Induction

Report


Submitted By: Nishant Gambhir
Management Trainee
Armstrong World Industries Pvt Ltd





Executive Summary


The Five Days Induction Training of Managers and Management Trainees was organized from
9th to 13th June 2014 at Armstrong World Industries Indias Office in Mumbai. This induction
training was organized for the new management trainees as well as for people who have joined
the organization one month back. All together 11 participants were expected to come for the
training and all 11 participants attended the training.

This training was found to be very effective. This training was a complete package for managers
and management trainees to understand about companys work culture, its values ,products
that they design and manufacture, different segments that they cater to and what would be the
role of the respective persons. TThe main aim of the training program was to make us familiar
with the core products, its design, quality, features, USPs and how we need to sell it in the
market. Participants were trained on ethical values that the company follows which includes
compliance, trust, inclusion, integrity and importance of safety.

At the end of the training participants found to gain understanding on the following aspects:
Regarding the evolution of Armstrong World Industries, where we stand globally, how
much is our net sales and number of people working for this company.

Our Companys underlying principle, its values, its mission and vision.

Understanding the different segments that we plan to target, main features and
benefits of using Armstrong ceiling products and the significance of each component.

Participants became well versed with different tools that the company uses like project
tracker, reverberation time calculator tool etc.

Sales techniques, Pricing strategy and Evaluating competitor products.

Personal grooming sessions which included different aspects like how to dress, eat,
meet communicate, walk etc






Inaugural Session

Mr. Karnani, Director India, extended his warm welcome to all participants and shared his good
wishes for the training. He said that this training is designed to give an overview of Armstrong
World Industries India Private Ltd and also to get know different people involved in the
organization. He emphasized that we should make all the efforts to make this training
successful and gave us a brief about how the company works and what is being expected out of
us. I felt encouraged after listening to his motivating words and started feeling a part of this
company.


Day 1 - 9
th
June 2014

In this session our training manager Mr K Murali introduced himself and made us introduced
other heads of different departments. Along with that all the participants gave their
introduction to the company.

After the introduction session got over, our training kick started with the evolution of
Armstrong ceiling products. Firstly we came to know about why do we need a fall ceiling. We
learnt about advantages, disadvantages and properties of different kinds of ceilings like
Thermocol, Plywood, Plaster of Paris, Gypsum and Armstrong Ceilings.

After that we had a small sessions about the two important things that our company
emphasizes- Safety and Compliance. We were been made aware of key safety issues that we
need to follow while working in the company and in the person life. Along with that we were
being told about certain standards that company adheres to. The company also focuses on
going GREEN in its entire work culture.

Then we started to learn about different Armstrong ceilings like mineral fiber, soft fiber etc.
This was the first time when we were being shown different samples of our product and came
to know about the properties that they have like porosity, density, thickness, acoustics,
humidity factor, NRC etc

We also learnt about the concept of reverberation, how it effects the sound traveling in the
room and about the significance of calculating reverberation time.

So our first day of Induction was an excellent start of our learning process. We actually gained
an idea of what is our product and what actually we have to sell. The great part was the PLMs
which were been provided to read before coming to the sessions, that really helped us in
getting better and quicker understanding of all the things.


Day 2 - 10
th
June 2014

Day 2 started with the small session with Mr. Naresh, Business Development Head (FMD), who
showed us a video which talked about the importance of Prioritizing Evaluating and maintaining
the right Balance in our professional as well as personal life.
After that there was an important session started taken by Mr. Saurabh on Architectural
Specialties. He gave us a the detailed description of all our architectural products which were
being divided into four Classes - Metal Works, Wood Works, Soft Fibers and Translucents. Each
Class had its different products available in different shades, has different edge designs and had
different installation designs.
Since it was the first time that we were being made familiar with the products, it was a little
difficult to understand each and every detail. My suggestion would be that in future this
particular session should be held by showing samples of each product so that the participants
came to know about the installation designs of every single product.
Then we had a session on FMD business which was basically pertaining to use of our ceiling
products in education and healthcare sectors. We learnt as to how our product could help our
teaching process by reducing the unwanted sound or the noise which disturbs the whole
process of learning and helps to build a good teacher student relationship. Hospitals and Clinics
can also gain by providing a nice pleasant environment to the patients using Armstrong ceilings.

