On Friday, April 10, 2026, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) and Wipro 3D (the additive manufacturing arm of Wipro Infrastructure Engineering) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Additive Manufacturing in Bidadi, Karnataka.
The facility will be housed at the Toyota Technical Training Institute (TTTI), serving as a hub for next-generation automotive engineering and Industry 4.0 skill development.
Strategic Rationale: Industry 4.0 & Skill India
This partnership bridges the gap between traditional vocational training and the high-tech requirements of modern automotive production.
- Additive Manufacturing (AM) at Scale: The CoE will move 3D printing from a “prototyping” tool to a production-ready technology, focusing on the creation of lightweight components, production aids, and on-demand spare parts.
- Industry-Academia Synergy: Wipro 3D brings its specialized technical expertise in metal and polymer additive manufacturing, while TKM provides the industrial scale and vocational framework of TTTI.
- Skill India Alignment: The initiative directly supports the Government’s mission to create a “future-ready” workforce capable of handling smart systems and digital manufacturing.
Core Pillars of the Program
The collaboration is not just about equipment; it is a structured academic curriculum integrated with industrial operations:
- Hands-on Applied Learning: Students will work on live industry projects, specifically focusing on rapid prototyping to reduce lead times in New Product Development (NPD).
- Certification & Upskilling: The program includes structured workshops, certification courses, and apprenticeships designed to make students “industry-ready” upon graduation.
- Kaizen Integration: In true Toyota fashion, the training will emphasize Kaizen (continuous improvement) and resource optimization within an automated environment.
- Inclusivity: TTTI recently doubled its annual intake to 2,400 students, with 50% of seats now reserved for female candidates, ensuring gender diversity in advanced technical fields.
Impact on Production Efficiency
By mastering additive manufacturing, TKM expects to realize significant operational gains:
- Assembly Line Optimization: Designing custom production aids and jigs that are lighter and more ergonomic.
- Supply Chain Resilience: On-demand manufacturing of specialized parts, reducing the need for large inventories of slow-moving components.
- Operational Flexibility: Enhanced ability to pivot production lines for new EV or hybrid models.
“This collaboration will play an imperative role in nurturing future-ready talent, while contributing meaningfully to the Government’s Skill India Mission. We are committed to developing individuals in the latest technology of the new-age era.” — G. Shankara, Chief Strategy Officer, TKM.
