As far as the mechanical and electrical engineering training is concerned, the ultimate objective is to develop a subcontracting or outsourcing culture in mechanical and electrical engineering works in Sri Lanka. Loadstar (Pvt) Ltd. and Jinasena (Pvt) Ltd provided the full equipment and the resource personnel for the mechanical workshop, presently teaching 29 trainees.
Experiences of industrialised or newly industrialised countries such as Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan show that the industrial development of these countries has been assisted by a strong base of small to medium scale industries that were specialising in performing subcontracting and outsourcing work. However in Sri Lanka such a small scale industrial base capable of undertaking subcontracting work is not sufficiently available. Because of this vacuum most of the larger scale industries are compelled to maintain huge engineering facilities of their own. A classic example is Loadstar (Pvt) Ltd., where a 500 member strong engineering related workforce is maintained to meet internal demands. This kind of arrangements very often affect the focus on the core activities of such organisation in addition to giving rise to various administrative intricacies.
In order to help establish a small scale industrial base equipped to support the larger industries, the training courses will cover the following aspects: technical drawing lessons, theoretical aspect of mechanical / electrical works, basics of small business management, basics of bookkeeping, an exposure to commercial business settings, basics in computer applications and English. After the training program BAF will help them to develop their own business, individually or through cooperatives. On a selective basis, BAF may assist such partnerships with the necessary equipments.
Mechanical / electrical training workshop was initially equipped with basic conventional machinery but today the workshop includes modern and high tech computerized machinery such as CNC milling, lathes, etc. It is proposed to train about 15 students per year and in the 14th month of operation BAF is maintaining this proposal, currently training 29 youths.
Last updated March 2007
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