Head Material Planning & Logistics - Cluster (Automotive Lighting)

JOB PURPOSE

Lead and manage Materials Planning, Logistics (MP&L) and Customer Liaisoning for the assigned cluster comprising multiple plants. Ensure seamless material planning, issuance of material for day-to-day production, inventory management, and logistics to support production and timely delivery of finished goods to customers. Serve as a liaison between corporate SCM, Central MP&L and plant-level teams to achieve cost-effective operations, adherence to inventory norms, and overall cluster efficiency.

This role ensures supply chain operations across the cluster, directly impacting inventory optimization, supplier relationships, and timely customer deliveries. Success is measured by adherence to inventory norms & minimal inventory variance in quarterly / annual PI, reduced operational costs, and enhanced supplier performance along with improved customer delivery performance

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

Cluster Material Supply Management

• Guide and support Plant Schedulers to ensure uninterrupted material supply for daily production across all Plants in the cluster. Coordinate with suppliers to get the required material at the right time, in the right quantity & at the right price.
• Resolve critical supplier issues, including quality, capacity, and delivery concerns, through proactive engagement and coordination with suppliers and corporate SCM
• Collaborate with plant teams to address disputes between suppliers and plants due to quality issues, capacity limitations, or fluctuating customer demands.
• Collaborate and guide plant PPC, Warehouse, and logistics teams to enable them to discharge their day-to-day responsibilities effectively and efficiently

Supplier Delivery Performance Monitoring

• Drive initiatives to enhance delivery performance.
• Implement corrective actions for underperforming suppliers from delivery perspective and align them with cluster targets, further alignment on decisions to be made in consultation with corporate SCM.
• Monitor the supplier rating system, QCD parameters, and performance improvement of L3 and L4 category vendors; Set targets for the team to bring to upgrade L3/ L4 to L1/ L2 category suppliers
• Participate in monthly quality and delivery meetings at the respective plants, review with plant quality and material teams to identify and resolve review issues, and initiate action

Inventory Control

• Establish and monitor cluster-wide & Plant - wise inventory targets in collaboration with plant Schedulers and Plant Heads based on the guidelines received from COE inventory Team / Central MP&L
• Inculcate a culture of average inventory management as opposed to month-end inventory management among the schedulers and the entire MP&L teams in the plant(s)
• Review weekly average inventory reports and address deviations from targets to maintain optimal levels.
• Cross functional collaboration to reduce and control the inactive inventory for BOM
• Devise a methodology to ensure in-transit inventory or inventory at customer end warehouses is within the agreed limits with the customer/BD Team
• Prepare and present cluster-level inventory status to regional leadership

Maintenance of Share of Business

• Monitor deviations and discuss with respective plants to resolve concerns on deviations on share of business parameters to mitigate associated risk; Undertake root cause analysis of supplier delivery issues and provide inputs for resolution.
• Check SOB on monthly basis and assess cost impact; Interact with corporate SCM to meet SOB parameters.

Process Standardization and SOP Development

• Define and implement standardized processes for material planning, inventory management, warehouse and logistics across the cluster based on the guidelines received from central MP&L teams
• Provide guidance and support to plant teams for adhering to defined SOPs as outlined / guided by central teams

People Leadership and Team Development

• Recruit, mentor, and manage a high-performing MP&L team across the cluster plants including PPC, warehouse, logistics and scheduling teams
• Build a strong leadership pipeline by mentoring and developing plant and function heads, by undertaking regular performance discussions, and providing coaching and mentoring support
• Assess the performance of direct reports and provide them with developmental feedback; leverage performance data to develop a successor for the role
• Drive organizational capability development through structured training and upskilling initiatives
• Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement across all plants

Compliance and Risk Management

• Ensure adherence to customer, Varroc's quality system, statutory and regulatory requirements related to IATF and health, safety, and environmental standards as applicable for the function
• Uphold high standards of ethics in adherence to SHIPs philosophy at all stages.
• Conduct regular audits and compliance checks to mitigate operational risks

QUALIFICATION

• Minimum Qualification required: BE / B.Tech (Full-time)
• MBA / PG in Operations / SCM will be an added advantage

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Minimum 15-20 years in Material Planning & Logistics, with experience in the automotive / auto component industry (Automotive Lighting Preferred).
• Strong understanding of supply chain management, supplier quality, supplier audit, and outsourced vendor manufacturing. Knowledge of suppliers of auto parts and associated challenges
• Proficient in SCM ERP's and supply chain analytics.
• Applicants from Automotive Lighting background will be preferred

OTHER SKILLS

• Leadership and team management capabilities
• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Effective communication and negotiation abilities

REPORTING - The position administratively reports to the Cluster Operations Head & functionally reports to the MP&L Head - India Manufacturing.

TEAM - The position has a Team of MP&L Leads & Associates reporting to it.

Outstation Candidates will have to RE-LOCATE to PUNE and will be eligible to avail benefits under the Relocation Policy.