The Hindu : Front Page : Getting ready for IT boom

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 20, 2006
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Getting ready for IT boom

M. Soundariya Preetha

Introduction of new courses, manufacturing concepts planned

UPDATING: Students learning to operate a computer numerical control machine used in engineering units in the city. - Photo: K. Ananthan

COIMBATORE: As Coimbatore prepares for a takeoff in Information Technology (IT) and IT Enabled Services (ITES) sector in a big way, traditional manufacturing sector is equipping itself for challenges it may face, such as employee shortage.

"Manufacturing and IT should co-exist and the CII has identified three key areas of focus for the manufacturing sector," says Jayakumar Ramdass, Chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Coimbatore Zone. Chennai is a model city in this regard, he added.

Skilled manpower

Ensuring availability of adequate skilled manpower is one of the areas of focus. "It is directly proportional to the quality of students coming out of colleges and institutes."

CII is working out a strategy to strengthen industry-institute relationship. Coimbatore, being a textile hub, is also trying to introduce textile courses in industrial training institutes.

Another area of focus is introduction of modern manufacturing concepts. A summit will be held next month on lean manufacturing.

This is to improve delivery schedules, bring down inventory and improve profits.

Low cost automation is also important for industries and small and medium scale enterprises should invest in this.

The idea is: units should reduce costs and modernise.

They can go in for low-cost enterprise resource programmes. The cost of IT products for manufacturing units is expected to come down with the entry of IT and ITES companies here.

The CII will persuade the SMEs to go in for these methods, he said.

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