas, makes new computations and prepares working drawings of the new model. Once the model is thoroughly checked and tested, the final drawing for mass production is prepared.

Many private motor repair and maintenance service stations, automobile garages and workshops offer job opportunities to automobile engineers. Private transport companies, state road transport undertakings and defense services also offer a large variety of maintenance jobs.

With the establishment of many automobile and ancillary manufacturing and assembling plants, both in the private and public sectors, employment avenues are expanding in the fields of design and manufacturing of automobiles.

Diploma and post-diploma-holders are recruited for jobs on the shop floor in auto and ancillary manufacturing plants and for maintenance and servicing.

Therefore, one of the areas for employment is in computer-aided manufacturing and assembly line in the shop floor. Moreover, trained manpower is required in areas like computer aided design (CAD) and research and development. The level of employments is higher in this sector particularly on the shop floor where persons with a diploma are more technically suited whereas in other areas, graduates and post graduates with a mechanical engineering background and a research qualification are desired.

With an increase in the production of commercial vehicles/ passengers cars, automobile engineers can expect to have a wide range of opportunities both for wage paid and self-employment ventures in the coming years.

The requirement of trained manpower is increasing in a big way. Therefore it has become necessary for academic institutes to mould their courses depending on the present and future needs by offering appropriate elective courses and developing special programmes that can keep the graduating engineers and diploma holders in tune with market needs.

In fact, the automobile industry is the barometer of the economic and social transformation taking place in the country. It is one of the major sources of employment and is likely to generate employment for thousands of new hands directly and indirectly, in near future.

Some key skills that the industry needs:

• Customer service skills

• The ability to work with new integrated competencies as technology becomes more