Raychem RPG to now sponsor its Halol workers' education

In a bid to generate industry ready talent, Raychem RPG, the engineering products company of RPG Group, has for the first time started a customized education programme for its Halol plant workers in partnership with ITM Universe, Vadodara. The company will sponsor a four year diploma in engineering programme specially designed by ITM University for Raychem employees.

"Normally on a shop floor you have supervisors below whom are shop floor workers. While the supervisor's contribution may vary, it is the shop floor workers that ultimately contribute to the plant's productivity. In a bid to enhance this productivity we have come up with a concept called self-managed team (SMT) where shop floors will be hired and provided specialised education along with on-the-job training so that they will learn while continuing to earn," said Ratish Jha, Head HR, Raychem RPG.

Resultantly, Raychem RPG has started a customised education programme in engineering technology for SMTs of its Halol plant along with knowledge partner, ITM Universe, Vadodara. While the SMTs will attend weekend programmes at the campus, they will continue working full time on weekdays at the plant.

"The entire Rs  40,000 per annum fees for the customised programme will be borne by Raychem RPG. Under the SMT concept, we hire shop floor workers after their Std 12th studies and for the first year provide orientation and on-the-job training regarding the plant operations. In the second year onwards, the diploma programme starts," said Jha. There are 105 people who are a part of the SMT programme.

After four years since being recruited under the SMT, the shop floor workers are offered choices of being inducted back into the company or being placed in any other company. "The programme is not just meant for Raychem RPG but it intends to create industry ready skilled manpower. Hence, we will be offering the SMTs choice of applying in other companies too," Jha added.

What's more, in order to give training and opportunity to complete their degree in engineering during their tenure, the SMTs have been provided with other amenities housing facility behind the plant, apart from washing machines and dining hall.

A Rs  600 crore company, Raychem RPG Limited is a 50:50 Joint Venture between Tyco Electronics, USA and the Rs  16,000 crore RPG Group of India and is involved in engineering products and services catering to the infrastructure segments of the economy such as power, telecommunications, hydro carbon, oil & gas and water.