Sr. Manager / AGM New Product Development (NPD) Machining

Department - NPD / Machining

Location - Ballabgarh, Faridabad

Reporting To - Plant Head

Role Purpose To lead the overall Recent Product Development function for the Machining Division, ensuring successful and timely conversion of customer requirements, drawings and concepts into manufacturable, cost-effective and quality-approved products. The role will have end-to-end ownership of NPD strategy, feasibility, process development, tooling and fixture development, CNC/VMC programming, prototype development, trials, validation, costing, customer approvals and production handover. The NPD Head will also drive Design for Manufacturability (DFM), process optimization, automation, cost reduction, cycle-time improvement and technology development across the machining division.

1. Strategic NPD Leadership

- Develop and implement the overall NPD strategy and roadmap for the Machining Division.
- Establish NPD systems, processes, standards and governance mechanisms.
- Review and prioritize NPD projects based on customer requirements, business priorities, capacity and commercial potential.
- Establish project timelines, milestones and accountability for every development.
- Monitor the complete NPD portfolio and ensure timely closure of development projects.
- Identify opportunities for new technologies, processes, automation and advanced machining capabilities.
- Develop long-term technical capabilities aligned with the company's business growth plans.

2. Customer & Business Interface

- Act as the key technical interface with customers during new product development.
- Review customer drawings, specifications, technical requirements and revisions.
- Participate in technical discussions, feasibility reviews and development meetings with customers.
- Ensure customer requirements are clearly translated into internal manufacturing requirements.
- Support Business Development/Commercial team during RFQ, feasibility and costing activities.
- Identify technical risks and commercial implications before accepting new development projects.
- Ensure timely submission of samples, FAI/PPAP documents and other customer-required documentation.

3. Manufacturing Feasibility & DFM

- Lead Design for Manufacturability (DFM) and manufacturing feasibility reviews.
- Evaluate material, component geometry, tolerances, GD&T;, surface finish, machining operations, machine capability, tooling, fixtures and inspection requirements.
- Recommend design/process changes to improve manufacturability and reduce cost.
- Identify potential manufacturing risks before prototype development.
- Ensure new products are designed/developed with quality, productivity and cost considerations.

4. Process Development

- Lead development of complete machining processes for CNC, VMC and other machining centres.
- Approve process flow, operation sequence and machine allocation.
- Establish optimum machining parameters and manufacturing methodology.




- Drive standardization of machining processes across similar products.
- Ensure process capability is established for critical dimensions and characteristics.
- Review and approve process sheets, work instructions and process documentation.

5. CNC Programming & Digital Manufacturing

- Lead the CNC/VMC programming function for NPD.
- Ensure efficient utilization of CAM, simulation and offline programming systems.
- Establish standards for CNC programming and program revision control.
- Drive implementation of machining simulation to minimize tool collision and trial errors.
- Review and approve complex machining programs.
- Promote digital manufacturing and data-driven process optimization.

6. Tooling, Fixture & Gauge Development

- Establish the tooling and fixture development strategy for NPD.
- Review and approve requirements for cutting tools, special tools, fixtures, jigs, gauges and inspection aids.
- Coordinate with internal Tool Room and external vendors.
- Ensure tooling and fixture development is completed within project timelines.
- Drive tool life improvement and tooling cost reduction.
- Ensure fixtures provide repeatability, accuracy and operator safety.

7. Prototype & Trial Management

- Lead prototype and pilot production activities.
- Establish development trial plans and ensure timely execution.
- Review first-off, prototype and pilot results.
- Ensure technical issues are identified and resolved before production release.
- Drive systematic analysis of trial failures, rejection and rework.
- Ensure all development changes are documented and controlled.

8. Costing & Cost Optimization

- Lead technical inputs for new product costing and quotation.
- Validate machine-hour requirements, cycle time, tooling cost, fixture cost, setup time, material utilization and inspection requirements.
- Benchmark estimated versus actual manufacturing cost after SOP.
- Drive continuous cost reduction through cycle-time reduction, tool-cost reduction, setup reduction, process optimization, automation, machine utilization and material optimization.

9. Quality & Process Validation

- Ensure NPD processes meet all customer and internal quality requirements.
- Coordinate with Quality for FAI, PPAP, APQP, Control Plans and process capability.
- Ensure critical dimensions and specifications are validated before SOP.
- Review development-related rejection and customer feedback.
- Drive RCA and CAPA for NPD-related quality issues.
- Ensure lessons learned are incorporated into future developments.

10. Production Transfer / SOP





- Ensure smooth transfer of all successfully developed products from NPD to Production.
- Establish a formal NPD-to-Production handover process.
- Ensure Production receives complete documentation: approved drawings, process sheets, CNC programs, tool list, fixture details, cycle time, setup instructions, inspection requirements, control plan and quality standards.
- Ensure production team is trained before SOP.
- Monitor initial production and ensure closure of stabilization issues.

11. NPD Project Management

- Establish and maintain the NPD Master Tracker.
- Monitor project status against customer requirement, drawing release, feasibility, costing, tooling, fixture, programming, material, prototype, trial, inspection, customer approval and SOP.
- Conduct periodic NPD review meetings with cross-functional teams.
- Escalate delays and critical risks to Plant Head/Management.
- Ensure corrective actions are closed within committed timelines.

12. Technology & Process Improvement

- Identify and implement advanced machining technologies.
- Drive automation and semi-automation in repetitive processes.
- Evaluate opportunities for robotic loading/unloading, automated inspection, tool monitoring, in-process gauging, palletization and digital work instructions.
- Drive Kaizen and Lean initiatives within NPD.
- Develop technical standards and best practices.

13. Team Leadership & Capability Building

- Lead and manage the NPD team comprising NPD Engineers, Process Engineers, CNC Programmers, Tooling/Fixture Engineers and Development Engineers.
- Define responsibilities and project ownership.
- Set individual and team KRAs/KPIs.
- Conduct performance reviews and capability assessments.
- Develop technical competencies through training and mentoring.
- Build a strong pipeline of technically capable NPD professionals.

Qualification & Experience

- B.E./B.Tech in Mechanical preferred.
- Preferably 13+ years of relevant experience in machining, manufacturing engineering and NPD.
- Strong leadership experience in CNC/VMC-based manufacturing.
- Experience in precision engineering and complex component development.
- Experience in defence, aerospace, automotive or other high-precision manufacturing will be an advantage.

Technical Exposure

- CNC/VMC machining; advanced process planning; CNC programming/CAM.
- Tooling & fixture development; GD&T; DFM/DFA.
- FAI/PPAP/APQP; process capability; Lean Manufacturing.
- Cost reduction, automation, machining simulation and ERP/MRP.

Software Skills

- SolidWorks / AutoCAD.
- CAM software.
- VERICUT or equivalent simulation software.
- ERP/MRP systems.
- Advanced MS Excel and MS Office.

Recommended Reporting & Cross-Functional Interface The Sr. Manager/AGM NPD (Machining) should report directly to the Plant Head and work closely with Business Development, Engineering, Quality, Production, Purchase, Tool Room and Stores. The role should have adequate authority to drive NPD timelines, technical decisions and cross-functional closure.

📌 Sr. Manager / AGM New Product Development (NPD) (Faridabad)
🏢 Precision Electronics
📍 Faridabad