Plant Manager

Cowberry Industries; Surat; On-site; INR 1,200,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Job summary

Cowberry Industries in Surat, Gujarat invites an experienced Plant Manager for end-to-end FMCG operations. The role focuses on production planning, quality control, manpower management, inventory, maintenance, and efficiency improvements.

You will lead production teams, ensure food safety compliance (FSSAI, GMP, HACCP), and drive KPI-driven performance while managing costs and safety. Strong leadership and process orientation are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or Diploma in relevant field.
• Minimum 5–8 years of plant/production management experience in FMCG.
• End-to-end plant operations, planning, manpower, inventory, and quality systems.
• Strong knowledge of food safety standards and statutory compliance.
• ERP, MIS and inventory management experience.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day plant operations and production activities.
• Develop and execute production plans aligned with sales forecasts.
• Monitor production output, productivity, and OEE.
• Ensure timely production and dispatch; minimize downtime.
• Implement SOPs and drive process improvements.
• Ensure food safety, hygiene and compliance with FSSAI, GMP, HACCP.
• Coordinate with QA, procurement, and cross-functional teams.

Skills

Leadership

Production planning

Quality management

Team management

Lean & Kaizen

Education

Bachelor's degree or Diploma in Food Technology

Industrial Engineering

Tools

ERP systems

Production MIS

Inventory management systems

Job description

Job Overview

We are looking for an experienced and result-oriented Plant Manager with a strong background in the FMCG industry, preferably in food processing or food manufacturing. The candidate will be responsible for overseeing end-to-end plant operations, production planning, quality control, manpower management, inventory, maintenance, and operational efficiency.

The ideal candidate should possess strong leadership skills, a process-oriented mindset, and the ability to drive productivity while maintaining high standards of quality, safety, and cost-effectiveness.

Key Responsibilities

1. Plant & Production Management

• Oversee day-to-day plant operations and ensure smooth functioning of all production activities.
• Develop and execute production plans in line with business requirements and sales forecasts.
• Monitor production output, productivity, capacity utilization, and overall equipment effectiveness.
• Ensure timely production and dispatch while minimizing downtime, wastage, and operational bottlenecks.
• Implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) and continuously improve manufacturing processes.

2. Quality Control & Food Safety

• Ensure adherence to quality standards, food safety regulations, hygiene protocols, and applicable statutory requirements.
• Coordinate with the Quality Assurance (QA) team to maintain product consistency and compliance.
• Ensure compliance with applicable FSSAI, GMP, HACCP, and other relevant food safety standards.
• Drive root-cause analysis and corrective and preventive actions for quality issues.
• Maintain proper documentation, traceability, and records for audits and inspections.

3. Manpower & Team Management

• Lead and manage production supervisors, operators, technicians, and other plant personnel.
• Plan manpower deployment, shift schedules, and workforce utilization.
• Monitor team performance and ensure adherence to discipline, safety, and productivity standards.
• Train employees on operational procedures, quality standards, and workplace safety.

4. Inventory & Supply Chain Coordination

• Coordinate with procurement, warehouse, quality, and dispatch teams to ensure uninterrupted production.
• Monitor raw materials, packaging materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods inventory.
• Ensure proper material handling, storage, FIFO/FEFO practices, and stock reconciliation.
• Minimize material losses, product damage, and inventory discrepancies.

5. Cost Control & Operational Excellence

• Monitor production costs, material consumption, energy usage, and overall operational expenses.
• Identify opportunities to reduce wastage and improve resource utilization.
• Implement Lean Manufacturing, 5S, Kaizen, and other continuous improvement initiatives.
• Track production KPIs and prepare regular operational performance reports.

6. Plant Maintenance & Safety

• Ensure preventive and corrective maintenance of machinery, equipment, and utilities.
• Coordinate with maintenance teams to minimize equipment breakdowns and production interruptions.
• Enforce workplace safety standards, PPE usage, and emergency preparedness.

7. Reporting & Cross-Functional Coordination

• Prepare daily, weekly, and monthly production and plant performance reports.
• Coordinate with senior management on production targets, operational challenges, and improvement plans.
• Collaborate with Finance, HR, Procurement, Quality, Warehouse, and Sales teams to achieve business objectives.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree or Diploma in Food Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Production Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum 58 years of relevant experience in plant or production management within the FMCG industry, preferably in food processing, food manufacturing, or packaged food.
• Experience in handling end-to-end plant operations, production planning, manpower, inventory, and quality systems.
• Strong understanding of food safety standards, manufacturing processes, and plant-level statutory compliance.
• Experience in managing production teams, controlling operational costs, and achieving production targets.
• Working knowledge of ERP systems, production MIS, and inventory management systems.