The apprentices undergoing a three-year Dual Apprenticeship course at the Volkswagen Academy India built a firefighting car for the Safety Department of Volkswagen Pune Plant as their final year project. This unique task offered the students an opportunity to have hands-on experience with various activities involved in building a car. The Pilot Hall team at Volkswagen Pune Plant, which is responsible for experimental projects, mentored the apprentices throughout the process of building the car.
Volkswagen Academy India had started its three-year Dual Apprenticeship Programme at Pune Plant in 2011. This programme is a Mechatronics course that educates the students in various branches such as mechanical, electrical, electronics and IT. The first batch of this programme is now in its final year. As a part of their syllabus, the apprentices had to undertake a practical project. To keep the focus on manufacturing, it was decided by the apprentices to build a car on a low budget.
To bring in something different and exciting, the task for the apprentices was to build a special model – a firefighting car which can be put to daily use within the manufacturing facility by the Fire and Safety Department. To keep the costs low, scrapped parts and components from various production departments of the Pune Plant were utilised in this project. The students got in-depth guidance from the Pilot Hall team members.
Mr. Vijayan KT, Responsible for Dual Apprenticeship Programme at Volkswagen Academy India, said “Through the Apprenticeship Programme, we intended to create a skilled force which could work in various areas of manufacturing immediately after finishing their course. The car-building project has successfully proven the intention behind our programme and has brought out high potential of the youth.”
Mr. Frank Herold, Head of Pilot Hall, Volkswagen India Private Limited, said “It was fascinating to see the enthusiasm with which the apprentices accomplished the project. They have applied their knowledge in an appropriate and practical way by building this unique firefighting car for our Fire and Safety Department.”
Pallavi Sabale, an apprentice said, “During the building of this firefighting car, we got hands on experience with activities like drilling, tapping, soldering, welding, riveting, painting and denting. We are extremely happy that we got an opportunity like this to prove our skills.”