Plant Head (Press Shop / Sheet Metal Manufacturing)

Experience: 10+ Years

Location: Pune

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Plant Head with 10+ years of experience in Press Shop and Sheet Metal Manufacturing to lead end-to-end plant operations. The ideal candidate will be responsible for driving operational excellence, production efficiency, quality, safety, cost optimization, and people management while ensuring timely delivery and customer satisfaction. The candidate should possess strong expertise in press shop operations, sheet metal fabrication, lean manufacturing, TPM, and continuous improvement initiatives, preferably in the automotive or engineering manufacturing industry.

Key Responsibilities

Plant Operations

- Lead and oversee complete manufacturing operations including Press Shop, Tool Room, Maintenance, Production Planning, Quality, Stores, and Dispatch.
- Ensure achievement of production targets while maintaining quality, cost, delivery, and safety (QCDS) objectives.
- Develop and implement operational strategies to improve productivity and plant efficiency.
- Optimize machine utilization, manpower productivity, and production capacity.

Press Shop & Sheet Metal Manufacturing

- Manage high-tonnage mechanical and hydraulic press operations.
- Ensure efficient production of sheet metal components with minimal rejection and downtime.
- Monitor die performance, tool maintenance, and preventive maintenance schedules.
- Improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) through continuous improvement initiatives.
- Drive process optimization for blanking, piercing, bending, forming, deep drawing, welding, and sheet metal assembly operations.

Quality & Continuous Improvement

- Ensure compliance with customer quality standards and internal quality systems.
- Lead implementation of Lean Manufacturing, TPM, Six Sigma, Kaizen, 5S, Poka-Yoke, SMED, and Value Stream Mapping.
- Drive root cause analysis and corrective actions for production and quality issues.
- Monitor KPIs including productivity, OEE, rejection, rework, downtime, delivery adherence,



and cost performance.

Maintenance & Engineering

- Oversee preventive and predictive maintenance programs.
- Ensure maximum machine uptime and equipment reliability.
- Coordinate installation, commissioning, and modernization of manufacturing equipment.
- Support automation and Industry 4.0 initiatives wherever applicable.

Cost Management

- Prepare and manage annual plant budgets.
- Drive cost reduction initiatives through waste elimination and process improvements.
- Optimize material consumption, manpower costs, and operational expenses.
- Improve overall manufacturing profitability.

Safety & Compliance

- Ensure adherence to all statutory, environmental, and safety regulations.
- Promote a solid safety culture and achieve zero-accident objectives.
- Ensure compliance with ISO 9001, IATF 16949, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 standards.

Leadership & Team Management

- Lead, mentor, and develop cross-functional teams across production, engineering, maintenance, quality, and supply chain.
- Build a high-performance culture focused on accountability and continuous improvement.
- Conduct performance reviews, succession planning, and employee development initiatives.
- Maintain positive industrial relations and employee engagement.

Customer & Vendor Management

- Coordinate with OEM customers regarding production schedules and quality requirements.
- Support new product development and production ramp-up.
- Collaborate with suppliers for tooling, raw materials, and equipment improvements.
- Participate in customer and third-party audits.

Required Skills

- Strong expertise in Press Shop and Sheet Metal Manufacturing
- High-tonnage Mechanical & Hydraulic Press Operations




- Progressive & Transfer Die Management
- Tooling and Die Maintenance
- Lean Manufacturing
- TPM (Total Productive Maintenance)
- Six Sigma / Kaizen / 5S / SMED
- Production Planning & Control
- OEE Improvement
- Capacity Planning
- Cost Optimization
- Quality Management Systems
- Preventive & Predictive Maintenance
- Industrial Engineering
- Budgeting & Cost Control
- Team Leadership & People Development
- Vendor & Customer Management
- ERP Systems (SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics or equivalent)
- Strong analytical and decision-making skills

Preferred Industry Experience

- Automotive OEM
- Automotive Tier-1 / Tier-2 Suppliers
- Sheet Metal Manufacturing
- Heavy Engineering
- Industrial Equipment Manufacturing
- Electrical & Electronics Manufacturing

Educational Qualification

- Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Production Engineering, or Industrial Engineering.
- Certifications in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma (Green/Black Belt), TPM, or Operations Excellence will be an added advantage.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

- Production Target Achievement
- Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
- Productivity Improvement
- Rejection & Scrap Reduction
- On-Time Delivery (OTD)
- Cost Reduction
- Machine Downtime
- Customer Complaint Reduction
- Safety Performance
- Employee Productivity & Retention
- Inventory Optimization
- Budget Adherence

Preferred Candidate Profile

- 10+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing operations, with significant leadership experience in Press Shop and Sheet Metal Manufacturing.
- Proven track record of managing large manufacturing plants and cross-functional teams.
- Strong exposure to automotive manufacturing standards and customer requirements.
- Demonstrated success in implementing Lean Manufacturing, TPM, and operational excellence initiatives.
- Excellent leadership, communication, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to drive strategic initiatives while ensuring operational excellence and sustainable business growth.

📌 Plant Head (Pune)
🏢 Sunbrilo Technology
📍 Pune