Dy Manager - Plant Store ops

Responsibilities & Key Deliverables

As Deputy Manager for Plant Store Operations at Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, you will be entrusted with full-spectrum management of store functions critical to the tractor manufacturing process. Your primary responsibilities include overseeing the thorough receipt, handling, and storage of diverse materials to ensure they are maintained in optimal condition until issuance.

You will orchestrate the entire inventory lifecycle including packaging, preservation, timely dispatch, and controlled disposal, ensuring all operations comply with stringent quality and safety standards. A key element of your role involves ensuring safety protocols are rigorously enforced across all store and logistic activities, thereby embedding a proactive safety culture in your teams.

Utilisation of SAP modules MM, SD, and PP will be fundamental in maintaining perpetual inventory accuracy, conducting detailed ageing and capital assets analysis, and driving data-backed decision-making. You will be accountable for controlling Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ) elements like scrap, detention, premium freight, underload, and expiry, identifying root causes and implementing corrective actions to minimize financial impact.

Leading vehicle utilisation and dispatch planning (IUTN), you will coordinate material delivery schedules closely with customer plants to ensure seamless fulfilment of production demands. Managing a complex workforce consisting of unionised workers, contractual personnel, and trainees, your leadership will foster engagement, productivity, and continuous skill development.

Compliance with industry standards such as ISO 9001, TS, TPM, OHSAS, SHE protocols, and ISO 45001 will be integral to your remit, coupled with championing green packaging and returnable packaging initiatives to enhance sustainability within the supply chain. You will collaborate extensively with manufacturing and support functions to ensure materials availability aligns perfectly with plant production schedules, thereby eliminating bottlenecks and reducing downtime.

Additionally, you will lead continuous improvement efforts incorporating process optimization, cost rationalisation, and spend management initiatives. Analysing operational data to identify inefficiencies and deploying lean principles will help achieve higher service levels while optimising resources. Your strategic oversight will drive operational excellence, maintain compliance with evolving regulations, and support Mahindra's reputation as an industry leader in tractor manufacturing logistics.

• Manage end-to-end store operations including receipt, storage, issuance, packing, preservation, disposal, and dispatch.
• Drive SAP-enabled inventory and asset management, performing detailed analysis to sustain accuracy and efficiency.
• Implement stringent safety standards across all teams, fostering a culture of safety compliance and risk mitigation.
• Control and reduce Cost of Poor Quality elements through vigilant monitoring and corrective actions.
• Lead vehicle utilisation and dispatch planning, coordinating with customer plants to ensure timely material supply.
• Manage diverse workforce including unionised employees, contractors and trainees, encouraging continuous development.
• Ensure compliance with ISO, TS, TPM, OHSAS, SHE, and ISO 45001 standards, embedding quality and sustainability in store processes.
• Promote green and returnable packaging practices, aligning with environmental goals.
• Partner with manufacturing and support functions to align store activities with production demand.
• Drive continuous improvement projects focused on cost control, process efficiencies and spend management.

Preferred Industries

Education Qualification

Candidates applying for this role are expected to have a robust educational background that supports the technical and operational demands of plant store management in an industrial manufacturing environment. A Diploma or Graduate qualification in Engineering is essential, with a strong preference for Mechanical Engineering due to the nature of the equipment and components handled.

Alternatively, candidates with a Science graduate degree who have supplemented their education with relevant certifications in materials management, logistics, or supply chain will also be considered. Such qualifications illustrate an understanding of core principles like material properties, inventory control, and process optimisation.

Supplementary education such as certifications in SAP Material Management, warehouse operations, procurement, or Lean Six Sigma methodologies will be viewed positively as they demonstrate a commitment to operational excellence and continuous improvement.

Ongoing professional development is encouraged to stay current with advancements in manufacturing technologies, supply chain innovations, and regulatory compliance related to occupational health and safety.

