| THE Automobile industry in India, which includes design, | | | | stressing on inventing new products and designs with |
| development, manufacturing, repairing and sale of cars, | | | | increased frequency. Automobile Companies are |
| two-wheelers, three-wheelers, as well as trucks, buses | | | | scouting for fresh talent and fresher ideas. Another |
| and tractors, has witnessed an upsurge over the last | | | | focus area of growth is product improvement that |
| few years and continues to boom even today. While | | | | involves power unit research, emission control, vehicle |
| India’s automobile industry is one of the largest in | | | | simulation, and testing and prototype validation. |
| the world, the country was the fourth largest exporter | | | | Generally, engineers with a postgraduate qualification |
| of automobiles in Asia last year. Additionally, as per the | | | | are absorbed into R&D activities in the industry. |
| Automotive Mission Plan (AMP) 2006-2016, presented | | | | Speaking about what a job in the R&D segment would |
| by the country’s Ministry of Heavy Industries and | | | | ideally entail, Development of new products and |
| Public Enterprises, India is a favourite investment | | | | improvement of existing products and processes are |
| destination for international auto-makers, many of | | | | focus areas in research centres. Automobile segment |
| whom have set up manufacturing divisions in the | | | | offers immense scope and flexibility for new entrants. |
| country, opening a whole new vista of job | | | | For instance, a trainee engineer on the shop floor may |
| opportunities for engineers. | | | | be transferred into sales and services, subject to his |
| Choose your lane as Automobile Engineers | | | | potential and aptitude. |
| A profusion of opportunities are available to fresh | | | | |
| automobile engineers depending on the specialisation of | | | | Automobile Production |
| their degrees including mechanical, automobile, | | | | A career in automobile manufacturing usually begins on |
| production and electrical. Broadly, the field offers a | | | | the shop floor and requires one to manage and |
| variety of jobs in research and development, | | | | supervise it. Plant process improvement is one of the |
| manufacturing, design, sales and services and | | | | goals of all major competitors in the industry. Supply |
| components manufacturing segments. | | | | chain management is another area of interest for job |
| Research and Development in Automobile industry | | | | seekers dealing with logistics and optimisation of value |
| The automotive industry is volume driven and requires | | | | chains. One may serve at different levels of the |
| a certain critical mass for attracting the much needed | | | | production unit depending on one’s academic |
| investment in R&D and new product design and | | | | qualifications and experience. Informs Naik, Freshers |
| development. Investments in the R&D segment are | | | | can be absorbed to work in growing fields such as |
| imperative for innovations that are crucial for achieving | | | | robotics, supply chain management or operations as |
| and retaining competitiveness.” Thus, increased | | | | per their specialisation and aptitude. On the |
| attention is being paid to research and development in | | | | manufacturing front, one would handle operations such |
| India. Elaborates Vasudev Tumbe. The industry is | | | | as procurement, material handling and quality control. |