Description:

Head Manufacturing excellence

Location: Aurangabad

Reports to: Group CEO

To lead the transformation of manufacturing operations by driving process excellence, lean initiatives, automation, and technology integration across the organization. The role focuses on optimizing productivity, cost, quality consistency, and innovation in manufacturing processes especially in wiring harness, electrical and electronic sub-assemblies, and molding operations without overlapping with the Quality function. The incumbent will build a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence, ensuring world-class manufacturing performance and readiness for future technologies.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Manufacturing Excellence Strategy

- Develop and execute a comprehensive Manufacturing Excellence roadmap aligned with business and customer goals.

- Benchmark manufacturing practices against global OEM and Tier-1 standards.

2. Process Optimization & Productivity

- Identify, analyze, and eliminate process bottlenecks through structured problem-solving tools

- Drive OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) improvements, cycle time reduction, and capacity utilization optimization.

- Introduce and sustain automation and digitalization in production monitoring and data analytics

3. Technology & Manufacturing Innovation

- Partner with Engineering and NPI teams to industrialize new products and processes, ensuring manufacturability and scalability.

- Champion advanced manufacturing technologies robotics, smart testing, error-proofing (Poka-Yoke), and in-process quality control systems

- Evaluate and introduce modern molding, crimping, and assembly technologies for wiring harness and electronics manufacturing

4. Capability Building

- Build internal capability through structured training programs on lean, Six Sigma, and best manufacturing practices.

- Partner with plant manufacturing leaders in performance management and process discipline.

- Foster a continuous improvement culture across all levels of the manufacturing organization.

5. Cross-functional Collaboration

- Work closely with Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Maintenance teams to achieve common performance goals.

- Support Quality in prevention-oriented initiatives but maintain clear ownership over process excellence, not inspection or compliance.

- Coordinate with OEM customers for process audits, capability demonstrations, and best-practice sharing.

Key Requirements:

- Education: B.E./B.Tech in Mechanical / Electrical / Electronics / Industrial Engineering (M.Tech preferred).

- Experience: 15-20 years of manufacturing experience, with at least 5-7 years in a Manufacturing Excellence / Operational Excellence / Industrial Engineering leadership role.

- Proven experience in auto components manufacturing, preferably wiring harness / electrical assemblies / molding / electronics.

- Exposure to direct OEM manufacturing or Tier-1 supplier environments preferred.

- Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional change programs across multiple plants or business units.

- Strong stakeholder management skills.

What Makes This Role Unique:

- Distinct from Quality: Focuses on process performance and capability building, not defect control or compliance.

- Integrated View: Requires understanding of mechanical (molding) and electrical/electronic manufacturing, bridging traditional wiring harness operations with next-gen electrification.

- OEM Perspective: Exposure to OEM production systems ensures a customer mindset in process excellence.