Program Manager responsible primary to execute product launches from RFQ to Serial Production (SOP). Lead CFT and primary contact for Customers.
This role ensures projects meet strict automotive standards (IATF 16949), APQP milestones, tooling budgets, and delivery timelines for major OEMs.
Key Responsibilities
- Project Management: Plan, Execute, Control and Monitoring of project from RFQ till SOP + Handover to Operations.
- Timeline Control: Develop and manage master timing plans for entire projects.
- APQP & PPAP Management: Lead the Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP) process Gate ways closure in EwQIMS portal.
- Tooling & Equipment Launch: Oversee the design, manufacturing, and buy-off of stamping dies (progressive/transfer) and welding fixtures (robotic/manual).
- Cross-Functional Leadership: Coordinate Stamping, Process, Engineering, quality, tooling, purchasing, Logistic and production departments.
- Financial Management: Monitor program profitability, budget allocations, and ECNs
- Customer Interface: Act as the primary point of contact for OEM engineers and buyers regarding launch status.
- Risk Mitigation: Identify technical or capacity bottlenecks early to prevent launch delays.
- Engineering Changes executions and implementations.
- Work on expansion projects, like capacity expansion as per OEM requirement.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Launch & Time Performance
- Milestone Adherence Rate: 100% on-time completion of APQP gateways and customer-specific milestones.
- PPAP Approval Timeline: Zero days delay in securing Customer PPAP approval vs. the agreed target date.
- SOP Readiness: 100% readiness for Start of Production with zero customer delivery disruptions.
Financial & Cost Control
- Tooling Budget Variance: Keep tooling development costs (stamping dies and welding jigs) within 2% of budgeted Capex.
- ECR Recovery Rate: Percentage of customer-driven engineering changes successfully billed back to the OEM.
Quality & Technical Performance
- First-Time-Right (FTR) PPAP: Rate of PPAP submissions accepted on the first attempt without re-work.
- Run-at-Rate (OEE) Target: Achieving the targeted Overall Equipment Effectiveness and cycle times during production trials.
Customers Satisfaction
- Green Rating in Customer communications Survey
Qualifications & Skills
- Education: Bachelors degree in mechanical/ production engineering. Masters Preferred.
- Experience: 10+ years in automotive project/program management.
- Domain Expertise: Preferred candidate having deep knowledge of sheet metal stamping processes, die design, and welding technologies (spot, MIG/MAG, projection).
- Standards: Proficient in IATF 16949, VDA 6.3, and core OEM launch portals.