Operations Manager

Catalydd Consulting; Pune District; On-site; INR 1,200,000 - 1,400,000; Full time

Job summary

Catalydd Consulting in Pune (Sanaswadi) is seeking an Operations Manager to lead all plant-level functions including production (paint shop), stores, quality, dispatch, PPC, and maintenance. You will ensure on-time, in-full, right-first-time delivery while building discipline and process maturity for a growing automotive supplier.

The role reports to the Owner and collaborates with the Business Consultant on process improvements, audits, and customer coordination.

Qualifications

• Diploma/B.E./B.Tech in Mechanical, Production, Industrial, or Paint Technology (preferred).
• Experience in manufacturing, especially automotive components, with 10-12 years.
• Previous plant/operations management experience with multi-function oversight.
• Experience handling customer audits and quality system audits.

Responsibilities

• Oversee production (paint shop) operations, planning, and target achievement.
• Coordinate PPC planning and materials to avoid line stoppages.
• Manage stores/inventory with FIFO/FEFO and stock controls.
• Ensure quality checks and CAPA/continuous improvement per standards.
• Coordinate dispatch, packaging, and logistics to ensure OTIF delivery.
• Engage with customers and manage escalation with owner/director.

Skills

Operations management

Paint shop operations

Quality management

Supply chain coordination

Team leadership

Education

Diploma/B.E./B.Tech in Mechanical/Production/Industrial/Paint Technology

Tools

MS Excel

ERP exposure

Job description

Position Title: Operations Manager

Department: Plant Operations

Reports To: Owner

Direct Reports: Production (Paint Shop) In-charge, Stores In-charge, Quality In-charge, Dispatch/Logistics In-charge, PPC Executive, Maintenance In-charge, and their teams

Location: Sanaswadi

Employment Type: Full-time

!! Budget 12 to 14 LPA !!

Job Purpose

The Operations Manager will be the single point of accountability for all plant-level functions — production (paint shop), stores, quality, dispatch, production planning and control (PPC), plant maintenance, and customer coordination. The role is responsible for ensuring on-time, in-full, right-first-time delivery to customers while building systems, discipline, and process maturity appropriate for a growing Tier 3 automotive supplier. The Operations Manager will report to the Owner/Director and work closely with the Business Consultant (Executive Director) on process and systems improvement.

Key Responsibilities

3.1 Production (Paint Shop) Management

• Plan and supervise daily paint shop operations (pre-treatment, painting, curing/baking, and finishing) to meet production targets.
• Ensure adherence to process parameters (surface preparation, film thickness, oven temperature/time, spray booth conditions) as per customer and internal specifications.
• Monitor manpower allocation, shift planning, and productivity on the shop floor.
• Drive reduction of rework, rejection, and process wastage (paint consumption, power, consumables).
• Ensure safe working practices in the paint shop, including handling of paints, thinners, and hazardous materials.

3.2 Production Planning & Control (PPC)

• Prepare and monitor daily/weekly/monthly production plans based on customer orders and delivery schedules.
• Coordinate raw material and component availability with stores to avoid line stoppages.
• Track production vs. plan, identify bottlenecks, and take corrective action.
• Maintain visibility of capacity utilization and flag capacity constraints to management in advance.

3.3 Stores & Inventory Management

• Oversee receipt, storage, and issue of raw materials (paints, chemicals, consumables) and customer-supplied components.
• Ensure proper inventory control, FIFO/FEFO practices, stock accuracy, and minimum/maximum stock levels.
• Prevent material shortages and excess/obsolete inventory; coordinate timely procurement requisitions.
• Ensure safe and compliant storage of hazardous/inflammable materials.

3.4 Quality Management

• Ensure in-process and final quality checks are conducted as per customer specifications and applicable standards.
• Own root cause analysis (RCA) and corrective/preventive action (CAPA) for internal rejections, customer complaints, and quality escalations.
• Drive implementation and maintenance of quality systems (e.g., IATF 16949 / ISO 9001 practices, PPAP, control plans, inspection standards) as applicable.
• Maintain quality records, inspection reports, and traceability documentation.
• Coordinate directly with customers on quality issues, containment actions, and closure of complaints.

