The Program Manager – NPD & Customer Management will be responsible for managing customer programs from RFQ and quotation stage through New Product Development (NPD), sampling, customer approval, production launch and regular supply.
The role will act as the primary coordination point between customers and internal Cross Functional Teams (CFT), ensuring that new projects are developed and launched on time, customer schedules are fulfilled, deliveries are made as committed and all commercial and program-related activities are effectively managed.
The Program Manager will provide Management with clear visibility of all active RFQs, NPD projects, customer requirements, project risks, sales forecasts, dispatches and upcoming business opportunities.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. RFQ & Quotation Management
- Handle new RFQs and project enquiries received from customers.
- Review customer drawings, specifications, annual volumes, commercial requirements and project timelines.
- Coordinate with Engineering, Tool Room, Production, Quality, Purchase and Finance for technical and commercial inputs.
- Prepare costing and quotations in coordination with the respective teams.
- Ensure quotations are submitted within the required timeline.
- Follow up with customers on submitted quotations, technical clarifications and project status.
- Maintain an updated RFQ tracker including quotation value, expected annual business and current status.
- Coordinate project handover after receipt of customer nomination / Purchase Order.
2. NPD & Program Management
Take ownership of new projects from nomination through Start of Production (SOP).
- Prepare detailed project timelines and milestone plans for every new project.
- Coordinate all NPD activities with Engineering, Quality, Production, Tool Room, Purchase, Suppliers and other CFT members.
- Track tooling design and manufacturing, fixtures, gauges, raw material, casting trials, machining trials, inspection and testing activities.
- Conduct regular internal project reviews.
- Follow up with responsible team members for closure of pending activities.
- Identify project delays, risks and bottlenecks in advance.
- Escalate critical delays and risks to Management.
- Coordinate customer sample requirements and submission dates.
- Ensure projects are completed according to committed customer timelines.
- Maintain complete project status and action trackers.
3. Sample, PPAP & Customer Approval Coordination
- Coordinate prototype, T0, T1, T2 and production trial requirements as applicable.
- Coordinate sample production and inspection.
- Work with Quality and Engineering teams for PPAP documentation and submission.
- Track dimensional reports, material reports, testing requirements and other customer-specific documentation.
- Coordinate sample dispatches to customers.
- Follow up on customer feedback and approval.
- Track open points arising from customer sample evaluation.
- Ensure corrective actions are completed and re-submissions are made within agreed timelines.
- Track projects through final customer approval and SOP.
4. Customer Management
- Act as a key point of contact for customers for program, commercial and business-related activities.
- Maintain regular communication with customers regarding project status, schedules, deliveries and requirements.
- Coordinate customer meetings and project reviews.
- Prepare necessary information for customer review meetings.
- Record and track customer action points until closure.
- Ensure customer requirements are clearly communicated to relevant internal departments.
- Escalate critical customer issues to Management when necessary.
- Maintain professional and long-term customer relationships.
5. Customer Schedule & Forecast Management
- Review customer monthly schedules, forecasts and purchase requirements.
- Compare customer requirements against available stock, production capacity and raw material availability.
- Coordinate with PPC, Production, Purchase, Quality and Stores to ensure customer requirements are achieved.
- Identify significant increases or decreases in customer forecasts.
- Highlight potential capacity or material constraints to Management.
- Maintain customer-wise schedule versus supply status.
- Support production planning based on confirmed customer scheduling.
B.E. / B.Tech, Production, Automobile or related Engineering discipline.
Experience:Preferably 15+ years of experience in automotive component manufacturing, aluminium die casting, machining or a related manufacturing industry.
Experience in NPD, Program Management, Project Management, Customer Management or Sales Coordination is preferred.
TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE
The candidate should preferably have working knowledge of:
- Aluminium HPDC manufacturing
- Machining processes
- New Product Development
- RFQ and quotation process
- Tooling and fixture development
- APQP
- PPAP
- Customer-specific requirements
- Engineering drawings
- Project planning
- Production planning
- Inventory management
- Domestic and export logistics
- Basic commercial and costing concepts
REQUIRED SKILLS
- Strong project management and coordination ability
- Strong customer communication skills
- Excellent follow-up and action tracking
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
- Strong problem-solving and escalation skills
- Good commercial awareness
- Strong Excel and MIS reporting skills
- Good presentation and communication skills
- Ability to work effectively with Cross Functional Teams
- Ability to communicate confidently with domestic and international customers
Pay: ₹60,000.00 - ₹90,000.00 per month
Benefits:
- Cell phone reimbursement
- Flexible schedule
- Food provided
Work Location: In person
