Production Head

Steel Shoppe; Chennai District; On-site; INR 6,000,000 - 9,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Steel Shoppe in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India is seeking an experienced Production Head to take full ownership of end-to-end production operations, ensuring optimal production performance, operational efficiency, and product quality, while driving safety, cost, delivery, and customer satisfaction objectives.

This role requires a seasoned professional with hands-on experience in production management, a deep understanding of shop floor operations, strong leadership qualities, and the ability to

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Metallurgy or Manufacturing Engineering.
• 18-22 years of experience in production/manufacturing operations with leadership.
• Experience in the Steel Processing / Steel Service Center industry preferred.
• Hands-on experience with SAP in production planning, production execution, inventory transactions, and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day production operations, ensuring efficient planning, scheduling, and execution of all production processes to achieve production targets.
• Develop and execute production plans aligned with business requirements and company goals, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality products while managing costs.
• Monitor KPIs and OEE, machine utilization, productivity, and process efficiency, implementing corrective actions to achieve operational excellence.
• Oversee production schedules, resource allocation, material management, and inventory controls to ensure smooth operations with minimum downtime.
• Identify inefficiencies and bottlenecks, conduct root cause analysis (RCA), and lead corrective/preventive actions to improve productivity.
• Drive Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, 5S, and other continuous improvement initiatives to reduce waste and cycle times.

Skills

Production PPC

Leadership

Lean Kaizen

OEE Improvement

RCA

Inventory Mgmt

5S Safety

SAP

MS Excel

Cross-functional

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical, Metallurgy or Manufacturing Engineering

Tools

SAP

MS Excel

Job description

Job Purpose

The Production Head will take full ownership of end-to-end production operations, ensuring optimal production performance, operational efficiency, and product quality, while driving safety, cost, delivery, and customer satisfaction objectives. This role requires a seasoned professional with hands-on experience in production management, a deep understanding of shop floor operations, strong leadership qualities, and the ability to drive continuous improvement across all production activities overseeing complex production processes while leading a team to achieve operational excellence and company goals.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Production Oversight & Planning

• Lead and manage day-to-day production operations, ensuring efficient planning, scheduling, and execution of all production processes to achieve production targets.
• Develop and execute production plans aligned with business requirements and company goals, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality products while managing costs effectively.
• Optimize production workflows, resolve bottlenecks, and support process optimization, automation, and capacity expansion projects.

2. Operational Efficiency & Process Optimization

• Monitor KPIs and OEE, machine utilization, productivity, and process efficiency, implementing corrective actions to achieve operational excellence.
• Oversee production schedules, resource allocation, material management, and inventory controls to ensure smooth operations with minimum downtime.
• Identify inefficiencies and bottlenecks, conduct root cause analysis (RCA), and lead the development and implementation of corrective/preventive actions to improve productivity.
• Drive Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, 5S, and other continuous improvement initiatives to reduce waste and cycle times.

3. Quality Assurance & Compliance

• Ensure adherence to customer requirements, quality standards, SOPs, and manufacturing processes across the production line, from raw material sourcing to final product delivery.
• Initiate quality audits and develop corrective/preventive measures to ensure zero-defect production; champion continuous improvement to enhance product quality and process reliability.
• Ensure compliance with IATF / ISO systems (where applicable), safety regulations, and company policies; exposure to IATF and ISO audits required.
• Enforce strict adherence to safety protocols, ensuring the work environment complies with OSHA standards and all applicable regulatory requirements, and proactively addressing potential hazards.

4. Leadership & Team Development

• Lead manpower planning, team development, performance management, and cross-functional collaboration across engineers, supervisors, and operators.
• Develop high-performing teams through coaching, mentoring, and professional development opportunities, fostering accountability, ownership, and collaboration.
• Conduct regular performance reviews and implement corrective actions as needed to sustain team performance.

5. Cross-Functional Coordination & Reporting

• Coordinate with Planning, Quality, Maintenance, Dispatch, and Sales teams to ensure aligned production execution.
• Prepare and review production reports, MIS, KPI dashboards, and operational data using SAP, MS Excel, and other digital tools; present performance against key metrics such as production rates, cost savings, and quality outcomes to senior management.
• Implement robust documentation practices for all production activities, ensuring traceability and accountability.
• Drive customer satisfaction through on-time delivery, quality improvement, and consistent achievement of production targets.

Qualification

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical, Metallurgy or Manufacturing Engineering.

Experience

• 18 - 22 years of experience in production/manufacturing operations, with a proven track record in a leadership role.
• Experience in the Steel Processing / Steel Service Center Industry is highly preferred.
• Proven expertise in managing day-to-day production operations, shop floor management, and production planning, with a strong record of leading large teams and improving operational efficiency.
• Hands-on experience with SAP in production planning, production execution, inventory transactions, and reporting preferred.

Key Skills

• Production Operations Management & Production Planning and Control (PPC)
• Production & Quality Management
• Team Leadership & People Management
• Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen & Continuous Improvement
• OEE Improvement & Productivity Enhancement
• Root Cause Analysis (RCA) & Problem-Solving
• Inventory & Resource Management
• 5S & Safety Management
• Cost Reduction & Cross-Functional Coordination
• SAP, MS Excel & MIS Report Generation
• Decision-Making under pressure in fast-paced environments

Personal Attributes

• Highly driven, results-oriented, and capable of making critical decisions under pressure.
• Strong communicator able to engage with stakeholders at all levels of the organization, suppliers, and customers.
• In-depth understanding of industry trends and a commitment to staying ahead of technological advancements in manufacturing.
• High attention to detail with a relentless focus on process and product quality.
• A proactive, strategic thinker who drives innovation and operational excellence in the manufacturing domain.