Job Purpose
- To lead manufacturing operations by building strong production systems, improving efficiency, and driving a positive shop-floor culture. The role focuses on stabilizing plant performance, enforcing process discipline, and developing a high-performing team that supports the organization’s global and domestic growth. The GM Manufacturing will strengthen quality, productivity, and delivery while working closely with the new metallurgy expert and the leadership team.
Key Responsibilities
Plant Leadership & Operational Excellence
- Take complete ownership of the manufacturing plant, ensuring smooth, efficient, and reliable daily operations.
- Introduce robust production processes, discipline, and systems suited for precision, batch-production environments.
- Drive manufacturing/operations stability.
Quality, Process & Systems Improvement
- Establish stringent quality standards aligned with global customer expectations.
- Strengthen process documentation, SOPs, best practices, and compliance discipline.
- Collaborate closely with the inhouse expert to enhance metallurgical capability and improve product performance.
Productivity, Efficiency & Cost Optimization
- Reduce wastage, improve material utilization, and optimize machine and manpower productivity.
- Implement lean practices, automation opportunities, and process improvements to enhance throughput.
- Strengthen production planning, scheduling accuracy, and OTIF (On-Time-In-Full) delivery performance.
Cultural Transformation & Team Development
- Mentor, guide, and uplift a legacy, homegrown workforce resistant to change.
- Build a culture of ownership, accountability, discipline, and continuous improvement.
- Identify skill gaps and implement training, cross-training, and capability-building initiatives.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work collaboratively with Marketing, Finance, Metallurgy, and Leadership teams to align manufacturing with market and business needs.
- Support new product development, trials, and pilot manufacturing for bearings and engineering components.
- Ensure transparent communication and alignment with promoters on key operational metrics.
Safety, Compliance & Governance
- Enforce workplace safety standards and statutory compliance.
- Maintain plant hygiene, safety practices, and environmental compliance.
- Drive adoption of modern manufacturing technologies and systems to support future scalability.
Key Skills & Competencies
Technical Competencies
- Strong command of precision manufacturing processes, quality systems, and engineering principles.
- Expertise in batch-production systems and non-ferrous component manufacturing preferred.
- Understanding of lean manufacturing, TPM, Kaizen, and process optimization tools.
Leadership & Behavioural Competencies
- Strong leadership presence with the ability to instil discipline and drive change.
- High emotional intelligence to manage a long-standing, resistant shop-floor culture.
- Hands-on, grounded, and approachable leadership style; visible presence on the shop floor.
- Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and crisis-management abilities.
- Ability to operate effectively in a promoter-driven, evolving organization.
- High resilience to manage challenges associated with managing local workforce expectations.
Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.
- 20–25 years of experience in precision/engineering manufacturing environments.
- Background in light engineering, auto components, aerospace components, turbochargers, or other critical component manufacturing preferred.
- Strong preference for candidates with hands-on experience in greenfield operations.
- Proven experience in independently managing a manufacturing plant or large production unit.
- Experience handling cultural transformation and leading teams with legacy background.
