Title: Head- Operational Efficiency
Role Overview
The Head Operational Efficiency will oversee production and supply chain operations, focusing on streamlining manufacturing workflows, supplier management, inventory control, and cost optimisation in a high-growth engineering and process-driven environment. The ideal candidate will be an experienced engineer with a business masters in manufacturing, proven leadership in powder metallurgy, sintering, or precision engineering, and the maturity to command respect across levels. The position requires strong cross-functional liaison skills, especially with production, procurement, and logistics departments.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the optimisation of all manufacturing processes, including production planning, process improvement, quality assurance, and operational cost control to achieve peak performance and efficiency.
- Oversee supplier management, inventory planning, and logistics strategies to streamline the supply chain, ensure timely delivery, and reduce operational bottlenecks.
- Introduce and back lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and best practices, leveraging expertise in powder metallurgy and sintering technologies, precision engineering, and related domains.
- Collaborate with VP Operations and functional heads to enhance plant reliability, equipment utilisation, and maintenance activity to minimise downtime and optimise yield.
- Develop and monitor KPIs for operational excellence (yield, breakdowns, OEE, OTIF, etc.), reporting progress to senior leadership and initiating structured reviews.
- Drive the adoption of new technologies and digital transformation initiatives relevant to process industry requirements, automation, and Industry 4.0/5.0 deployments.
- Manage operational budgets, working capital, and P&L responsibility, with a focus on cost minimisation and value addition.
- Ensure strict compliance with safety, health, environmental, and regulatory standards, and foster a culture of continuous improvement and operational discipline.
- Mentor, develop, and lead operations staff and cross-functional teams in alignment with company strategy and core operational objectives.
Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering (preferably Mechanical, Metallurgical, or Production) required.
- Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) with a focus on Manufacturing/Operations preferred.
- Minimum 12-15 years of experience in manufacturing, with expertise in powder metallurgy, sintering, and/or other advanced process industries and precision engineering.
- Proven track record of leading operational excellence, cost optimisation, and process improvement initiatives within fast-paced industrial settings.
- Deep knowledge of equipment, plant utilities, manufacturing systems, lean/continuous improvement methodologies, and safety/compliance requirements.
- Excellent leadership, communication, influencing, and problem-solving abilities.
Required Technical Skills
- Advanced proficiency in precision manufacturing processes (e.g., machining, powder metallurgy, sintering, CNC operations).
- Solid understanding of process optimization and lean manufacturing (e.g., Six Sigma, Kaizen, 5S, JIT, TPM).
- Expertise in quality control, inspection, and metrology, with a focus on tight tolerances and defect prevention.
- Proficiency in engineering software (e.g., CAD, CAM, SolidWorks, Inventor).
- Knowledge of equipment operation, calibration, and maintenance (CNC, SMT, automation tools, robotics)
- New product development and design for manufacturability (DFM), process validation, and troubleshooting.
- Experience with ERP, MES, and digital manufacturing transformation.
(ref:iimjobs.com)
