In a significant move aimed at boosting employment opportunities for women in Uttarakhand, the Tata Group has announced plans to recruit 4,000 women technicians from the state. On 26th August, the Tata Group communicated this decision to the State Planning Department of Uttarakhand, indicating their intent to employ these women at their components manufacturing and assembly units located in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. This crucial information was conveyed in a letter penned by Ranjan Bandopadhyay, the Chief Human Resource Officer of the Tata Group.

The recruitment drive will be spearheaded by Tata Electronics Pvt Ltd and will be conducted under two prominent schemes. Firstly, the National Apprenticeship Training Scheme (NATS), which falls under the Union Education Ministry, will play a key role. Secondly, the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), governed by the Union Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Ministry, will also facilitate this initiative. This ambitious recruitment plan aligns with the broader goals of Uttarakhand's Chief Minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, who is focused on increasing employment prospects for the youth in the state.

These women technicians are slated to work at two major facilities: the Hosur plant in Tamil Nadu and the Kolar plant in Karnataka. To qualify for the recruitment under the NAPS, candidates must have completed at least Class 10 or 12. For the NATS, the eligibility criteria extend to those who have completed Class 10, Class 12, or hold an ITI diploma. The selection process involves rigorous tests to ensure that the candidates are well-equipped for the roles. Upon selection, these women will take on the critical role of shop floor technicians, where they will be responsible for operating sophisticated automated machinery in the precision electronics assembly, all under strict supervision.

The company elaborated on the roles these women technicians will undertake, stating, “The candidates will be deputed as shop floor technicians in precision electronics assembly. Their role will involve operating highly sophisticated and automated machines under supervision.” This responsibility places them at the heart of the manufacturing process, where precision and accuracy are paramount in ensuring the quality of the electronics assembled.

These technicians will be employed under the guidelines set forth by the Apprenticeship Act of 1961, ensuring that their roles are aligned with national standards for apprenticeship training. Appointment letters will be distributed based on the candidates' qualifications as outlined by the NATS and NAPS schemes. In a bid to support the selected women, the Tata Group has committed to providing a range of benefits, including accommodation, food, and transportation, alongside a fixed salary. These additional provisions are intended to make the transition smoother for the women relocating for these positions, ensuring their well-being is taken care of as they embark on this new chapter in their careers.

The Tata Electronics plant in Hosur is poised to begin manufacturing iPhones later this year, marking a significant milestone in the company's expansion. This facility is expected to employ a staggering 50,000 workers over the next two years, with a significant portion of these positions being filled by women, reflecting the company's commitment to gender diversity in the workplace. Meanwhile, Tata Electronics has also made a strategic acquisition by taking over the iPhone manufacturing plant in Kolar from Wistron India. The current workforce at the Kolar plant will remain in place, ensuring continuity in operations, while the new ownership is actively working to increase the number of workers, further boosting the plant's capacity and productivity.

This expansion of workforce and infrastructure highlights Tata Group's strategic efforts to strengthen its position in the competitive electronics manufacturing industry, while simultaneously providing substantial employment opportunities for women across India.

Tata’s ₹6,000 Crore Hosur Facility to Begin Manufacturing iPhones in November 2024, Says Report

Tata Electronics is gearing up to make a significant impact in the smartphone manufacturing industry with its new iPhone manufacturing plant in Hosur, Tamil Nadu. According to a report by Business Standard, the plant is expected to commence production in November 2024. This facility, sprawling across 250 acres, marks Apple's fourth assembly plant in India and is Tata Electronics' second venture into manufacturing for the tech giant's flagship smartphone line.

Sources close to the development have revealed that “preparations are in full swing” for the plant's operations. Notably, the enclosures produced at the components factory, which was set up in 2021, are already being utilized in some iPhone models assembled in India and exported to China. This indicates that the plant's capabilities are being progressively integrated into Apple's global supply chain.

The Hosur facility is set to be a significant employer, with plans to hire 50,000 blue-collared workers, the majority of whom will be women. In terms of workforce size, this would make it the second-largest Apple iPhone manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu, trailing only Foxconn's plant in the state. This ambitious hiring plan underscores the scale of operations envisioned for the Hosur facility.

Despite the scale and importance of this development, both Apple and Tata Electronics have remained tight-lipped, offering no responses to queries regarding the progress and future plans of the facility. However, sources have mentioned that “equipment and production lines are being stress-tested to meet the high demand expected at this new facility,” indicating the rigorous preparations underway to ensure the plant can meet the anticipated production volumes.

Facility to Boost Apple’s India Production

The Hosur facility is a strategic component of Apple Inc.'s broader plan to expand its manufacturing base in India, according to a Bloomberg report from earlier this year. The report highlights that the facility is expected to house around 20 assembly lines and aims to employ approximately 50,000 workers over the next two years. This expansion is part of Apple's efforts to diversify its production footprint and reduce reliance on other regions.

The Bloomberg report also mentions that the site is projected to be fully operational within the next 12-18 months, which aligns with the anticipated start of production in November 2024. As with previous reports, neither Apple nor Tata Electronics responded to queries, maintaining a veil of silence around the specifics of this ambitious project.

This facility is poised to play a crucial role in bolstering Apple's manufacturing capabilities in India, potentially making the country a significant hub for iPhone production on a global scale.

Strengthening Apple’s Supply Chain Localisation

The establishment of this new plant is anticipated to significantly strengthen Apple's strategy of localizing its supply chain, while simultaneously deepening its collaboration with Tata. Currently, the Tata Group manages an iPhone manufacturing unit in Karnataka, which was acquired from Wistron Corp. This new venture is expected to further solidify Tata's role in Apple's global supply chain.

Apple's decision to shift part of its manufacturing base to India aligns with its broader objective of diversifying operations beyond China. This strategy involves forging partnerships not only in India but also in other regions such as Thailand and Malaysia. By doing so, Apple aims to mitigate risks associated with concentrating production in a single country and to ensure a more resilient and flexible supply chain.

According to a report by the Wall Street Journal on December 7, Apple and its suppliers have set ambitious targets for their operations in India. The report indicates that the goal is to manufacture over 50 million iPhones annually in India within the next two to three years. Furthermore, they plan to ramp up production significantly, with tens of millions of additional units expected in the subsequent period. This marks a significant shift in Apple's manufacturing strategy, highlighting India's growing importance in the company's global operations.

Tata has demonstrated proactive engagement in its partnership with Apple, expanding its operations beyond traditional sectors, which range from salt to software. This expansion includes ramping up employment at the existing Hosur facility, focusing on producing iPhone enclosures, a critical component in the smartphone's manufacturing process. Additionally, Tata has ambitious plans to introduce 100 retail outlets dedicated to Apple products across India, further embedding itself in the tech giant's ecosystem.

Simultaneously, Apple has already established a presence in the Indian retail market by opening two flagship stores, with plans to inaugurate three more in the near future. This move indicates Apple's commitment to not only manufacturing in India but also tapping into the growing consumer market in the country.

The collaboration between Tata and Apple, marked by the establishment of new manufacturing units and retail expansion, underscores a significant shift in Apple's global strategy. This shift is poised to make India a pivotal player in the tech giant's supply chain and retail operations, contributing to the localization and diversification efforts that are increasingly critical in the current global economic climate.