The Product Cost Manager owns end-to-end costing, financial validation, and strategic cost optimization across multiple product lines. This role acts as a critical cross-functional driver, deploying advanced cost engineering methodologies like Should Costing, Target Costing, and Value Analysis/Value Engineering (VAVE) to secure competitive business cases

Key Responsibilities

Cost Modeling & Analysis
- Lead Should Costing: Develop process-based bottom-up cost models analyzing raw materials, labor, overhead, and supplier margins.
- Manage Target Costing: Define and drive material cost targets across early-stage designs and product modifications.
- Maintain Cost Workbooks: Own the product cost database, Bills of Materials (BOMs), and qualified supplier pricing sheets.
- Perform Variance Tracking: Conduct routine standard vs. actual cost analyses to flag margin erosion or price fluctuations.

Strategic Sourcing & Supplier Negotiation
- Support Negotiations: Provide fact-based commercial analytics to procurement teams for aggressive supplier negotiation.
- Quote Benchmarking:



Evaluate raw supplier quotations against internal manufacturing data and industry standards.
- Drive Localization: Identify alternative local sourcing networks to minimize logistics risks and tariff overheads.
- Conduct Supplier Audits: Visit supplier manufacturing facilities to assess production processes and optimize pricing transparency. [1, 2, 3]

Cross-Functional Strategy & Optimization
- Drive VAVE Programs: Spearhead design-to-cost initiatives, teardowns, and material substitutions with engineering teams.
- Automate Cost Digitization: Implement and scale automated costing software and AI analytics across the production pipeline.
- Formulate Executive Reports: Deliver monthly cost forecasts, market trend analysis, and business case presentations to senior leadership.

Candidate Profile & Qualifications

Education & Experience
- Degree: Bachelor’s or Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering,

📌 Manager-PCL (Pune)
🏢 Mahindra & Mahindra
📍 Pune