Article – Phase I Training Batch 2008- 2010
Whoa! ich bin wirklich eine Familienmitglied der Siemens-Familie!” That’s the first thought that entered my mind when our Director, Mrs. Radhieka Mehta announced that Siemens had accepted me as an intern/trainee……Suddenly from being a student, now I was part of a company that had a major presence across 180 countries, recalls Ms. Sonal Kotian, a student of the Indo-German Training Centre, Mumbai, Batch 2008 – 2010.
Such similar thoughts encompassed/hovered the minds of 42 young and dynamic kids who were ready to face the corporate world with their first phase of practical training beginning 1st January 2009 for a period of 2 months. This year, twenty companies across diverse sectors such as manufacturing and engineering, retail, banking, consulting, consumer products accepted IGTC students as trainees.
Sonal recollects her stint with Siemens “I was associated with the medical division of Siemens and was involved in the marketing communication arena. I worked extensively on the SAP module relating to commercial handling for corporate communication. It involved major detailing – beginning right from requesting quotations from vendors to evaluating the most profitable and trouble-free vendor to allocate the contract keeping with the terms and conditions of the organization. This helped me understand the commercial and payment policies of the medical division and how critical they are in today’s times when “Cost-Cutting” is in full force/swing.
Since Siemens operates on a B2B basis, the target audience is very different. Hence marketing communications acquires a different paradigm altogether. Another major learning that I partake from Siemens is on the personal front. I learnt the most important attribute for today’s times-“Humility”. I learnt that any work whether big or small is still imperative. I realized that hard-work with core dedication and commitment will definitely help to move ahead, both professionally & personally.”
Tinaz Bana, another student of IGTC narrates her experience of being trained in one of the leading car companies in the world – Audi AG. Audi AG is headquartered in Ingolstadt, Bavaria (Germany). Volkswagen AG has a 99.14% stake holding in Audi AG since 1964 and therefore in India, Audi AG carries out all its activities under the Volkswagen umbrella.
Tinaz brings her experience to us “In the 2 months of my training at Audi not only did my knowledge about the company and its functioning increase but my execution abilities also improved tremendously. I was assigned to the Product and Price division which is the important and crucial department of Audi. All product related decisions such as decisions pertaining to every equipment, specification which goes into every model as per market requirements, new product launch management decisions, volume planning decisions, homologation decisions and rating, maintaining market intelligence and market research data, competitor pricing for each model and price negotiations are done while being constantly in contact with the Audi Headquarters at Ingolstadt, Germany. My work spanned across all the above areas from preparing market intelligence and market development data for Business Meetings to customer competitor analysis, equipments and specification checks and index reviews.
On an ongoing basis I kept myself abreast about the functioning of the other departments of Audi and its competitors for better understanding of the automobile segment. I was also made part of the “Audi Team Days” which took place at The Radissons- Alibaug. It was a two day affair wherein we participated in personality workshops followed by product training. Punctuality and professionalism are the two most important pillars on which Audi functions and they were exhibited in every diminutive job which is carried out. These qualities were expected out of me also. My work was constantly scrutinized not only in terms of meeting deadlines but also in the professionalism which had to be maintained.
I have been very fortunate to have got training under supportive and encouraging yet very knowledgeable mentors who have been great influencers in my life and have helped me tremendously in setting standards which differentiate me from the rest. Making the difference is what Audi is all about.”
Mahesh Rege, a level headed and self motivated student of the training centre has a tale of his own “My first training phase at Bizerba India Pvt. Ltd. was full of challenges, targets, opportunities and leanings straight from the corporate world. I was placed in the marketing division of Bizerba where I was instrumental in designing the branding strategy for industrial products and was busy working on order life cycle for the key accounts which were assigned to me. The principles/concepts of marketing learnt at IGTC during its classroom sessions helped me tremendously and was a confidence booster while working with clients like Basf, Pidilite and Nestle. I was given an assignment to map the distributors’ network for industrial products across the country where I used the questionnaire design and data collection techniques. Advertising and designing assignments were full of fun and creativity. Interactions with giants like TOI, ET and Dun & Bradstreet have given me valuable learning experience. The Business communication lessons for drafting letters and memos prepared me to correspond at my work place in an efficient and effective manner.”
Rohit Saxena, a chemical engineering student and a trainee with BASF Group in India shares his valuable experience at his company “I was instrumental in conducting a market research for finding the feasibility of launching a new product for BASF. BASF has polyurethane products for the market but they were looking out for areas of application for the same. Thus, my job involved meeting the present manufacturers and the end users of these coatings. I was required to keep myself abreast with the different varieties of products available in the market. The job involved knowing product chemistry and application techniques. These had to be then compared with the existing BASF products. The analysis was done on the basis of material cost per kg. for different thicknesses of coatings.
Since the products have varied applications, it was difficult to find ‘that’ one niche where we could find maximum potential. However, with my prior work experience and the constant support and guidance of my mentors I managed to be on the right track. The study did reveal the most lucrative prospect for our products. What was more important was that we were able to identify and eliminate the areas that were not favorable in terms of business volume. The two months went by at the flick of an eye. But I carried with me a lasting knowledge of conducting a market research and in depth details of the coatings market. Overall, it was a transitional experience from earlier working in a small scale organization to a German MNC”.
