Opportunities in Automation

‘Automation offers endless opportunities'

 

THE $1 BILLION AUTOMATION INDUSTRY IS GROWING AT 30% PER-ANNUM AND REPRESENTS 7-8% OF INDIA'S GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP). PRESIDENT, AUTOMATION INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF INDIA (AIA), TALKS  ABOUT THE INDUSTRY

 

 

What is automation and what kind opportunities does it offer?

Automation is a wide field. The automation industry addresses design, development, production, and application of devices and systems that sense, measure, and control industrial processes and manufacturing operations. This includes domains of basic continuous control; discrete, sequencing and manufacturing control; advanced control; reliability, safety and electrical controls; related software development; and integration, deployment and maintenance. 

   Going by the increasing size of the industry, the job opportunities for automation engineers in India as well as abroad is huge. Moreover, since not many technical institutes cover automation engineering, the industry offers lucrative opportunities to multiple engineering disciplines like chemical, mechanical, instrumentation, electrical, electronics and software engineering.

Is this sector also facing a manpower crisis?

The automation industry is growing annually at a rate of around 6-8% globally, whereas in countries like India and China the growth rates exceed 30%. The five-year forecast is also showing healthy trends and the industry would require more technical graduates — both from engineering colleges and polytechnics — to join the industry. 

   Since the ’90s, the industry has been losing its shine, as the skilled workforce started moving towards the IT sector. One of the causes, perhaps, is the working condition — in the automation industry an engineer has to be in the workshop. The second aspect is the compensation package, which remains a deterrent even today. However, in this industry you can experience the real-life implementation of what you learnt in engineering.

What are the available career opportunities?

The impact of automation and control systems is seen everywhere around us. Automation systems are found in automobiles, medical instrumentation, petrochemical plants, refineries, commercial and military jets, robotic manufacturing systems, precision missile systems, chemical plants and life saving drug plants, among others. At the core of every process plant are automation systems that work in the background. The career opportunities this sector offer for today's youngsters are diverse and numerous. Opportunities exist for engineers in instrumentation, process control, automation, modelling, analysis, design and implementation.

Any major challenges for this sector?

Automation and control systems engineering is a fascinating field that offers endless possibilities. The primary challenge is to attract bright students to join the industry. Here, I would advise young technocrats to look at long-term growth prospects. The current trend of looking at shortterm goals needs to change if one wants to succeed in this field.

What is AIA’s role in the academic circle?

AIA comprises over 50 major corporates in the automation sector. According to a McKenzie report last year, only 25% of our engineering graduates are ready for deployment. And the industry is equally responsible for this, as the industryacademia interaction has not been adequate. 

Besides, the syllabus in most engineering colleges is outdated and the industry needs to intervene. AIA is trying to bridge this gap through various campus connect activities. We would also like to see the establishment of quality diploma schools in the country that offer good technical training.

 

   Sunil Sharma

     Moderator

Dil Se Desi Group

              &

www.dilsedesi.org

E & C Counselling(Careers in Leather Industry, business consultant, Computer and Geography, MBA after BTech, Operations Management, Other careers related to medicine,

EDUCATION & CAREER COUNSELLING

Leather Industry 

I am keen on taking up a job in the leather industry. Could you please tell me about the scope for designers in this field? 

 Lachhi Ram

A sector with great potential, India's leather industry is the fourth largest export earner in the country.

   Whether you are designing leather garments, footwear, handbags accessories or leather upholstery and furniture, it calls for basic knowledge of leather technology and specialised training in different aspects such as styling, creating patterns, fabrication, and keeping yourself updated with the latest in international designing and manufacturing trends and standards.

   Special courses in leather design and technology are offered at several institutions.

Business Consultancy

After doing my MBA from a medium-rung Bschool, I could not get a decent job so I have been working with a call centre for the last six months. But I feel I am in a dead-end job. Somebody suggested that I should shift to a business consultancy BPO. Is this a good choice? 

   Girish Singh

Being virtually chained to a chair for eight to 10 hours dealing with annoyed customers can be a very taxing job. This is one of the main reasons for the high attrition rates in the call centre industry.

   To get round this problem many Indian BPO companies are trying to break away from the mould of being ‘just another low cost destination’ where costs are the only consideration for outsourcing work.

   By moving up the value chain, these companies offer high-end services like business consultancy, in turn, giving people like you the opportunity to take up more challenging tasks.

   The scope of consulting can range from process specific consulting to vertical specific consulting like process mapping, process transfer, optimisation and upgradation.

