Job Description Factory Manager

Position: Factory Manager

Experience: 15-22 years in beverage/FMCG manufacturing, with 5+ years in a plant leadership role

Qualification: B.Tech/B.E. in Food Technology, Dairy Technology, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline. MBA/PGDM in Operations is an advantage.

Job Purpose:

The Factory Manager will be responsible for the overall management and performance of the beverage manufacturing facility, ensuring safe, efficient, cost-effective, and compliant production. The role will lead production, quality, maintenance, utilities, warehouse coordination, manpower, EHS, and continuous improvement initiatives to achieve business, quality, and customer-service objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

- Lead end-to-end factory operations to achieve production plans, quality standards, cost targets, and delivery schedules.

- Develop and execute daily, weekly, and monthly production plans in coordination with Supply Chain, Sales, and Procurement.

- Ensure optimum utilization of production lines, manpower, materials, utilities, and equipment.

- Monitor OEE, line efficiency, production yield, downtime, wastage, and changeover performance.

- Drive reduction in production losses, rejects, rework, product giveaway, and material wastage.

- Ensure effective implementation of SOPs, work instructions, and process controls.

- Identify bottlenecks and implement corrective and preventive actions.

- Ensure consistent execution of beverage manufacturing processes including water treatment, syrup preparation, blending, carbonation, filling, packaging, CIP/SIP where applicable, and line changeovers.

- Ensure adherence to approved recipes, formulations, process parameters, and specifications.

- Maintain high standards of hygiene, sanitation, GMP, and food-safety practices.

- Work closely with the QA/QC team to maintain product quality and food-safety standards.

- Ensure compliance with applicable Indian food and beverage regulations, including FSSAI requirements.

- Drive implementation and adherence to HACCP, GMP, FSMS, and other applicable food-safety systems.

- Coordinate with Engineering/Maintenance teams to maximize equipment availability and reliability.

- Ensure preventive and predictive maintenance programs are implemented effectively.

- Prepare and control the factory operating budget and drive manufacturing-cost reduction.

- Implement Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, 5S, TPM, Six Sigma, or other continuous-improvement methodologies.

- Lead and develop production, engineering, quality, warehouse, and support teams.

- Ensure a safe working environment and strict adherence to EHS policies.

- Coordinate with Procurement, Planning, Warehouse, and Logistics teams to ensure uninterrupted availability of materials.

- Support plant-capacity expansion, new production lines, automation, and modernization projects.

Required Skills & Competencies:

- Strong knowledge of beverage manufacturing and packaging operations

- Excellent understanding of food safety, GMP, HACCP, and quality systems

- Strong plant and people leadership skills

- Production planning and operational excellence

- Cost management and analytical skills

- Knowledge of maintenance and industrial utilities

- Strong problem-solving and decision-making ability

- Lean/TPM/Kaizen/continuous-improvement mindset

- Good understanding of statutory and EHS requirements in India

- Strong communication, coordination, and stakeholder-management skills

- Ability to work in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and manage multiple priorities