BMW Chennai plant completes 11 years, SKILL NEXT, a technical skilling initiative has been launched.
When our dear deputy editor Javeid Khan sent me the invite to attend the BMW SKILL NEXT launch event, I literally had no idea as to what this event was all about. The invite also mentioned that BMW Group’s Chennai Plant was celebrating its 11th anniversary, so I was very excited to visit the plant and see everything in person as BMW cars have been a passion for me since childhood. The dream of owning one might still be far away but to see how one is actually built was indeed a dream come true of sorts.
To take you through SKILL NEXT, this is a one-of-a-kind technical knowledge acquiring initiative. As part of this programme, a total of 365 BMW engines and transmissions will be provided to leading engineering and technical institutions across India for learning purposes at no extra cost. The said engines and transmissions will be handed over by 2018-end and the initiative aims at providing an opportunity for engineering and technical students to gain hands-on training on advanced technologies of the German machines.
Colleges and institutions will be given the handover of the demonstration units on a first-come-first-serve basis post the submission of due undertakings. The company stipulates that the engine and gearbox should be used inside the laboratories in campuses of the institutes for learning purpose only. The luxury carmaker will be supplying the 2.0-litre TwinPower Turbo inline four-cylinder diesel engine and an 8-speed steptronic automatic transmission which will serve as a valuable learning tool for the students.
Post the handover, the X3 maker will devise a ‘Train the Trainer’ module for the institutes where 40 after-sales master technicians will conduct extensive workshops at BMW dealerships in more than 20 cities. Devised by the professional trainers from BMW Group India Training Centre and BMW Chennai plant, the workshops will be a combination of classroom sessions and hands-on practical sessions which will make use of detailed training materials.
You must be wondering what made BMW give out these engines and transmissions, right? The floods that disrupted Chennai in the recent years caused water damages to a significant number of engines and transmissions. These could not be used in production cars as per the company standards. The parts were fortunately insured and Bharti AXA General Insurance honored the claims. Hence, instead of stocking the machinery or selling it at a discounted price, the company came up with this idea of donating the same to engineering and technical institutes which is indeed praiseworthy.
BMW Chennai Plant
– The Chennai plant of BMW celebrated its 11th anniversary yesterday
– Indian Cricket Legend, Sachin Tendulkar was also present at the launch event
– SKILL NEXT is a technical learning initiative
– 365 BMW engines and transmissions to be supplied to institutions across India for students to gain hands-on knowledge