• Diploma or Graduate degree in Engineering, preferably Mechanical Engineering, or a Science degree with relevant technical certifications.
• Preferred additional qualifications in supply chain management, logistics, SAP modules, or warehouse systems.
• Strong foundation in mechanical systems, materials handling, and inventory management principles.
• Commitment to continuous learning aligned with manufacturing and safety standards.

General Experience

The successful candidate will bring a minimum of 3 to 5 years of progressive professional experience in warehouse or store operations management, ideally within the automobile manufacturing sector or a closely related heavy manufacturing industry.

Proficiency in managing comprehensive store functions including receipt, issuance, storage, inventory control, packaging and dispatch is essential. Experience applying SAP Material Management and related modules is crucial to enable real-time inventory visibility and enhance operational efficiencies.

Experience in implementing safety management systems and driving compliance with industrial standards such as ISO 9001, OHSAS 18001, TPM, and other relevant frameworks will be highly valued. Proven ability to lead cost control initiatives, manage vendor relationships, and coordinate logistics within a manufacturing context is important.

Skillful management of a diverse team, including unionised workers, contractors, and trainees, demonstrates capability to lead multi-disciplinary groups with focus on engagement, training, and productivity. Candidates should show a track record in initiating continuous improvement projects, utilising data-driven approaches to enhance store operations aligned with business needs.

• 3 to 5 years of experience in storage or warehouse management in automobile or heavy manufacturing sectors.
• Hands-on expertise in SAP Material Management module and related inventory management systems.
• Experience driving safety initiatives and ensuring compliance with ISO, OHSAS, TPM standards.
• Proven skills in cost management, vendor liaison, and operational leadership.
• Leadership of diverse workforce including union and contract employees.
• Accomplished in continuous improvement and cross-functional collaboration to meet operational goals.

Critical Experience

Extensive and demonstrated expertise in managing warehouse operations within a manufacturing environment is imperative for success in this role. The ideal candidate must have a solid grasp of the full storage lifecycle including receipt, storage control, issuance protocols, preservation strategies, and end-of-life disposal processes for materials and components.

Expertise in utilising SAP modules MM, SD, and PP to enforce inventory accuracy, carry out ageing analysis, and oversee capital asset management is essential for operational control and optimisation.

Hands-on experience in adherence to stringent safety and quality management systems aligned with ISO 9001, TS, TPM, OHSAS 18001, SHE norms, and ISO 45001 is critical. Candidates must have a proven track record in managing Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ) factors such as scrap minimisation, premium freight rationalisation, detention costs, and expiry monitoring, reflecting their ability to reduce waste and enhance process efficiency.

Strong capabilities in dispatch planning, vehicle utilisation, and coordinating complex logistics flows to accurately match production scheduling and customer timelines is necessary. The incumbent will also lead green packaging and returnable packaging initiatives, contributing to the company’s sustainability commitments.

Leadership experience managing unionised, contractual, and trainee staff within a high-demand manufacturing environment is essential. The candidate should have a history of fostering continuous improvement cultures, operational excellence, and effective vendor management. Lastly, the ability to seamlessly integrate with multiple support functions to avoid disruptions and ensure process continuity is expected.

• Proven expertise in warehouse operations lifecycle management in automotive or heavy machinery manufacturing.
• Advanced proficiency with SAP MM, SD, PP for inventory and asset oversight.
• Implementation and maintenance of safety and quality standards as per ISO, TS, TPM, OHSAS, SHE, and ISO 45001.
• Effective management of Cost of Poor Quality (COPQ) elements to improve cost containment.
• Strong skills in dispatch planning and logistics coordination aligned with production schedules.
• Leadership in green and returnable packaging initiatives supporting sustainability strategy.
• Experience leading diverse teams and promoting a culture of continuous improvement and engagement.
• Comprehensive vendor management and cross-functional collaboration to uphold uninterrupted operations.

System Generated Core Skills

System Generated Secondary Skills