JOB DESCRIPTION
Head – Improvement Cell
Send resume to [email protected]
Mention “Position Applied – Head Improvement Cell in subject.
Department
Improvement Cell / Continuous Improvement
Reporting To
AVP – Operations
Scope
Currently 2 manufacturing branches and 2 warehouses; scope to expand as the company grows
Team Handled
CI champions/engineers at each branch (to be built; future direct reportees as scope expands)
Travel
Frequent travel across branches and warehouses required
1. Position Summary
The Head – Improvement Cell will lead continuous improvement across the company’s manufacturing branches and warehouses, driving Lean, Six Sigma, TPM and Kaizen initiatives to reduce cost, scrap, rejection and downtime, and to improve productivity, quality and process capability in leaf spring manufacturing operations (forging, hot/cold rolling, heat treatment, shot peening, assembly and testing). The role currently covers 2 branches and 2 warehouses, with the team and authority expected to expand as the function matures.
2. Key Responsibilities
- Design and roll out a continuous improvement (CI) strategy and roadmap aligned with company goals, across all current and future branches/warehouses.
- Drive Kaizen, 5S, TPM, SMED, Poka-Yoke, Value Stream Mapping and Six Sigma projects on the shop floor and in warehouse operations.
- Standardize improvement methodology, audit systems and KPI dashboards across branches for consistent tracking and reporting.
- Reduce process rejection %, customer PPM, scrap, energy and material cost, and changeover/cycle time.
- Build, train and mentor CI champions/engineers at each branch as the function scales (train-the-trainer model).
- Lead and track cost-saving projects with quantified ROI; report savings and progress to the AVP – Operations on a periodic basis.
- Collaborate closely with Quality, Production, Maintenance and Warehouse teams on cross-functional improvement projects.
- Benchmark processes against industry best practices in heat treatment, pressing, forging and related automotive component processes.
- Support IATF 16949 / quality system requirements through process improvement and standardization initiatives.
- As scope expands, build the long-term structure, budget and authority of the Improvement Cell function in consultation with the AVP.
3. QualificationEducation
- B.E. / B.Tech in Mechanical, Production or Industrial Engineering – mandatory.
- M.E. / MBA (Operations) – preferred, not mandatory.
Certifications
- Six Sigma (Green Belt / Black Belt), Lean Manufacturing or TPM certification – desirable but not mandatory; strong demonstrated practical experience can substitute.
- IATF 16949 Internal Auditor certification – an added advantage.
4. Experience
- 12–18 years of overall manufacturing experience, including at least 4–6 years in a Continuous Improvement / Improvement Cell / Operational Excellence role.
- Experience in the automotive component industry strongly preferred, particularly with heat treatment, pressing, forging or spring manufacturing processes.
- Exposure to driving improvement initiatives across more than one plant/location is an advantage, given the multi-branch scope of this role.
- Experience presenting cost-saving and process improvement results to senior management.
5. Skills & Expertise
Category
Requirement
Technical / Process : Working knowledge of forging, pressing, heat treatment and leaf spring manufacturing processes
Methodologies : Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, TPM, TQM, Kaizen, 5S, SMED, FMEA, VSM, Root Cause Analysis
Data & Tools : Statistical Process Control, MS Excel; Minitab or similar tools an advantage
Leadership : Ability to build and lead a multi-branch CI team; train, mentor and create CI champions at each site
Influence & Communication :Strong stakeholder management across Production, Quality, Maintenance and Warehouse teams; cross-functional influence without direct line authority
Language : Proficiency in Hindi and English; knowledge of regional languages relevant to branch locations is a plus
Mobility : Willingness to travel frequently across branches and warehouses
6. Reporting & Future Scope
- Reports to: AVP – Operations.
- Current scope: 2 manufacturing branches and 2 warehouses.
- Budget / project sign-off authority: to be defined and formalized as the Improvement Cell function is established; expected to grow with scope.
- Team: To be built progressively – CI champions/engineers at each branch, eventually reporting (direct or dotted line) into this role.
7. Key Performance Indicators (Indicative)
- Reduction in process rejection % and customer PPM
- Cost savings achieved through CI projects (value and number of projects)
- Improvement in OEE / productivity across branches
- Reduction in downtime, changeover time and energy/material cost
- Number of CI champions trained and Kaizens implemented across branches and warehouses
Equal Opportunity Employer Statement : Jamna Auto Industries Ltd., is an equal opportunity employer. All employment-related decisions are based on merit, Qualifications, and business requirements without Discrimination.
Pay: Up to ₹2,000,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Cell phone reimbursement
- Food provided
- Health insurance
- Leave encashment
- Life insurance
- Paid sick time
- Paid time off
- Provident Fund
Work Location: In person
