Position Title: Operations Manager

Department: Plant Operations

Reports To: Owner

Direct Reports: Production (Paint Shop) In-charge, Stores In-charge, Quality In-charge, Dispatch/Logistics In-charge, PPC Executive, Maintenance In-charge, and their teams

Location: Sanaswadi

Employment Type: Full-time

!! Budget 12 to 14 LPA !!

Job Purpose The Operations Manager will be the single point of accountability for all plant-level functions — production (paint shop), stores, quality, dispatch, production planning and control (PPC), plant maintenance, and customer coordination. The role is responsible for ensuring on-time, in-full, right-first-time delivery to customers while building systems, discipline, and process maturity appropriate for a growing Tier 3 automotive supplier.

The Operations

Manager will report to the Owner/Director and work closely with the Business Consultant (Executive Director) on process and systems improvement.

Key Responsibilities

3.1 Production (Paint Shop) Management

- Plan and supervise daily paint shop operations (pre-treatment, painting, curing/baking, and finishing) to meet production targets.
- Ensure adherence to process parameters (surface preparation, film thickness, oven temperature/time, spray booth conditions) as per customer and internal specifications.
- Monitor manpower allocation, shift planning, and productivity on the shop floor.
- Drive reduction of rework, rejection, and process wastage (paint consumption, power, consumables).
- Ensure safe working practices in the paint shop, including handling of paints, thinners, and hazardous materials.

3.2 Production Planning & Control (PPC)

- Prepare and monitor daily/weekly/monthly production plans based on customer orders and delivery schedules.
- Coordinate raw material and component availability with stores to avoid line stoppages.
- Track production vs. plan, identify bottlenecks, and take corrective action.
- Maintain visibility of capacity utilization and flag capacity constraints to management in advance.

3.3 Stores & Inventory Management

- Oversee receipt, storage, and issue of raw materials (paints, chemicals, consumables) and customer-supplied components.
- Ensure proper inventory control, FIFO/FEFO practices, stock accuracy, and minimum/maximum stock levels.
- Prevent material shortages and excess/obsolete inventory; coordinate timely procurement requisitions.
- Ensure safe and compliant storage of hazardous/inflammable materials.

3.4 Quality Management

- Ensure in-process and final quality checks are conducted as per customer specifications and applicable standards.
- Own root cause analysis (RCA) and corrective/preventive action (CAPA) for internal rejections, customer complaints, and quality escalations.
- Drive implementation and maintenance of quality systems (e.g.,



IATF 16949 / ISO 9001 practices, PPAP, control plans, inspection standards) as applicable.
- Maintain quality records, inspection reports, and traceability documentation.
- Coordinate directly with customers on quality issues, containment actions, and closure of complaints.

3.5 Dispatch & Logistics

- Plan and supervise timely dispatch of finished/painted components as per customer schedules.
- Ensure proper packing, labeling, and documentation (delivery challans, e-way bills, etc.) for outward material.
- Coordinate transport arrangements and resolve dispatch-related issues to avoid delays.
- Maintain dispatch records and ensure alignment with customer receiving schedules.

3.6 Customer Coordination

- Act as the primary operational point of contact for customers on receipt of materials, dispatch schedules, and day-to-day coordination.
- Manage communication on quality issues/complaints, ensuring timely response, containment, and corrective action closure.
- Build and maintain strong working relationships with customer SQE, logistics, and planning teams.
- Escalate critical customer issues to the owner/management with recommended action plans.

3.7 Plant Maintenance

- Ensure upkeep and preventive maintenance of plant machinery, paint booths, ovens, conveyors, compressors, and utilities.
- Minimize breakdowns through planned maintenance schedules; ensure timely breakdown resolution to avoid production loss.
- Maintain maintenance records, spare parts inventory, and AMC/vendor coordination for critical equipment.
- Ensure statutory compliance related to equipment (pollution control equipment, boilers/ovens, electrical safety, etc.).

3.8 Audits & Compliance

- Act as the plant’s primary representative for customer audits, quality system audits (IATF/ISO), and statutory/regulatory audits (pollution control, fire safety, labour, etc.).
- Ensure plant readiness (documentation, housekeeping, process discipline) ahead of scheduled and surprise audits.
- Drive closure of audit non-conformities (NCs) within agreed timelines.
- Maintain a self-audit/internal audit calendar to ensure continuous audit-readiness.

3.9 People & General Management

- Lead, guide, and develop function heads/in-charges of production, stores, quality, dispatch, PPC, and maintenance.
- Drive 5S, discipline, and a culture of ownership and accountability across the plant.
- Provide regular MIS/reports to the owner and business consultant on production,



quality, delivery, and cost performance.
- Support cost control initiatives and contribute to operational budgeting.

Key Result Areas (KRAs) / KPIs

- On-Time-In-Full (OTIF) delivery performance
- Customer rejection/complaint rate (PPM) and complaint closure TAT
- Internal rejection/rework percentage
- Plant/machine uptime and breakdown hours
- Inventory accuracy and stock-out incidents
- Audit non-conformity closure rate and audit scores
- Production plan adherence
- Cost of quality and operational cost per unit

Education &

Experience Requirements

Education

- Diploma / B.E. / B.Tech in Mechanical, Production, Industrial, Paint Technology, or a related engineering discipline (preferred).
- Additional certification/training in Quality Management Systems (IATF 16949 / ISO 9001), Lean Manufacturing, or Production Management will be an advantage.

Experience

- 10-12 years of overall experience in a manufacturing environment, with meaningful exposure to the automotive component/ancillary industry (Tier 1/2/3 supplier setup).
- Prior experience in a paint shop / surface coating / electroplating / finishing operation is mandatory.
- At least 1-2 years in a plant/operations management role handling multiple functions (production, quality, stores, dispatch) with team leadership responsibility.
- Demonstrated experience in handling customer audits (Tier 1/OEM SQE audits) and quality system audits (IATF 16949/ISO 9001).
- Experience working in a small/mid-size owner-driven company, comfortable being a hands-on, on-ground leader (not a purely corporate role).
- Key Skills & Competencies
- Strong working knowledge of paint shop processes, quality tools (RCA, CAPA, 7QC tools, control plans) and production planning.
- Good understanding of IATF 16949/ISO 9001 quality systems and statutory/compliance requirements applicable to a manufacturing unit.
- Robust people management and team leadership skills; ability to manage cross-functional teams and drive discipline on the shop floor.
- Excellent customer coordination and communication skills; comfortable interfacing directly with Tier 2/OEM customer representatives.
- Analytical and data-driven approach to problem solving; comfortable with MIS/reporting (MS Excel; ERP exposure preferred).
- High ownership, hands-on, and structured/process-oriented working style suited to a growing, owner-driven organization.
- Ability to work independently, take decisions, and be accountable for plant performance while keeping the owner informed.

Other Requirements

- Willingness to be based at the plant and available for extended hours during audits, dispatches, or production exigencies.
- Age: below 40

Local candidates or those willing to relocate near the plant location preferred

📌 Operations Manager (Shirur)
🏢 Catalydd Consulting
📍 Shirur