Day 3 - 11
th
June 2014

We visited our WAVE(Worthington Armstrong VEnture) plant in Pune where we met Mr. Ayan
Dutta, Product Manager. Here we had the training about the Steel Angle(Grid). This was first
time we were having samples of steel angle(main runner and cross ts) in front of us. We were
able to relate of what all have been taught about the steel angle in the previous two days. Mr
Dutta told us about different products that are been manufactured in the plant like Prelude 32,
Prelude 38 and Suprafine.

He told us about the USPs of our steel angle and how to handle the kind of questions being
asked usually by the client. This session helped me to have a deeper understanding of concepts
like load bearing capacity, rotator stiching and steel quality.
He also made us understand the significance of analyzing competitors product and their
specification. I felt that this was the best training sessions in the entire induction because the
way and manner in which he was explaining was exceptional.

Then we went on the ground where actual manufacturing of the product was taking place. We
saw how a sheet of steel takes the shape of a Cross T by going through various level of
processing in the machine. For me since it was the first time I was seeing such a huge
manufacturing plant, I felt very refreshed.
At the end we were shown different types of cross ts and main runner hanging by the roof in
the training room.

Overall it was the best day of Induction Training. The hands-on experience, the insightful
detailing of the products and the session taken by Mr Dutta all contributed to our better
understanding.

Day 4 - 12
th
June 2014

The Day started with the Compliance Training taken by Ms Darshana Mandewal,HR Head. She
told the team about the various standards that our company follows. She very emphatically
emphasized regarding the safety compliance that we need to keep in mind while working in the
office as well as in our personal conduct. We were being told about the companys vision of
having full faith and trust in employees which instilled a huge amount of confidence in us.
After that next session was regarding supply chain management. We were made aware of
different methods like Bonded Warehouse, SEZ, STPI, FTWZ, Direct Import etc.
We were being told the entire procedure of how the material is being procured from the
foreign location and how it moves to mother warehouse (Bhiwandi). We also came to know
about paper work that is being needed or the formalities that needs to be fulfilled before
dispatching any material to the customer.
After that we were been made familiarized with a tool called Project Tracker whick keeps a
track of several details of the different projects like Name, Area, Contractor,architect segments,
PMC, Products, Dates etc.
In the second half we visited our warehouse in Bhiwandi 20 km away from our head office.
There we saw how our products being stocked in the warehouse. We got an idea of how much
inventory do we have of which product. So overall it was a very enjoyable experience.






Day 5 - 13
th
June 2014

Last day started with the sales presentation taken by Mr Chetan, National Sales ead. He made
us understand the nitty-gritties of sales like trying to give multiproduct specification to the
client, calling the client at the office premise to display products, not focusing on delivering the
samples rather convince him through specifications, trying to get in touch with the quantity
surveyor, quoting the right price to the client etc.
The most important thing that he told us to focus on was to know about our competitor
product.

Next was the session on TECHZONE-the most interesting and enjoyable one. Knowing and
understanding the concept of Techzone was itself a fascinating experience. We understood the
whole procedure of how it works, how to make the right choice in selecting the techzone by
knowing the furniture layout, and how do we estimate the material requirement.

Next was a small session taken by Ms Archana Bhandari, Assistant Manger HR, explaining us
different HR policies including Insurance policy taken by Ms Deepali.

At the end there was an exciting session on personal grooming where we were being apprise
about how to dress well, how to communicate, how to meet and shake hands in our
professional life and how to dine out. Unfortunately because of our flight timings I could not
attend the entire last sessions but whatever I attended it was a great experience.