   As an offshore business consultant you will work with clients to understand their needs, formulate business specifications and translate them into functional applications. This is no back-end, repetitive job and there are no canned scripts. You will have to think on your feet working out problems like how to enhance speed, security, analyse competition, cost management etc.

   Another related niche area is Business Research Outsourcing. It is estimated that about 2,000 to 3,000 professionals drawn from the field of engineering, MBAs from Tier-1-3 B-schools, CAs, postgraduates in maths, stats, finance and economics are currently engaged in business research.

   Don't worry; even if you have graduated from a medium rung B-school this will not hamper your progress. For example, recruitment at the highly sought after McKinsey Knowledge Centre is not restricted to the creamiest layers of top B-Schools.

   Apart from the international exposure, the icing on the cake is that you take home a 20-30% fatter paycheque at the end of the day.

   Some other agencies that have captive research centres in India are Bain & Co, Frost & Sullivan and the Everest Group while third-party providers like Evalueserve, Genpact (formerly GECIS) WNS, Pipal Research, Office Tiger, Copal Partners also offer research services to clients.

Computer and Geography

I am a student of class XII. My favourite subject is computer and geography. What are the good opportunities that I can get in these subjects? Please advise. 

Pramila Rai

You are lucky. There is a field that combines your love for both subjects.

   Geographical information System (GIS) is a high-tech computer-based system capable of capturing, assembling, storing, manipulating and displaying location ally-defined geographically referenced data. GIS is used for digital map making, site selection, finding the best route, solving environmental problems, exploring natural resources, urban planning and solutions for other problems.

   Application of GIS in India has matured with GIS software being used in various mission critical national projects including those pertaining to the environment, forestry, land records, and utilities.

   Map and satellite information sources can be combined in models that simulate the interactions of complex natural systems. GIS allows planners to calculate the emergency response time in the event of a natural disaster like the floods in Bihar. It also helps the police track down criminals.

   The Department of Space, National Informatics Centre, State Forest Departments, the Survey of India, Ministry of Environment & Forests, Geological Survey of India and educational institutions like IITs, IIMs, Universities and their affiliated colleges use GIS software.

   GIS is becoming indispensable in business. Recently, corporate giants have made significant investments in this technology. For instance, Reliance Digital World deploys GIS as a strategic IT tool in their network planning and execution. Besides utilising its potential in operations and maintenance, they are extensively using GIS in various projects including Infocom, Retail outlets, Hydrocarbon exploration and Gas pipeline execution.

   Remote Sensing is yet another related area of specialisation you could consider at the postgraduate level.

MBA after BTech

My son is doing third year engineering. He wants to do MBA after BTech, but we can't bear the high expense. He got 73% in the first year and 78% in second year. Please tell me how much it will cost in Delhi University or Lucknow University. 

BN Khare

I would advice your son to work for a couple of years before going for an MBA. Besides gaining valuable work experience that is an asset for pursuing a good MBA, it will also help him earn and save some money to pay for his MBA programme. Not that lack of funds should be a problem for getting into the IIMs or FMS or LU.

   Every year almost half the students admitted to the IIMs apply for loans. Banks like State Bank of India, Allahabad bank and PNB come to campus for offering loans. Some banks may require you to have (or make) an LIC policy of the amount applied for and a couple of other things. Overall, the banks are quite helpful with the loan sanctioning procedure. The loans cover your fees and mess bills, and an optional computer. Moreover, you can easily get an unsecured loan of up to Rs 4 lakh from any nationalised bank in India. Collateral is only required for higher denomination loans of Rs 7 lakh.

   While private B-schools do not offer financial aid IIMs have a policy of not denying any deserving candidate admission due to lack of funds. However, it is still easy to get financial aid for doing an MBA, especially if you are going to any of the top AICTE-approved B-schools. Banks are willing to give student loans to aspiring MBAs. The loan has to be repayed only after your son starts working. Considering that your son will be going to a top B-school, finding a high paying job should not be difficult at all.

   The fee payable at the time of admission to FMS, Delhi University (www.fms.edu) is Rs 9,950 and similarly for Lucknow University (www.lkouniv.ac.in/dept_buss_admin.htm), the fees are very modest as compared to other Bschools. The exact figures are listed on their respective websites.

Operations Management

I am taking the CAT this year. I know about specialisations like marketing, finance and HR. But what exactly is Operations Management about? Who should be going in for it? 

