Supplier Manager

Company Description

Sandfits Foundries Private Limited is a pre-eminent iron casting manufacturing company that produces Grey Iron, Ductile Iron, CG Iron, and AD Iron. Sandfits has 3 foundries with a capacity of 60000 tons PA. Sandfits has a dedicated machine shop to deliver precision iron components to customers worldwide. Sandfits Foundries are located in and around Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India and has a certified IATF 16949 and ISO 14001.

The Job

Candidate will be responsible to lead and manage all post-production activities including fettling, machining, finishing, surface treatments, painting, coating, packing, and outsourced vendor management. The role will ensure cost-effective, timely, and defect-free delivery of components to customers by strengthening in-house processes, developing supplier partnerships, and embedding technical and commercial excellence in outsourcing.

Key Responsibilities

1. In-house Operations

• Oversee fettling, cleaning, finishing, and machining operations with focus on safety, quality, and throughput.
• Drive standardization of machining, fettling, and finishing practices to reduce rework and improve productivity.
• Establish process controls for defect-free surface finish, dimensional accuracy, and coating/painting readiness.

2. Outsourcing & Vendor Management

• Develop and manage a strong vendor base for machining, painting, coating, and packing.
• Evaluate and validate supplier quotations using technical cost estimation and benchmarking.
• Lead negotiations with vendors to ensure cost competitiveness and service reliability.
• Set up SLA-based supplier performance reviews covering cost, delivery, and quality.
• Ensure suppliers adopt Build-in-Quality (BIQ), safe practices, and meet customer-specific requirements.

3. NPD (New Product Development) Support

• Provide early input on machining, painting, and packaging feasibility during design and development.
• Validate supplier costings for NPD projects and close open points proactively.
• Develop quick-turnaround quotation processes (<7 days target vs. current 20 days).
• Collaborate with design and quality teams for prototype development and first-time-right trials.

4. Cost & Lead Time Optimization

• Build cost models for machining, painting, coating, and packing.
• Identify make vs. buy opportunities and optimize outsourcing strategy.
• Implement vendor consolidation to reduce complexity and improve bargaining power.
• Shorten post-production cycle times and reduce logistics/handling losses.

5. Leadership & Continuous Improvement

• Lead and develop the post-production team with technical capability building.
• Drive Lean/TPM initiatives in fettling, machining, and outsourced processes.
• Establish world-class standards for packaging, corrosion prevention, and export readiness.
• Foster a culture of accountability, cost optimization, and customer focus.

Experience and Qualification

• B.E./B.Tech in Mechanical, Production, or Industrial Engineering (MBA preferred).
• 1218 years experience in machining, finishing, painting/coating, and packaging in a foundry/automotive/manufacturing setup.
• Strong background in supplier management, costing, and negotiations.
• Proven record of reducing lead times, improving cost structures, and driving outsourcing excellence.