Platform Manufacturing Head

Responsibilities & Key Deliverables

The Platform Manufacturing Head - MSTAR Plat will spearhead the strategic manufacturing initiatives for Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd's Farm Division, ensuring the seamless integration of production processes from project inception through to launch. This critical role requires leading the formulation of manufacturing strategies by collaborating closely with cross-functional teams such as Product Planning and Development, Plant Production Heads, and Component Part Heads to develop robust business cases and confirm key assumptions.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing decisive inputs into the make versus buy decisions, ensuring these are resolved promptly to maintain project timelines.
• Driving manufacturing feasibility studies and aligning engineering requirements with production capabilities early in the design phase to optimise Design for Manufacturing (DFM) standards.
• Finalising RFQs, Statements of Requirements (SoR), and detailed engineering drawings by incorporating process, investment, and cost analyses in cooperation with Production Engineering Heads.
• Leading Base Engineering Content (BEC) reduction initiatives aimed at streamlining designs and reducing complexity, which directly impacts cost efficiency and quality.
• Acting as the central point of contact for manufacturing activities related to vehicle assembly, aggregate integration, and product technical development, guiding site build activities at various project milestones alongside Chief Manufacturing Engineers (CME) and Line Managers (LM).
• Establishing and maintaining high standards of quality execution to achieve Manufacturing Target Completion Plans (TCP), influencing prototype-builds to adhere strictly to production plant sequencing.
• Monitoring and reporting on key manufacturing quality indicators during all build phases to ensure the highest production standards.
• Managing delivery of process and product cost targets, securing necessary sign-offs, and overseeing Release on Change Management (ROCM) when project or engineering changes arise.
• Ensuring smooth handover of manufacturing projects to the launch team, maintaining the agreed quality benchmarks and effectively tracking budget performance.
• Conducting comprehensive risk assessments on part quality, process capability, and deviations involving in-house parts, and providing oversight and support for any TCP deviations.
• Driving the completion and integration of all manufacturing deliverables aligned with the product development timelines, and escalating strategic issues proactively to senior management for timely resolution.

Experience

The ideal candidate will possess over 20 years of extensive experience in end-to-end manufacturing leadership within the tractor industry or original equipment manufacturing (OEM), managing multiple vehicle or product platforms. This experience should encompass a solid foundation in shopfloor operations, including hands-on management of assembly lines, Body-in-White (BIW), fabrication, powertrain, and aggregates manufacturing processes.

Professional competency should also include process and industrial engineering with proven expertise in orchestrating new product launches, encompassing start of production (SOP) preparedness, ramp-up phases, and post-launch stabilization activities.

Demonstrated accountability for delivering platform-level manufacturing outcomes such as cost efficiency, superior quality, timely delivery, and capacity management is essential. Candidates should be adept at leading cross-functional teams towards achieving ambitious manufacturing KPIs and operational excellence.

Industry Preferred

Experience within the Tractor manufacturing industry and Tier 1 OEM sectors is highly desirable for this role. Knowledge of the specific challenges and innovation cycles within these industries will enable the successful candidate to navigate complex supply chains, stringent quality mandates, and dynamic production environments effectively.

Familiarity with agricultural machinery manufacturing processes and compliance standards will be advantageous, providing valuable context for strategic manufacturing decisions aligned with evolving market demands.

Qualifications

A Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Production, or Automobile Engineering is mandatory for this position. Additional advanced qualifications such as a Master of Technology, Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM), or Executive MBA will be considered highly favourable, especially for candidates aspiring to manage multi-plant or platform-wide responsibilities.

Formal exposure or certifications in Manufacturing Systems, Operations Excellence frameworks, or Program Management methodologies will serve as a significant advantage, enabling the candidate to drive continuous improvement initiatives and complex program executions effectively.

General Requirements

The role demands strong cross-functional collaboration skills, engaging effectively with Platform Engineering, Chief Development and Manufacturing Managers (CDMM), Purchase, Quality Assurance, and Supply Chain Management (SCM) teams to ensure streamlined manufacturing operations.

Essential responsibilities include ownership of manufacturing feasibility assessments, line readiness verification, tooling coordination, and capacity planning to align production capabilities with product requirements.

The candidate should demonstrate expertise in Value Analysis-Value Engineering (VA-VE), cost reduction strategies, productivity enhancement, and defect mitigation methodologies. A strong grounding in Lean Manufacturing principles, Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), Six Sigma, Kaizen, and Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycles is required to foster a culture of continuous operational excellence.

Our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, fostering an inclusive workplace is central to our operational philosophy. We are committed to embracing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) as foundational values that enhance innovation, collaboration, and mutual respect within our teams.

We actively seek candidates from diverse backgrounds, ensuring equitable hiring practices that provide equal opportunity for all applicants. Our culture supports diverse perspectives and encourages the development of all employees regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, ability, age, or cultural background.

Our DEI initiatives extend beyond hiring, integrating inclusivity into leadership development, decision-making processes, and workplace policies to cultivate a supportive environment where every individual can thrive and contribute fully to our success.