[Aditya]

Ford has inaugurated its first independent technical training facility for the North zone at Manesar, Gurgaon. The company aims to create a pool of trained technicians through this centre.

The centre is established in partnership with Technical Training Inc. [TTi]. It is spread over an area of 18,000 sq. ft. and will provide training to dealer staff. It has a capacity of 13,500 training days per year.



As a part of training program, the staff will be trained on Ford’s current and forthcoming product portfolio. The learning programs will be conducted in digitally computerized classrooms. Ford aims to empower technicians with the knowledge and skills they would require to service the latest technologies on all Ford products.

Apart from the technical training centre, Ford has six training centres in India - one each in Chennai, Cochin, Kolhapur, Ahmedabad, Mohali and Kolkata. These centres are called Automotive Student Service Educational Training (ASSET) centres.

[RSR]

This is an excellent initiative by Ford to open one technical training centre in each region, instead of having just two overall (in each of their factories). Not only will it reduce the time required to train every new technician, it would also enable all existing technicians to receive immediate training directly from Ford's experts whenever a new Ford is launched.

This initiative is a nice addition to over-the-counter sales of Ford spares through dedicated retailers. These indicate that Ford is very serious about increasing their marketshare and becoming one of the top players in the Indian market.

If only the folks in their marketing department were to stop being the lethargic laggards they seem to be, Ford would be able to rise as rapidly as Renault on the monthly sales charts. It's a pity that Ford cannot even market brilliant cars like the new Figo & Aspire in a deserving manner.

[AKTRACK]

If one were to go by what Ford has been doing lately, it will be hard to question their commitment to Indian marked.

They started -

- New plant at Sanand
- OTC distribution of parts
- The freshest and very competent portfolio of products.
- Service price promise on their website
- Child parts strategy
- Making India an export hub
- Lowered cost of spares
- Now the investment in Training centers
- Getting the Mustang in India

Still they have not been able to get their market share above 3 %. There is a serious image issue. Enthusiasts and the masses perceive Ford very differently. Having owned a Ford product for around 8 months it is easy to see the chinks. If I were to advise them on one thing that could change their fortunes - it would be 'improvement in the quality of interaction with customers - at all levels'. This may be the key.

[RSR]

Ford opens another training centre, this time in Jaipur:

In a bid to expand the pool of skilled professionals, Ford India on Friday opened its ninth automotive student service educational training (ASSET) centre in Jaipur.

Built in partnership with Kamal Ratan Private ITI and K S Ford, the technical cell will train students on Ford technology as part of motor mechanic vehicle (MMV) curriculum.

Full article: http://auto.economictimes.indiatimes...aipur/52163741