Transformation Director

Location: Ernākulam

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and visionary  Director of Manufacturing Transformation  to lead the next stage of our manufacturing evolution.

This is a strategic executive leadership position responsible for transforming our manufacturing operations into a world-class, digitally enabled, high-performance organisation. The successful candidate will lead operational excellence initiatives, modernise manufacturing systems, improve productivity and quality, and build a scalable manufacturing capability that supports the company's long-term growth.

Working closely with Engineering, Operations, Procurement, Quality, and the Executive Team, you will drive continuous improvement while maintaining the flexibility, innovation, and customer focus that define our business

Key Responsibilities
As the Director of Manufacturing Transformation, you will:
Manufacturing Strategy & Transformation
Develop and execute the company's long-term Manufacturing Transformation Strategy.
Create and maintain a Manufacturing Master Plan aligned with business objectives.
Lead organisation-wide manufacturing transformation initiatives.
Improve productivity, efficiency, and operational performance.
Increase manufacturing capacity and scalability.
Reduce manufacturing lead times and improve gross margins.
Establish world-class manufacturing standards and best practices.
Foster a culture of operational excellence and continuous improvement.
Operational Excellence
Design and implement robust manufacturing systems and processes.
Standardise production workflows, procedures, and documentation.
Improve production scheduling, capacity planning, and material flow.
Optimise factory layout and workstation design.
Lead Lean Manufacturing, 5S, Kaizen, and waste reduction initiatives.
Implement Root Cause Analysis and corrective action processes.
Production Engineering & Industrialisation
Lead Design for Manufacture (DFM), Design for Assembly (DFA), and Design for Test (DFT) initiatives.
Oversee New Product Introduction (NPI) and manufacturing readiness activities.
Improve manufacturing validation and process capability.
Drive product modularisation and assembly optimisation.
Partner with Engineering to ensure products are designed for efficient manufacturing without compromising quality or reliability.
Digital Manufacturing
Lead the implementation and optimisation of ERP and Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES).
Introduce barcode traceability and electronic work instructions.
Develop real-time production dashboards and reporting systems.
Implement digital quality management and manufacturing analytics.
Support Industry 4.0 and Smart Factory initiatives.
Automation & Technology
Identify automation opportunities that improve productivity, quality, and safety.
Implement automated testing, digital inspection, production monitoring, and manufacturing data capture.
Evaluate robotics and semi-automated assembly solutions appropriate for a high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environment.
Quality & Continuous Improvement
Work closely with Quality Assurance to improve manufacturing quality and reliability.
Improve First Pass Yield (FPY), reduce non-conformances, and support CAPA initiatives.
Drive supplier quality improvements and manufacturing audits.
Reduce warranty costs through process improvement and manufacturing excellence.
Supply Chain & Procurement
Collaborate with Procurement to improve supplier performance and capability.
Support strategic sourcing and make-versus-buy decisions.
Improve inventory management and material availability.
Lead value engineering and cost reduction initiatives.
Leadership & People Development
Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing manufacturing leadership team.
Coach Production Managers, Manufacturing Engineers, Supervisors, and Team Leaders.
Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
Lead organisational change through effective communication and stakeholder engagement.
Performance Management
Develop and monitor manufacturing KPIs including:
Productivity
Cost of Goods Sold (COGS)
Labour efficiency
First Pass Yield (FPY)
On-time delivery
Manufacturing lead time
Capacity utilisation
Inventory…