Head Manufacturing Engineering - Lighting India Region

Varroc; Chakan; On-site; INR 2,000,000 - 4,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation to Pune

Job summary

Varroc is seeking a senior Manufacturing Engineering lead to drive ME strategy, process excellence, and capital investments for the India Lighting business. You will guide capacity planning, NPD readiness, and manufacturing optimization, ensuring seamless transitions from design to high-volume production.

This role requires 15–20 years in automotive manufacturing, with expertise in lighting components and Industry 4.0 practices.

Qualifications

• 15–20 years of experience in Manufacturing / Industrial Engineering, automotive exposure mandatory.
• Experience in Automotive Lighting Components manufacturing.
• Strong knowledge of Lean, TOC, automation and Industry 4.0.
• Experience with NPD manufacturing readiness, capacity planning, and capital investments.
• Financial management exposure is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Drive process excellence and capability building across India lighting plants.
• Define ME strategy, lead capital investments, and support new product launches.
• Plan and govern CAPEX and allocate capital per business priorities.
• Design and optimize manufacturing processes, layouts, and line balancing.
• Lead PFMEA, control plans, and process validation activities.
• Ensure manufacturability inputs are integrated into product design (DFM).
• Oversee capacity planning and operational readiness for demand shifts.
• Lead NPD manufacturing readiness reviews and transitions to mass production.
• Drive productivity, benchmarking, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Build and lead a strong ME/IE team across the region.

Skills

Manufacturing Engineering

Industrial Engineering

Lean Manufacturing

Automation Projects

TOC

Industry 4.0

Digital Transformation

Education

BE / B.Tech

ME / M.Tech / MBA / PG in Operations

Job description

JOB PURPOSE

To lead and drive Manufacturing Engineering for the India Lighting Business by enabling robust, scalable, and cost-efficient manufacturing processes, ensuring design for manufacturability, and building advanced capabilities in lean, automation, and industrial engineering while supporting high-volume new product development and ensuring optimal utilization of resources for business profitability.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABLITIES

1. Process Excellence & Capability Building

• Establish and drive process excellence in lighting.
• Develop process-wise excellence models and standardize them across all plants.
• Continuously track and adopt emerging manufacturing technologies.
• Build internal capability through structured training, trials, and experimentation.

2. Manufacturing Engineering Strategy

• Define and execute ME strategy aligned with India lighting business goals.
• Drive innovation in manufacturing processes to support new product launches and cost reduction.
• Lead planning, budgeting, and execution of capital investments for process improvements and new lines.

3. Capex Planning & Governance

• Review and approve annual CAPEX plans for all lighting plants (NPD and improvement projects).
• Study and evaluate CAPEX proposals to support business.
• Ensure optimal allocation of capital aligned with business priorities.

4. Process Development & Optimization

• Design and implement efficient manufacturing processes, layouts, and line balancing.
• Lead PFMEA, control plans, and process validation activities.
• Drive cycle time reduction, productivity improvement, and equipment utilization.
• Ensure manufacturability inputs are integrated into product design (DFM).

5. Capacity Planning & Operational Readiness

• Review and approve plant-wise capacity utilization and expansion plans.
• Align capacity with evolving business demand and sales forecasts.
• Analyze demand fluctuations and recommend solutions for capacity balancing.

6. New Product Manufacturing Readiness (NPD)

• Review and approve manufacturing readiness for all new product programs.
• Approve process design, layouts, routings, and costing.
• Participate in critical design reviews and ensure manufacturability.
• Ensure smooth transition from design to mass production.

7. Productivity, Benchmarking & Continuous Improvement

• Drive model line development for improved productivity, space utilization, and FTR.
• Lead benchmarking initiatives across plants and external best practices.
• Identify and implement cost-saving and efficiency improvement projects.

8. Space & Infrastructure Planning

• Review and approve plant layout and space utilization plans.
• Ensure optimal use of manufacturing space for current and future business needs.

9. Cross-functional Collaboration & Conflict Resolution

• Collaborate with R&D, Program Management, Operations, and Quality teams.
• Resolve escalations related to process feasibility, timelines, and manufacturing challenges.
• Support critical NPD programs and ensure timely issue resolution.

10. People Leadership & Capability Development

• Build and lead a strong ME and Industrial Engineering team across India lighting business.
• Drive recruitment, performance management, and capability development.
• Identify skill gaps and implement structured training programs.
• Develop leadership pipeline and succession plans within the function.

EDUCATION / QUALIFICATION

• Minimum Qualification required: BE / B.Tech
• Qualifications preferred: ME / M.Tech / MBA / PG in Operations

WORK EXPERIENCE

• 15-20 years of experience in Manufacturing / Industrial Engineering with Automotive / Auto Component Industry (Automotive Lighting / Electronics MANDATORY)
• Strong experience of Manufacturing Engineering (In other organizations where ME is a major manufacturing function/vertical)
• Experience of Automotive Lighting Components & its Manufacturing Processes
• Knowledge of the automotive industry
• Working knowledge Lean, TOC adoption in industry, Automation projects,
• Digital transformation experience will be an added advantage
• Understanding of financial management will be an added advantage
• Strong exposure to latest automotive manufacturing aspects such as IE, Industry 4.0, IOT, Smart Manufacturing, Electric Vehicle manufacturing, SMT manufacturing, TPM, Kaizen in order to improve overall operational efficiencies.

RELOCATION -

Outstation Candidates will have to RE-LOCATE to PUNE and will be eligible to avail benefits under the Relocation Policy.