ELGi: Driving Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Manufacturing

11 March 2024

In July 2023, ELGi introduced all-women production lines at the ELGi Air Center, where young women are today managing operations

At ELGi, we attach great importance to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Over the years, we've focused on building an inclusive and collaborative value-based culture while implementing initiatives to encourage greater diversity and representation of women in our workforce.

We’ve implemented a gender-neutral hiring policy and have zero tolerance for discrimination of any kind. Equal opportunities are provided to individuals across the organisation regardless of demographic, socio-economic, and cultural background or other aspects. Today, our efforts to enhance gender equality have resulted in women occupying diverse roles at ELGi across different functions, including operations, sales, marketing, IT, and HR. At present, 18% of our global workforce and 7% of the Indian workforce comprise women.

In July 2023, ELGi introduced all-women production lines at the ELGi Air Center, where young women are today managing operations at the airend assembly line, the encapsulated airend assembly line, and the ELGi new generation compressor top block assembly line, delivering over 150 airends and top blocks daily.All assembly lines at the ELGi Air Center have been automated to ensure an inclusive working environment, enabling young girls and women to excel in their roles and make invaluable contributions on the shop floor.

The young women joining the production lines at the ELGi Air Center are graduates of the ELGi Vocational Training School, established in 2016 at the ELGi Air Center Plant (ACP) to foster growth opportunities and pathways to careers for young individuals from challenging backgrounds, embracing the values of DEI at every step. All EVTS graduates undergo a 3-year technical training program comprising modules on machining, welding, electrical work, basic engineering, and advanced production technologies.

In August 2023, the Elgi Vocational Training School (EVTS) partnered with the Community College, Central University of Tamil Nādu, to introduce a three-year Bachelor of Vocation (B. Voc) program in Production Technology under the National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF). The program aims to equip students with practical skills and theoretical knowledge essential for a successful career in the manufacturing industry. The Community College of CUTN, through EVTS, delivers the curriculum's theoretical components, while ELGi provides 70% of the skill-based training at its state-of-the-art facility. Upon successful completion of the three-year course, all the students will be absorbed as employees by ELGi, highlighting the company's commitment to nurturing youth and creating a pipeline of skilled talent.

ELGi also embarked on an academic-industry collaboration with the PSGR Krishnammal College for Women (PSGRKCW), a Coimbatore-based autonomous arts and science college, to drive value research and innovation. ELGi inaugurated its first Digital Innovation DOJO (immersive learning center), which aligns with ELGi's digital transformation strategy based on the premise of 'Experiment, Start Small & Scale Fast.' The partnership provides a plethora of opportunities for young women to acquire specialized technical skills while defining solutions and exploring areas of development, ultimately resulting in valuable industry experience for the participant students, together with workable solutions and fresh perspectives for ELGi.

The GRG-ELGi Digital Innovation DOJO has already made a significant impact, with 129 young girls participating in 40+ digital projects during their three-month internships in the fiscal year 2022-23. The internship program comprises multiple cohorts and projects, focusing on Agile Scrum project management and various technology skills, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Robotic Process Automation (RPA). In the future, we intend to create pan-India Digital Innovation DOJOs with the academia to establish a robust education-to-work pipeline for young students to enhance STEM skills in line with business expectations.

ELGi is committed to achieving 20% women representation in the workforce and taking concrete steps to review our policies and practices while working on a strategic approach to implementing this commitment. By fostering an environment where every individual has the opportunity to thrive, ELGi not only strengthens its competitive advantage but also drives positive social change, paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable future.