   Amrit Lal

 

Operations management is concerned with production related activities such as job routing, scheduling, quality control, production planning, inventory and control. It also involves other areas of the organisation such as accounting procedures, computer systems and other functional areas and systems through which work in the organisation is planned and performed.

   A specialisation in operations is specially suited for those with engineering backgrounds since it involves application of managerial skills to engineering and technical problems.

   Besides a strong grounding in technical and statistical skills, it also helps to possess good interpersonal skills. Job openings are mostly concentrated in manufacturing organisations.

Other careers related to medicine

Are there any other careers related to medicine that I could look at - just in case I don't make it to MBBS or BDS? 

   Gehar Nath

Certainly, there are plenty of other interesting career options beyond the traditional, which you could consider.

   Besides looking at some of the branches of alternative or traditional systems of medicine such as ayurveda, homeopathy, Unani, Siddha, naturopathy and yoga. You could also look at related fields like pharmacy, biochemistry, biotechnology, bioinformatics, microbiology, molecular biology, genetics, physiology, veterinary science & animal husbandry, zoology, agriculture, nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech & audiology, optometry, medical technologies such as ophthalmic technology, lab and X-ray technology, perfusion technology, biomedical engineering, dental

mechanics, hospital administration, health management, nutrition, dietetics, food processing, medical transcription, medico-legal work and rehabilitation counselling among others.

   Sunil Sharma

    Moderator

Dil Se Desi Group

              &

www.dilsedesi.co

The Counsellor - 26

THE COUNSELLOR

New composition 

I am doing BSc (honours) in chemistry. I have heard a lot about Cheminformatics. Can you elaborte on the career prospects in this field in India? Can you also inform about the institutes offering this course? 

Kiran Khatri

 

When information technology (IT) fuses with a branch of science, a new branch of science is born. Hence, the fusion of IT with biology and biotechnology is bioinformatics, the fusion of IT with Geology is Geoinformatics. And we now have a new branch fusing IT and chemistry called 'Cheminformatics'. 

   In the process of chemical research, a number of new compounds are synthesised continuously and a whole lot of information and data is generated. This continuously expanding chemical information is referred to as 'chemical information explosion'. Cheminformatics plays a great role in the management or in other words collection, storage, retrieval and application of this vast chemical information in a systematic manner using sophisticated computational methods and 3D modelling. 

   Cheminformatics finds wide application in drug discovery which is a very complex research process of formulating a chemical drug that produces biological effects. Further, the drug has to be tested for its effect on living beings. The biological response generated in a biological sample has to be carefully studied and documented. 

   This entire procedure is very time consuming, but with the help of cheminformatics these steps have been rendered very simple. 

   Cheminformatics is a rapidly developing branch of chemistry. In the coming days those who have specialised in Cheminformatics will be required globally. Chemical, agrochemical, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies are in great need of researchers with extensive knowledge of chemistry and computer science. 

   As the subject is relatively nascent in India, I know of only a couple of institutes offering courses in this branch: 

   Institute of Cheminformatics Studies, Noida, www.cheminformaticscentre.org/chem/ . 

   Course: One year industry programme in cheminformatics through distance learning. 

   Jamia Hamdard, Deemed University, New Delhi, department of chemistry 

   Course: Postgraduate diploma in cheminformatics through open and distance learning.

 

Career in finance 

I have been working as an insurance agent for some years. I want to become a mutual fund agent as well. Is there any course that I can pursue help or books I can read on the subject? 

Rohit Mehra

 

With the capital market riding on the back of a booming Indian economy, mutual funds have emerged as an important financial intermediary for the investing public. Although assets of the 30-odd Indian funds have jumped skywards, investors need to understand how a mutual fund (MF) works. They also need to know about increasingly diverse and complex investment options created by a large number of MFs. 

   The agent or distributor assumes the role of a financial advisor and is the key channel for bringing mutual funds to a large number of investors all over the country. The Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) which sets the industry standards for all funds operating in India has a certification process - the AMFI Mutual Fund Test. 

   This certification has been made mandatory by Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for anyone engaged in selling mutual funds - agents as well as those employed in distribution companies and banks. 

   Upon clearing the test, you can apply for your AMFI registration number which will certify you as an AMFI Registered Mutual Fund Advisor (ARMFA). 

   The test can be taken by anyone (regardless of age or qualification) who wishes to test his knowledge of the complexities of how mutual funds function internally and externally. 

