Manager - Mechanism (ICE CDMM)

Responsibilities & Key Deliverables

• Carefully examine and analyze received engineering drawings to validate manufacturability, ensuring design feasibility and compliance with industry standards.
• Devise comprehensive development and procurement plans for components, collaborating closely with vendors to meet stringent time, cost, and quality objectives.
• Prepare precise and detailed Customer Input Requirements (CIR) documents, aligning stakeholder expectations with technical deliverables.
• Conduct thorough vendor analysis and rationalization exercises to evaluate capacity, negotiate timeframes, and optimize supply chain efficiency.
• Maintain strict control over material and tooling costs, ensuring expenditures remain within approved budgetary limits without compromising quality.
• Partner with the pricing team to support accurate and component-specific cost estimation, facilitating competitive and profitable pricing strategies for new parts.
• Coordinate effectively with design teams to implement 'first-time-right' production principles, guaranteeing timely and accurate product delivery.
• Perform variance analysis across quality, cost, and delivery metrics at each project milestone, initiating corrective actions to resolve discrepancies promptly.
• Innovate and implement cost reduction strategies through process improvements and value engineering initiatives, enhancing overall project profitability.
• Assess and negotiate tooling investments required for vendor support; oversee tooling aids to ensure component development aligns with technical requirements.
• Assist the pricing cell in vendor selection following established policies, ensuring optimal supplier alignment with project demands.
• Consistently meet Material Receipt Date (MRD) targets, facilitating smooth production flow and minimizing delays.
• Adhere to Mahindra Product Development System (MPDS) project gateways, ensuring milestones are achieved effectively across all projects.
• Engage proactively in project feasibility studies to evaluate technical, financial, and operational viability.
• Take ownership of Quality, Cost, and Delivery (QCD) targets for all new product launches and continuous improvements, fostering excellence within the product lifecycle.
• Provide robust support to STA counterparts in part development activities adhering to APQP processes and project schedules.

Experience

The ideal candidate will possess over 12 years of progressive experience in automotive component development, preferably with a focus on internal combustion engine (ICE) mechanisms within a fast-paced manufacturing environment. This extensive experience should encompass hands-on engagement with project management, vendor collaboration, quality assurance, and cost control.

Demonstrated expertise in managing complex product development cycles, from initial concept through mass production, with a proven track record of meeting stringent quality, cost, and delivery metrics is essential. Experience working within structured product development frameworks such as MPDS or equivalent automotive industry standards will be highly advantageous.

Strong background in supplier evaluation and partnership is expected, with proven capabilities in negotiating contracts and maintaining supplier performance to support just-in-time manufacturing protocols.

Familiarity with SAP MM and other ERP systems is necessary to ensure effective material management and procurement processes. The candidate should also have significant exposure to cross-functional team leadership and collaboration with design, manufacturing, quality, and pricing departments.

Experience in implementing continuous improvement methodologies and cost-reduction initiatives, utilizing data-driven problem-solving approaches, will be highly regarded.

Qualifications

A Bachelor's degree in Engineering (BE) is the minimum educational qualification required, preferably in Mechanical Engineering or a closely related field.

Additional certifications or training in automotive manufacturing processes, quality systems (such as Six Sigma or Lean Manufacturing), and project management will be considered advantageous.

The candidate should demonstrate continuous professional development through relevant workshops, seminars, or courses focusing on cost management, vendor relations, and advanced quality assurance techniques.

Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, along with the ability to work collaboratively in a diverse and multidisciplinary environment, are crucial for this role.

Willingness to travel as required to vendor sites and project locations is also essential to effectively manage development activities and ensure project success.