Mira Parekh, a B.Com graduate from Kolkatta was overwhelmed with her training in a manufacturing company. She recollects “Anxiety, excitement and zeal to learn something novel are few words which would describe my feelings on the first day of my practical training phase at Bosch Limited, Bangalore. I was entrusted to the CFA department at Bosch and my project involved a comprehensive study on the adherence to guidelines of local GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) and IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) with respect to inventories at Bosch Limited. Thereafter I was required to verify substantively to the fact of observance in the actual process of stocktaking done at Bosch Limited. Inventory Management can make or mar the company as its impact is quite prominent and therefore no company can sideline its importance. Hence complying with the recommended guidelines becomes vitally necessary.
For the project I had to study the central directives of the company thoroughly. These are certain guidelines provided to Bosch to direct them in the procedures and process of stock take. Simultaneously I was also required to understand the actual process of stock take undertaken at the company. This was made possible by a few plant visits where I got an opportunity to observe the processes very closely and gain a clear understanding of them. These two months were a great value addition in terms of improving my communication skills and gaining a holistic view of the corporate culture. It has helped me in the implementation of my knowledge of subjects like Economics and Research Methodology in my practical project thus reinforcing the philosophy of IGTC – Theory that is practice oriented”.
Rakesh Ravindran is one of the few trainees for whom a position has been planned by his practical training company – Endress + Hauser after the completion of his 18 month PGPBA program at IGTC. E+H is a global leader in the provision of measurement instrumentation, services and solutions for industrial process automation and engineering.
Let’s hear it from the horses mouth “The company has planned a position for me as Industry Manager-Chemical Industry. I am overwhelmed to have received this indication/inclination from them as it is a complex and interesting role within marketing, including product, application and industry know-how. My training was very fruitful and included understanding of the present scenario, industry coverage, market size, growth drivers, government policies, global meltdown effect and future growth for the Indian Chemical Industry 2009.
I was involved in designing E+H Product Package for Chemical & Petrochemicals Industry 2009 and identifying target segments and upcoming projects for the current year. All my analytical abilities were put to use by the EIC Analysis, SWOT Analysis and strategies to increase market share and spread the word ‘Chemical Competencies’. I was given this opportunity to be one of the three delegates for Endress + Hauser at the International Conference on Industrial Automation and Control [IAC] 2009, at the International Exhibition Centre, Mumbai. The latest automation technology, technical papers and case studies were presented. I’ve really enjoyed my brief stint with my training company”.
Nikhil Ghosalkar, another IGTC student narrates his experience to us “Training at Behr India Ltd. has widened my outlook with ample exposure to different areas of a business. My training was in logistics department, I was given a project to simulate the storage space requirements for finished goods area for two different products. The project entirely was a challenge for me considering the desired objective to be fulfilled. At the same time, my involvement in other inventory management activities like warehouse reporting, audit and general know how of SAP management system educated me in a multifaceted way in a relatively short span of time”.
Dhruv Shah, a trainee with Inverto Sourcing Services (India) Pvt. Ltd. shares his know-how about the projects entrusted to him at his practical training company “I was assigned three projects by my mentor – (1) To study the cost structure of the pharmaceutical industry in India (2) To study the banking industry, both public & private sector in India and (3) Supplier profiling for a particular industry in China.
The pharmaceutical & banking industry each required an in-depth study of white papers of various top companies of each industry and to analyze and segregate their cost structure according to our preferences for consulting. My next project – The supplier profiling for China was mainly research based and it improved my analytical skills. The entire experience of this practical training was fruitful and I am looking forward to my next training phase in June – July with INVERTO”.
Vandana Padmanabhan describes her stint with Merck. “In my first phase of training I got a chance to feel the pulse of an office/organization like Merck and was assigned a project to find out the perception of IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) specialists in four major cities in the country about Gonal-F pen and Recagon (Puregon) Pen used for treatment of infertility. A questionnaire and an introductory letter were prepared with the guidance of my peers at Merck to capture the information required to make Gonal-F Pen the first choice of prescription by doctors working in IVF Clinics in the country.
When I was told that, besides Mumbai, I have to visit Delhi, Chennai and Bangalore all alone, a feeling of nervousness crept in my mind. I knew fully well that meeting top-notch Specialists in the IVF field and gathering critical information from them was easier said than done. Literally I was having my breakfast in Delhi, lunch in Chennai and Dinner at Bangalore. The meetings with the Specialists went well and I collected many valuable inputs required for completing the project. More than that, I saw the despondency of childless couples and the priceless happiness of some when they were told by the doctors that they are on their way to parenthood. I felt a sense of hope of hope – to be a part of the team who strives to bring smile back on the faces of couples craving for being blessed with a child. I consider myself fortunate that I opted to do my post graduation at IGTC and Merck has accepted to impart practical training to me, thanks to the dual system of education at IGTC”.
Ramesh Nair training with Bayer Crop Science, Powai states “My training stint started with an induction period of 2 days post which I was assigned to the Process Development Lab where I was initially asked to observe and study the working of the department and understand the SOP the company had to go through when a new molecule was to be launched in India. My 2nd project was titled ‘Industrial Manufacturing and Product Development Operation’ which required me to work in each department and understand their functioning in thorough detail for a period of 3 days each. It was a fruitful experience for me to work cross functional.
Above is just a gist of the first practical training phase of the IGTC batch 2008-2010. Thus ended a two month long training stint for all these students which encompassed immense learning and a futuristic agenda towards enriching newer opportunities with the blend of theoretical knowledge which would be added in the second theoretical phase at the Indo-German Training Centre.