   The automated multiple-choice online test requires no prior knowledge of computers. Papers are set for each candidate separately and assessed online. After you have the AMFI basic module, you can look at the AMFI advisors module. 

   The AMFI MF test is also offered as a separate module of the National Stock Exchange’s (NSE) Certification in Financial Markets (NCFM) along with other subjects such as derivative trading, capital markets etc. 

   AMFI has prepared the necessary study material to help you prepare for the test. The Workbook can be obtained from the AMFI office in Mumbai. For details log on to: 

www.amfiindia.com/testingprogram.html  

   You could also contact your nearest NSE Centre (there are seven of them) to register for the online test for a fee of Rs 500. There is no restriction on the number of attempts Log on to www.nse-india.com  for details. 

   Two good books I can recommend on the subject are The Indian Mutual Funds Handbook by Sundar Sankaran and The New Commonsense Guide to Mutual Funds by Paul Farrel - both published by Vision Books.

Which way 

I will be completing my class XII with science stream this year. Everyone around me is planning to enter information technology (IT) field. But my family members say that IT will be badly hit with the economic downturn in the US. Since I don't even know what exactly software professionals do, I am getting very confused. 

   Roop Singh

 

True, if the US economy sneezes, India's IT sector is bound to catch a cold because Indian IT companies earn more than 60% of their revenues from the US. 

   However, these (recession) are cyclical things that shouldn't worry you much. The Indian IT sector which has been witnessing 30-40% growth every year over the last four years will continue to shine regardless. In fact the big issue vexing IT companies is the availability of quality talent. India requires a 2.3 million-strong workforce by 2010 and fears a potential shortfall of nearly 0.5 million qualified professionals. Software engineering will continue to be one of the fastest growing occupations for the 

next decade at least. In fact, employment of computer software engineers is and is projected to grow "much faster than average". 

   There are two types of computer software engineers: computer applications software engineers and computer systems software engineers. Computer software engineers are employed in a wide variety of industries since every business requires unique computer software and systems, but approximately 30% of computer software engineers work in computer systems design and related services. 

   Other industries for computer software engineers include software publishers, government agencies, computer manufacturers and electronic equipment manufacturers. Computer software engineers are employed in almost every industry due to the proliferation of Internet, e-mail, and other communications systems, which is expanding electronics to engineering firms that are traditionally associated with unrelated disciplines. Engineering firms specialising in building bridges and power plants, for example, hire computer software engineers to design and develop new geographic data systems and automated drafting systems. Computer software engineers are truly needed in every field and industry. This need has led to a great number of job openings for these professionals. 

   To be eligible for one of the thousands of computer software engineer positions, applicants must have a Bachelor's degree, preferably in computer science or software engineering. For more complex jobs, a postgraduate degree in computer information systems or computer applications and advanced certifications are required.

 

Looking ahead 

I am doing BSc Nursing. Due to health reasons (acute rheumatoid arthritis), I will not be able to work in a hospital or clinic. I have heard that there are some options for medical professionals in the BPO Sector. Is this true? I am in a great fix. 

Subhiksha Chaudhary

 

Increasingly, outsourcing firms in India are now hiring medical professionals – doctors and nurses – as they look for new areas of business to supplement shrinking incomes from sectors that have traditionally opted for outsourcing like finance and banking. Four other outsourcing firms Wipro BPO, TCS, Cognizant and HCL are hiring doctors nurses and paramedics. About 15-18 people come on board every month. The pay obviously depends on experience and quality of work done, but it is common for these BPOs to offer the doctors double of what they have been 

making. The average salary could start from Rs 45,000 and go up to Rs 3 lakh per-month. Those with pharmacy, medicine, dentistry, nursing, homeopathy, degrees are in demand. So don't worry. Remember, the definition of a toughie: Someone who gets going when the going gets tough.

 

 

Sunil Sharma

   Moderator

Dil Se Desi Group

&

www.dilsedesi.org

The Counsellor - 24

THE COUNSELLOR

Which way 

I am currently in class XII (PCM). My parents are suggesting I join a five-year integrated MBA programme. Please tell me if an integrated MBA has the same value as a regular MBA? Should I pursue BTech instead? 

   Avdesh Thakur

While integrated courses are fine, they are not of much value unless done from a top-notch institution. Hence it may be better to do your graduation first, particularly if you are a science student and anyway contemplating a BTech. Work for a while to gain some practical experience and then try for an MBA from a really good Bschool that offers excellent placement facilities. This is a better option than tying yourself down to a mediocre five-year course. A techno-management qualification is highly rated in the job market. 

