Head of Manufacturing

Objective of the Role:

To lead and standardize manufacturing engineering practices across multiple plants in India, driving process excellence, productivity improvement, cost optimization, and quality enhancement across Plastics / Forging / Machining operations. The role will ensure implementation of best manufacturing practices, automation, and continuous improvement initiatives to support sustainable business growth.

Roles & Responsibility:

1. Manufacturing Engineering Strategy

• Develop and implement manufacturing engineering strategies across multiple plants.
• Standardize processes, tooling, equipment selection, and manufacturing practices across locations.
• Align manufacturing capabilities with business growth and operational excellence goals.

2. Process Optimization & Continuous Improvement

• Drive Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and TPM initiatives across plants.
• Identify opportunities for cycle time reduction, productivity improvement, and waste elimination.
• Implement best practices and benchmark processes across all manufacturing locations.

3. Multi-Plant Engineering Management

• Provide technical leadership and guidance to plant engineering teams.
• Ensure uniform engineering standards, process documentation, and knowledge sharing across plants.
• Support plants in capacity planning and technology upgrades.

4. New Product Introduction (NPI) & Industrialization

• Lead the industrialization of new products from design to production.
• Ensure readiness of processes, tooling, fixtures, and equipment for new programs.
• Collaborate with R&D, product engineering, and operations teams.

5. Cost Optimization & Productivity

• Drive initiatives to improve manufacturing efficiency and reduce cost per unit.
• Lead value engineering and cost reduction projects across plants.
• Optimize manpower utilization, equipment effectiveness, and process capability.

6. Technology & Automation

• Introduce advanced manufacturing technologies, automation, and digitalization initiatives.
• Evaluate and implement new equipment and manufacturing systems.

7. Quality & Compliance

• Ensure manufacturing processes meet quality standards and customer requirements.
• Support quality improvement initiatives and root cause analysis for process issues.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards and safety regulations.

8. Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with operations, quality, supply chain, and product engineering teams.
• Support plant heads in achieving production, quality, and cost targets.

Candidate Profile:

Experience: 1825 years of experience in manufacturing engineering within the automotive / auto components / industrial manufacturing sector.

Industry Exposure: Strong experience in Plastics, Forging, or Machining manufacturing processes.

Multi-Plant Exposure: Proven experience in managing or supporting manufacturing engineering activities across multiple plants in India.

Education: Bachelors Degree in Mechanical / Production / Industrial Engineering. A Masters degree in Manufacturing / Operations Management would be an added advantage.

Technical Expertise:

• Process design and optimization
• Tooling and equipment selection
• Industrial engineering and plant layout planning
• Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, TPM, and continuous improvement initiatives
• Automation and advanced manufacturing technologies

Leadership Capability:

• Experience leading central manufacturing engineering teams or plant engineering teams
• Ability to drive standardization and best practices across locations
• Strong stakeholder management with plant heads and functional leaders

Business Orientation:

• Strong focus on productivity improvement, cost reduction, and operational efficiency
• Experience supporting new product introduction (NPI) and industrialization
• Good understanding of P&L impact through manufacturing improvements

Personal Attributes:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strategic thinker with hands-on execution capability
• Effective communicator and cross-functional collaborator