Human Resource / Skill Development

As per the DIT Taskforce Report 2009, the Indian electronics industry has the potential to be USD 400 billion by 2020. The Indian electronics hardware sector has 6 key verticals, namely Consumer Electronics, IT Hardware, Telecommunication Equipment, Electronic Components, Strategic Electronics and Industrial Electronics. Consumer Electronics and Telecom Equipments are the largest segments with about 27% share each in total production.

According to the Task Force set up by DIT, it is estimated that around 27.8 million people will be employed for a production of USD 400 Billion by 2020. There needs to be skill based mapping of this requirement, i.e. the manufacturing segment, sales and support segment, and the research and development segment. A Note on Human resource requirement in the Electronics Hardware Manufacturing Industry is at

Skill gaps and focus areas for skill development

Skill gaps: The electronics manufacturing sector has a lot of potential for large-scale

employment of ITI graduates, diploma holders, hardware engineers etc. Semi-skilled persons with some training can also be employed in this sector.

According to the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) report on human resources and skill requirements in the electronics and IT hardware sector, the largest concentration of manpower is in the manufacturing segment followed by after sales and sales support, and R&D. Regulations relating to over-time and contracts also need to be revamped to meet the highs and lows of demand.

It is observed that while there are certain skill gaps which are common across different sectors of the electronics hardware manufacturing industry, there are certain skill requirements and gaps which are unique to each sector. For example, while lack of machine handling abilities and knowledge of latest technologies is a common skill gap in the production function, insufficient knowledge about the manufacturing/assembly of PCB of Flat TVs, LCD TVs, Plasma TVs is unique to the Consumer Electronics sector.

The supply of quality talent from the education system is yet another challenging task. The stakeholder feedback in the primary survey reveals that the following major issues are impacting the educational scenario:

 Insufficient number of faculty members  Inadequate infrastructure

 Lack of industry interface/practical training  Delays in curriculum changes

 Lack of fluency in English.

Focus areas for skill development: The focus areas for skill development as per the

NSDC Report are given below:

Manufacturing

- Basic Manufacturing

 Basic Manufacturing skills  Safety norms

 Meeting pollution control laws, etc.  Punctuality

 Reading circuit diagrams and populating boards  Awareness of shop floor, concepts of ESD  Adherence to cleanliness norms

- Advanced Manufacturing and Contract Manufacturing operations covering:

 Quality certifications like Six Sigma  Productivity measurement

 Process control

 Basic management program, effective meetings, constructive confrontation etc.

- High-Tech Manufacturing

 Chip Mounted Technologies  Complex LCD Technologies  Semiconductor Technologies  Plasma displays

 Nanotechnology

Servicing Support

 L1 and L2 servicing/repair of Mobiles, Telecom Equipment, IT Hardware, Consumer Electronics

 Higher order servicing – L3 and L4 repairs

The above two skills sets account for about 70% of the incremental human resource requirement between themselves.

In the area of semiconductor design, the skill gaps are as follows:

a) Quality of Talent and fresh talent supply: Difference in expectations between industry and the Indian education system result in low skill-set levels available from non-premier institutes implying higher training costs and a considerably large gestation period before the engineer is productive.

b) Lack of experience: Companies have cited instances of lack of experienced talent in both the breadth and the depth of experience, where breadth indicates the knowledge of all the aspects of a design flow and depth indicates an extensive knowledge of a particular aspect of the design flow

c) Digital vs. Analog: Although India has good capabilities in the digital technologies; it faces a shortage of talent capable of handling analog technologies

d) Lack of product know-how: There is a lack of talent for product conceptualization and product management for emerging markets. Systems management still continues to be driven by overseas headquarters; talent for this need to be nurtured.

Requisite steps shall be required for Human Resource Development in the sector. IITs and premier Engineering Colleges need to be involved to design and develop specialized courses in semiconductor design and other high tech verticals with financial assistance from Government, if necessary. The Directorate General of Education and Training under the Ministry of Labour may be requested to introduce training modules for course materials for technicians in order to create a verticals specific skilled workforce which could service and maintain various electronic products. A Government Fellowship programme to train selected engineers / technologies and scientists in Electronics in world class institutions abroad should be taken up. Fellowships may be at two levels (i) research and (ii) higher degree (M.Tech). This may be done in consultation with industry to offer employment opportunities. There is a pressing need for skill building to increase employability and meet demand across all sectors.

Following recommendations are made for skill development in the Industry:

• Skill development of workforce at supervisory level and below (Diploma / ITI qualified or below) and engaged in assembly operations, sales and service support

- Introducing short-term courses and opening training institutes in after- sales service support

- Introducing short-term courses to train people in sales

- Inculcating simple assembly/related skills and shop floor ethics at grass roots level

- Improving skills for contract manufacturing and assembly operations - Creating appropriate infrastructure

• Skill development of workforce - technical graduates and above

- Opening engineering finishing schools for technical graduates - Capacity addition and curriculum updation in Technical Education - National/Regional Centres of Excellence for Design and Development

skills

- Course on Manufacturing Management Capability

- Imparting specialized training for emerging high technology manufacturing

- Improvement of Soft Skill Sets

 Skill development in high-tech manufacturing: A three-pronged approach towards skill development in high-tech manufacturing for the electronics hardware manufacturing industry is proposed:

- 4 Regional High Tech Training Centres well-equipped with state-of-art

laboratory facilities should be set up at the major clusters

- Curriculum updation in engineering colleges: The need for such courses (both

specific and generic) is highlighted by the fact that while electronics engineers lack skills and exposure to production processes, mechanical engineers lack sufficient exposure to electronics, but the industry/shop floor expects multi- skilling in both these areas. Major areas proposed in the curriculum include Surface Mounted Technologies (SMT), LCD technologies, semiconductors, nanotechnology, PLC and robots, and quality practices and tools.

- Train the trainer initiatives: It is recommended that large companies which have high tech manufacturing equipment and production facilities should train teachers from select institutes.

Funding for the above schemes has to be sourced through a mix of Government funded, Private funded, and Partnership funded mechanisms.

Talent requirements in semiconductor design segment - Recommendations

a. Setup specialized institutes for semiconductor design with government and industry players as key stakeholders

b. Cultivate student interest c. Faculty development d. Employee advancement

Funding for the above schemes can be sourced through a mix of Government funded, Private funded, and Partnership funded mechanisms. Funding options available in the National Skill Development Mission may also be used.