3.5 Dispatch & Logistics

• Plan and supervise timely dispatch of finished/painted components as per customer schedules.
• Ensure proper packing, labeling, and documentation (delivery challans, e-way bills, etc.) for outward material.
• Coordinate transport arrangements and resolve dispatch-related issues to avoid delays.
• Maintain dispatch records and ensure alignment with customer receiving schedules.

3.6 Customer Coordination

• Act as the primary operational point of contact for customers on receipt of materials, dispatch schedules, and day-to-day coordination.
• Manage communication on quality issues/complaints, ensuring timely response, containment, and corrective action closure.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with customer SQE, logistics, and planning teams.
• Escalate critical customer issues to the owner/management with recommended action plans.

3.7 Plant Maintenance

• Ensure upkeep and preventive maintenance of plant machinery, paint booths, ovens, conveyors, compressors, and utilities.
• Minimize breakdowns through planned maintenance schedules; ensure timely breakdown resolution to avoid production loss.
• Maintain maintenance records, spare parts inventory, and AMC/vendor coordination for critical equipment.
• Ensure statutory compliance related to equipment (pollution control equipment, boilers/ovens, electrical safety, etc.).

3.8 Audits & Compliance

• Act as the plant’s primary representative for customer audits, quality system audits (IATF/ISO), and statutory/regulatory audits (pollution control, fire safety, labour, etc.).
• Ensure plant readiness (documentation, housekeeping, process discipline) ahead of scheduled and surprise audits.
• Drive closure of audit non-conformities (NCs) within agreed timelines.
• Maintain a self-audit/internal audit calendar to ensure continuous audit-readiness.

3.9 People & General Management

• Lead, guide, and develop function heads/in-charges of production, stores, quality, dispatch, PPC, and maintenance.
• Drive 5S, discipline, and a culture of ownership and accountability across the plant.
• Provide regular MIS/reports to the owner and business consultant on production, quality, delivery, and cost performance.
• Support cost control initiatives and contribute to operational budgeting.

Key Result Areas (KRAs) / KPIs

• On-Time-In-Full (OTIF) delivery performance
• Customer rejection/complaint rate (PPM) and complaint closure TAT
• Internal rejection/rework percentage
• Plant/machine uptime and breakdown hours
• Inventory accuracy and stock-out incidents
• Audit non-conformity closure rate and audit scores
• Production plan adherence
• Cost of quality and operational cost per unit

Education & Experience Requirements

Education

• Diploma / B.E. / B.Tech in Mechanical, Production, Industrial, Paint Technology, or a related engineering discipline (preferred).
• Additional certification/training in Quality Management Systems (IATF 16949 / ISO 9001), Lean Manufacturing, or Production Management will be an advantage.

Experience

• 10-12 years of overall experience in a manufacturing environment, with meaningful exposure to the automotive component/ancillary industry (Tier 1/2/3 supplier setup).
• Prior experience in a paint shop / surface coating / electroplating / finishing operation is mandatory.
• At least 1-2 years in a plant/operations management role handling multiple functions (production, quality, stores, dispatch) with team leadership responsibility.
• Demonstrated experience in handling customer audits (Tier 1/OEM SQE audits) and quality system audits (IATF 16949/ISO 9001).
• Experience working in a small/mid-size owner-driven company, comfortable being a hands-on, on-ground leader (not a purely corporate role).
• Key Skills & Competencies
• Strong working knowledge of paint shop processes, quality tools (RCA, CAPA, 7QC tools, control plans) and production planning.
• Good understanding of IATF 16949/ISO 9001 quality systems and statutory/compliance requirements applicable to a manufacturing unit.
• Strong people management and team leadership skills; ability to manage cross-functional teams and drive discipline on the shop floor.
• Excellent customer coordination and communication skills; comfortable interfacing directly with Tier 2/OEM customer representatives.
• Analytical and data‑driven approach to problem solving; comfortable with MIS/reporting (MS Excel; ERP exposure preferred).
• High ownership, hands‑on, and structured/process‑oriented working style suited to a growing, owner‑driven organization.
• Ability to work independently, take decisions, and be accountable for plant performance while keeping the owner informed.

Other Requirements

• Willingness to be based at the plant and available for extended hours during audits, dispatches, or production exigencies.
• Age: below 40

Local candidates or those willing to relocate near the plant location preferred