Plant Head – Crankshaft Manufacturing

Jobitus; Rajkot; On-site; INR 4,500,000 - 7,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobitus is seeking a seasoned Plant Head for Crankshaft Manufacturing to oversee plant operations, quality, maintenance, logistics, and delivery performance. The candidate should have 25+ years in precision manufacturing, with hands-on machining/forging experience and proven leadership of large cross-functional teams.

The role requires adherence to ISO 9001, customer audits, and continuous improvement initiatives across production planning, cost control, and safety standards.

Qualifications

• Minimum 25+ years of experience in precision manufacturing, heavy engineering, automotive components, or industrial component manufacturing.
• Strong hands-on experience in machining and/or forging operations is mandatory.
• Prior experience as Plant Head, Factory Manager, General Manager – Operations, or similar senior manufacturing leadership role preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end plant operations including production, quality, maintenance, and logistics to meet targets.
• Ensure compliance with ISO 9001, customer quality requirements, and audits; drive APQP/PPAP and corrective actions.
• Drive cost optimization, waste reduction, and continuous improvement through Lean, Kaizen, and 5S.
• Manage a workforce of ~100 with 4 Managers and 5 Senior Executives; foster safety and discipline.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Manufacturing operations

Lean manufacturing

OEE optimization

Cross-functional leadership

Education

B.E./B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering

Tools

ISO 9001

APQP

PPAP

SOPs

Job description

We are seeking a highly experienced and strategic Plant Head – Crankshaft Manufacturing to lead overall plant operations, production, quality, maintenance, logistics, and operational excellence. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in precision machining, forging, and industrial component manufacturing, along with a strong understanding of automotive OEM requirements and non-automotive industrial manufacturing processes.

The role requires a seasoned manufacturing leader capable of managing a workforce of approximately 100 employees, leading a team of 4 Managers and 5 Senior Executives, ensuring compliance with quality management systems, optimizing plant performance, and achieving production and delivery targets.

Retired Plant Heads, Factory Managers, and senior manufacturing professionals with relevant industry experience are encouraged to apply.

Industry: Crankshaft Manufacturing | Precision Engineering | Automotive & Industrial Components
Experience: 25+ Years
Education: B.E. / B.Tech in Mechanical, Production, or Industrial Engineering
Salary: Negotiable, based on experience and current CTC

Key Responsibilities

1. Plant Operations & Systems Management

• Lead end-to-end plant operations, ensuring efficient production, quality, maintenance, and logistics functions.

• Ensure compliance with ISO 9001, applicable automotive and industrial standards, and customer-specific quality requirements.

• Lead preparations for customer, automotive OEM, and external audits, ensuring timely closure of audit observations and corrective actions.

• Implement and maintain APQP, PPAP, SOPs, and other relevant quality and manufacturing systems.

• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs), including Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), scrap rates, productivity, and shop-floor efficiency.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to reduce waste, improve process capability, and optimize manufacturing costs.

2. Leadership & Workforce Management

• Lead and mentor a team of 4 Managers and 5 Senior Executives across Production, Quality, Maintenance, and Logistics.

• Manage and guide a workforce of approximately 100 employees, ensuring discipline, accountability, productivity, and adherence to safety standards.

• Enforce 5S, housekeeping, attendance, and shop-floor discipline across all plant operations.

• Resolve interdepartmental issues, operational bottlenecks, and resource conflicts to maintain smooth plant functioning.

• Build a performance-driven culture focused on safety, quality, delivery, cost, and employee development.

3. Production Planning & Delivery Management

• Oversee production planning, scheduling, and execution to achieve daily, monthly, and annual production targets.

• Optimize plant capacity utilization, machinery performance, manpower deployment, and resource allocation.

• Ensure On-Time In-Full (OTIF) deliveries to automotive OEMs and industrial customers.

• Coordinate with planning, procurement, and supply chain teams to ensure timely availability of raw materials and critical components.

• Control work-in-progress (WIP), finished goods inventory, and material movement to improve operational efficiency.

• Proactively address production delays, capacity constraints, and delivery risks.

4. Quality, Process Improvement & Cost Control

• Ensure consistent product quality across crankshaft machining, forging, and associated manufacturing processes.

• Work closely with Quality and Engineering teams to resolve customer complaints, process deviations, and recurring quality issues.

• Implement root cause analysis and corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).

• Drive Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, 5S, and other continuous improvement initiatives.

• Monitor manufacturing costs, rejection rates, rework, downtime, and productivity to improve plant profitability.

• Ensure compliance with workplace safety, environmental requirements, and applicable statutory regulations.

5. Cross-Functional & Customer Coordination

• Coordinate with senior management and departmental heads to align plant operations with business objectives.

• Maintain effective communication with customers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders.

• Support customer audits, technical reviews, production planning discussions, and quality-related meetings.

• Prepare and review operational reports, KPI dashboards, production summaries, and management presentations.

• Ensure accurate documentation and timely reporting for internal management and global customers.

Candidate Profile

Experience

• Minimum 25+ years of experience in precision manufacturing, heavy engineering, automotive components, or industrial component manufacturing.

• Strong hands-on experience in machining and/or forging operations is mandatory.

• Prior experience as a Plant Head, Factory Manager, General Manager – Operations, or in a similar senior manufacturing leadership role is preferred.

Industry Background

• Experience managing a combination of automotive and non-automotive manufacturing operations.

• Exposure to crankshaft manufacturing or closely related precision-engineered components is highly desirable.

• Experience working with automotive OEMs and industrial customers, with an understanding of their different quality, production, and delivery requirements.

Technical & Management Competencies

• Strong knowledge of ISO 9001, APQP, PPAP, SOPs, and customer audit requirements.

• Proven expertise in production planning, capacity utilization, OEE, inventory management, and cost optimization.

• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage large shop-floor workforces.

• Strong understanding of quality systems, continuous improvement, safety, and operational excellence.

Educational Qualification

• B.E. / B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering, Production Engineering, or Industrial Engineering.

Communication Skills

• Excellent professional English communication skills, both written and verbal.

• Ability to lead corporate meetings, prepare management reports, and handle global customer documentation.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a mature, hands-on manufacturing leader who can combine strategic plant management with strong shop-floor execution. Candidates with experience managing both flexible industrial manufacturing workflows and stringent automotive OEM systems will be particularly well suited to this position.