Career in foreign languages 

I completed my BSc (Bio) in 2007. I want to do a full-time course in a foreign language and want to make my career in this. Which course should I opt for? 

   SDO Tel 

There are so many foreign languages. And the courses depend on which one you want to opt for. The kind of jobs available to you after learning a foreign language will largely depend on the specific language and how good your linguistic capabilities are. Your degree of fluency in the language and additional qualifications will determine the range of options open to you. Some jobs require a smattering acquaintance with the language while others demand a high level of proficiency. But remember that very few jobs except teaching offer you a full-time regular career unless you graft your language skills onto other professional qualifications in the fields of travel and tourism, exports, fashion industry, secretarial practice, public relations, mass communications, publishing, commerce and industry, to name a few. Otherwise, you will have to work on a freelance basis. Perhaps, this is the main reason why most professionals in this field have a second occupation to fall back on. Few organisations employ full-time interpreters or translators. 

   Nevertheless, some languages like French, Spanish, Chinese or Korean for instance, offer relatively good scope as these languages are in demand for commercial application as well. Language-centric job opportunities can be broadly divided into three categories: Interpreting, translating and teaching.

Bioinformatics career 

After completing MSc biochemistry, I am thinking of pursuing bioinformatics. Does it make sense? 

Netra Raman

 

Why not. The prospects in bioinformatics have been steadily increasing with the increasing use of IT in molecular biology. Career opportunities include sequence assembly sequence analysis, database design and maintenance, proteomics, pharmacogenomics, pharmacology that also includes clinical pharmacol, informatics development, computational chemistry, bioanalytics and analytics. 

   The work involved in the specific career areas are drug design utilising 3D structure modelling and computational chemistry also known as cheminformatics. 

   A postgraduate joining a private sector pharma company can expect a salary in the range of Rs 12,000 - 20,000 per-month. Those employed in government 

research labs start off at Rs 12,000 plus government allowances and benefits. There is also a great demand for bioinformaticians in foreign countries.

 

Lay off anxieties 

I have been working as a temporary staff for the last two years in an IT firm in NOIDA. People say that the economic slowdown in the US will jeopardise temporary jobs the most. If so, what should I do? 

   Suresh Mehta

 

Temporary staffers continue to find favour with India Inc, notwithstanding worries over any economic slowdown. And they are the most sought after in talent-hungry sectors such as communications, information technology and IT-enabled services. The TeamLease Annual Temp Salary Primer 2008 has found these three sectors ahead of others in hiring temporary staff in rewarding them. The survey covered temporary staff working across more than 200 profiles and 10 industry domains in 12 major locations in India. Interestingly, the communications industry, which was covered for the first time this year, moved in sync with the IT and ITeS sectors in terms of salaries and wage hikes for temporary staff. Metros like Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi emerged as the cities that offer best salaries and pay hikes. The survey revealed that qualification preceded experience this year. For example, for the post of a collection officer in Delhi, a postgraduate with no work experience can draw as much as a graduate with up to three years work-ex. This is 1% higher than that of graduate with up to five years work experience. However while this trend is most visible in the IT sector, experience still holds importance in the sales function.

 

Legal discipline 

Can you please tell me something about Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) practice? I am doing LLB from Agra. 

   Harinder Behal

 

There are just about 1,000 practicing patent professionals in the country. According to a NASSCOM report, 33% of the IP demand is from the Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO) sector. According to a McKinsey report, the market demand for IP professionals is likely to touch 15,000 in the next three years. 

   The study and application of Intellectual Property Laws has gained further momentum due to the IT and entertainment revolution and globalisation of the business environment. The importance and goodwill of a brand in the modern scenario has driven the demand for registering trademarks and patents. Anyone pursuing law can opt for IPR as a specialisation during the final year of LLB. Practicing advocates and company secretaries can also practice as trademark agents. A practicing lawyer can also practice patenting. Nonlawyers need to acquire the IPR qualification to practice trademarks by giving a one-day exam and viva at the trademark office. Similarly, you need to take a oneday exam at the patent office to be eligible to practice patenting. 

   Patenting being a somewhat techno-legal area, you also need the basic skill of writing patents, which is honed only by experience. 

   You can either top up your Bachelor's in law with a degree in IP law, or if you have expertise in a given domain, that too can be topped up with a qualification in IP law.

 

 

 

 

Sunil Sharma

   Moderator

Dil Se Desi Group

&   www.dilsedesi.org