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COVER STORY

construction market faces is that of skilled operator shortages, as their capabilities and plugging them into global value chains. This
India does not have any legal requirement for operator licensing. means that small and medium enterprises can also compete on
To counter this issue, Volvo Construction Equipment has partnered a global level. Plus, foreign investments help to ensure that small INTERACTION
with the Infrastructure Equipment Sector Council (IESC) and various and medium enterprise’s products meet international standards,
private training partners to develop certified training centers making it easier to export and position India as a competitive
across India. These training centers train people from zero skills manufacturing and export hub worldwide. This blend of local and
to junior operators, increasing employability. We also launched global efforts really captures the spirit of “Make in India.”
mobile simulators for on-site upskilling, which enable operators to
enhance efficiency and safety on the job. By providing equipment How has the “Make in India” initiative influenced the export
and content to support training programs, Volvo is bridging the potential of Indian-made construction equipment? Have we
skilling gap while it promotes productivity and safety in the industry. been able to fully capture our manufacturing potential and
showcase it to the world?
How does the “Make in India” initiative aim to boost innovation The “Make in India” initiative has really ramped up the export
and technology in the construction equipment sector? Do potential for Indian-made construction equipment by pushing
you practice ‘Make in India and Sell Globally,’ use your India for local manufacturing and ensuring products meet global
manufacturing base to supply to the global market. Detail us on standards. We are making the most of advanced tech to create
the Game changing technology/products developed by your top-notch equipment. For instance, soil compactors, asphalt
company. compactors, and pneumatic tyre rollers developed right here in
The “Make in India” initiative really pushes for new ideas in the India are now being shipped to places like Southeast Asia, Africa,
construction equipment scene by boosting local manufacturing, Latin America, and the Middle East. While India made great strides
attracting global investments, and getting advanced tech in manufacturing and exports, there’s still a lot of potential to tap
involved. Here at Volvo Construction Equipment, we totally live by into developed markets. By keeping our focus on innovation,
the ‘Make in India and Sell Globally’ idea by making compactors quality, and aligning with global regulations, we can truly show
and excavators right here in our plants in India to export to places off India’s manufacturing skills to the world.
like the Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. Our
game-changing technologies also include electric construction How has the “Make in India” initiative contributed to job creation
equipment and sophisticated hydraulic systems, which help align in the construction equipment sector?
with sustainability goals. Moreover, our competence center in India The “Make in India” initiative has been a huge boost for job
contributes to the whole world by developing embedded software creation in the construction equipment sector. By promoting
for products worldwide, thereby enhancing India’s contribution to domestic manufacturing, it has created a whole ecosystem for
the global value chain for cutting-edge construction solutions. skill development and training. In this context, Volvo Construction
Equipment has partnered with the Infrastructure Equipment Sector
Has your company adopted Industry 4.0 in your manufacturing Council and certified training partners to upskill operators and
operations? What benefits have you reaped by adopting Industry technicians, making them more employable across the industry.
4.0? Volvo Construction Equipment has over 120 suppliers, many of
Indeed, Volvo Construction Equipment has implemented Industry which are MSMEs. The initiative has strengthened local supply
4.0 in its production processes by adopting IoT, automation, and chains and indirectly generated countless jobs. Plus, the increased
data analytics technologies to achieve more efficiency and manufacturing of locally designed equipment has opened up
accuracy. All these changes in the process have helped it reduce even more opportunities in production, training, and servicing. It’s
the production cycle and improve the quality control measures. a win-win for everyone involved.
It has also helped in enhancing predictive maintenance to
reduce downtime and costs. Industry 4.0 has also supported What measures have been taken to enhance skill development
our commitment to sustainability by minimizing waste and in the construction equipment sector under the “Make in India”
energy consumption. Moreover, these innovations have further initiative? What more needs to be done to bring skills at par with
strengthened our supplier base, especially MSMEs, by enhancing the global standards?
better collaboration and competence development, thus Under the “Make in India” initiative, there’s been a big push to
creating a more resilient and globally competitive ecosystem. boost skill development in the construction equipment sector.
Partnering with the Infrastructure Equipment Sector Council and
What role does foreign investments play in the success of the various training partners, certified training programs, standardized
“Make in India” initiative for construction equipment? content, and operator certification are various ways through which
Foreign investments play an important role in the success of we are enhancing skill development at Volvo. To truly meet global
the “Make in India” initiative, especially in the construction standards, the industry needs more OEM (Original Equipment
equipment sector. They bring in new technologies and spark Manufacturer) participation, mandatory operator licensing, and
innovation, boosting our local manufacturing market and setting increased government support for subsidized training programs.
up production facilities in India. This not only creates jobs but This will attract new talent and develop the competencies needed
also strengthens our domestic supply chain. Collaborations with for the future. It’s all about preparing the workforce for the evolving
foreign investors also give a major boost to MSMEs by enhancing landscape.

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