Michelin’s Chennai manufacturing facility on track

Michelin Tyres has reaffirmed that it is setting up its manufacturing unit at Thervoy Kandigai Industrial Park in Thiruvallur district and has launched a training centre there for its employees and the community. With an investment of Rs. 4,000 crore over a period of 7 years, the manufacturing facility in India is being set up on 290 acres of land, allotted by SIPCOT. With a global market share of 15.5pc, Michelin has been equipping vehicles in India for almost a decade and today markets in India a full offer of radial tyres for two wheel, passenger car, trucks and buses, agriculture, construction and mining vehicles. The Michelin Training Centre, the first building to be operational on the site, was launched on 30th May, 2011. The facility will conduct soft skills and technical skills training to help improve employability for the villagers. The first program that has been designed for the community is English language training that is scheduled to commence on 15th of July 2011. Some of the other training programs that are planned are computer skills, accounting, and other vocational courses like plumbing and carpentry. “Michelin firmly believes that the company will do well only when the communities around its operations can also benefit. The main focus of this training facility is to offer training to both: Michelin employees and the local community around the site. Apart from technical and language training to its own staff, the facility will conduct training in soft and technical skills to help improve employment opportunities of the villagers, in general.” says Nicolas Beaumont, Managing Director, Michelin India Tamil Nadu Tyres Pvt. Ltd. This plant will eventually offer employment to 1,500 people locally. At present, there are 356 employees recruited, 67pc of which are undergoing training. Michelin hosts training in various Michelin factories overseas for a period ranging from one to three years hence giving international exposure to its employees. “The first radial truck tyre from the manufacturing facility will be rolled out in November 2012. The plant has a capacity to produce 20 lakh tyres however, in the first year; we will produce 3 lakh tyres. With this facility in India, Michelin will be better equipped to cater to evolving and increasing needs of the Indian customer.” says Nicolas Beaumont, Managing Director, Michelin India Tamilnadu Tyres Pvt. Ltd.