It was Friday morning, April 8, 2016, when I received the selection email for the Forbes Marshall CII Affirmative Action Initiative Batch 16 from Mr. Dhamankar. I was a little worried about whether I should join this training. Would it help me set my professional career or get a job in industry or academic institutions in the future? Many questions were revolving in my head. I asked Ms. Ankita, who referred me to this training. She helped me understand why I should join the course. My COE also allowed me to take leave and complete this industrial training.The day began with Dhamankar Sir introducing and welcoming each one of us to the Forbes Marshall family. Since then it has been a roller coaster ride. I was elected as the Class Monitor for the batch. This role helped me bring out the leadership qualities in me. It helped me work with different people and imbibed a team spirit in me. Dhamankar Sir was a mentor to each one of us. He always insisted on perfection in each small work done. I realised with time that every small detail counts in the professional world. There was SWOT analysis conducted for each person individually wherein they could discuss their strengths and weaknesses with Dhamankar Sir. This helped each one of us groom in a better way realising our potentials and work towards our weaknesses.
I vividly remember my first day at the CII-FM training. It was indeed the most important and remarkable opening day. A few things I noted in my notebook continue to inspire me and provide a fundamentally positive outlook on my professional activities. I particularly want to express the insights I noted on day one and experienced throughout the training phase. Everyone has their perspective; nothing is entirely right or wrong. Healthy competition is constructive and helps us develop. We followed the principle of LUI – Learn, Understand, Implement – throughout our training.
The first two weeks were classroom sessions where the heads of the departments introduced us to FM products and underlying technology. The best part of this classroom session was interacting with Mr. Dhamankar.
The most valuable part of the CII-FM training was the hands-on experience during the three long months, which fundamentally prepared us for industrial problem-solving. It’s indeed true that you can’t learn deeply unless you get your hands dirty. The learning experience on the ARCA shop floor was crucial; it pushed our limits to do our best, understand the corners of engineering, and familiarise ourselves with production cycles and the operations of planning and purchase departments. The best part was that we got the opportunity to be part of it and take responsibility. The KROHNE division allowed us to work with teams and experts, providing a wonderful experience working with professionals. I realised the importance of family spirit, integrity, and a value-driven working environment. The System Engineering department lets us work on live projects and interact with customers and vendors, giving us a wonderful perspective on the professional environment. In short, FM instilled a proactive approach in us. This training invested quality time in setting up our professional careers.
I interacted with a diverse group of people, which helped me understand and work together in a professional environment. This professional experience has significantly benefited my academic career. When I rejoined my COE after completing the training, I observed a positive transformation in myself. I blended my teaching skills with the practical experience I gained at CII-FM. Earlier, I taught students of COE using traditional methods based on conceptual learning, but my FM experience pushed me to incorporate practical learning. I made significant changes in my presentations, subject handouts, and lab manuals based on the FM training experience. This led to a practical approach and satisfaction among students. I even conducted a three-day workshop for final-year students to share FM products and the underlying principles of engineering. Such activities help develop a vision in students to opt for better careers in instrumentation. The FM training has helped me motivate fresh graduates to enter the instrumentation engineering domain.
I am proud to share that more than fifteen students from instrumentation and two from the mechanical engineering department have completed the CII-FM training and are now well-established in the core instrumentation field. When I meet these alumni, I feel satisfaction in the FM family spirit.
I am currently working for Global Logic as a Senior Software Engineer in Nagpur. I am truly proud that I had the opportunity to learn under the CII-FM 16 batch programme. I made mistakes, learned from them, and grew, producing something original. The FM training experience and my time with Mr. Dhamankar are the most valuable aspects of my life experience.
– Pratik Gumble,
CII-FM.AA Batch-16
