Deputy Manager - Oil Packing

Role & Responsibilities:

• Lead the overall Oil Packing Operations and ensure achievement of daily, weekly and monthly packing targets as per the production and dispatch plan.
• Take complete ownership of packing performance across all shifts, ensuring smooth, safe and efficient operation of the packing section.
• Plan and coordinate packing activities for different SKUs, pack sizes and packaging formats such as pouches, bottles, jars and tins, as applicable.
• Ensure optimum utilization of packing lines, manpower, packaging materials and utilities to achieve targeted output and efficiency.
• Monitor key packing performance parameters including line efficiency, OEE, downtime, changeover time, rejection, wastage and productivity.
• Ensure availability and proper utilization of packaging materials including laminates, bottles, caps, labels, cartons, jars, tins and secondary packaging materials.
• Coordinate closely with Production, Refinery, Warehouse, Planning and Dispatch teams to ensure uninterrupted supply of oil and timely availability of packed finished goods.
• Ensure all packing lines operate within defined quality, weight/volume, sealing, coding, labelling and packaging specifications.
• Coordinate with the Quality/QA team for in-process quality checks, packaging quality issues and timely closure of deviations.
• Ensure compliance with GMP, GHP, food safety, hygiene, HACCP/FSSC requirements and applicable SOPs across the packing area.
• Drive reduction in packaging material losses, oil losses, underweight/overweight packs, leakage, rejections and rework.
• Analyse recurring line losses and breakdowns and initiate root-cause analysis, corrective and preventive actions.
• Coordinate with Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation and Utility teams for preventive maintenance, breakdown maintenance and improvement of packing equipment reliability.
• Monitor performance of critical equipment such as filling machines, pouch packing machines, conveyors, cappers, sealers, coders, labellers, check weighers and carton handling systems.
• Plan and monitor preventive maintenance and autonomous maintenance activities in coordination with the Engineering team.
• Lead and guide Shift In-Charges, Engineers, Supervisors, Operators, Technicians and contractual manpower working in the packing section.
• Ensure appropriate shift-wise manpower planning and deployment based on production requirements and packing priorities.
• Review shift performance and ensure effective shift handover/takeover and escalation of operational issues.
• Develop the capability of team members through on-the-job training, SOP training, troubleshooting guidance and performance coaching.
• Ensure strict adherence to EHS requirements, PPE usage, machine guarding, LOTO and safe operating practices.
• Maintain and review packing-related MIS, production reports, downtime reports, material consumption, wastage, rejection and efficiency data.
• Monitor packing cost and identify opportunities for cost reduction, productivity improvement and packaging optimization.
• Drive 5S, Kaizen, TPM, OEE improvement and continuous improvement initiatives in the packing section.
• Participate in trials and commissioning of new packing machines, packaging materials, pack sizes and automation projects.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable statutory, food safety, quality and internal audit requirements related to packing operations.
• Coordinate with vendors and internal stakeholders for resolving issues related to packing machines and packaging materials.
• Ensure timely availability of packed stocks to support dispatch requirements and customer service levels.
• Review departmental KPIs and take corrective action to achieve targets related to Safety, Quality, Productivity, Cost, Delivery and People.
• Act as the Packing Operations Lead and provide overall direction, control and operational leadership for the Oil Packing Department.

Preferred Candidate Profile:

• B.Tech / B.E. in Mechanical, Electrical, Production, Food Technology or a related engineering discipline.
• Relevant experience in Edible Oil / FMCG / Food Processing / High-Speed Packaging Operations.
• Strong hands-on experience in managing multiple high-speed packing lines and large-scale packing operations.
• Prior experience in handling pouch, bottle, jar and/or tin filling and packing lines will be highly preferred.
• Should have experience in a team-leading or section-head capacity, managing Shift In-Charges, Engineers, Supervisors and shop-floor manpower.
• Strong understanding of packing line efficiency, OEE, preventive maintenance, breakdown analysis and loss reduction.
• Good knowledge of packaging materials, filling systems, sealing, coding, labelling, check-weighing and secondary packaging processes.
• Knowledge of GMP, GHP, HACCP, FSSC/ISO food safety requirements and manufacturing SOPs.
• Experience in production planning, manpower planning, cost control, packaging material consumption and inventory coordination.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with experience in RCA, CAPA, Kaizen, TPM and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Ability to work closely with Production, Quality, Engineering, Warehouse, Planning, Procurement and Dispatch functions.
• Strong leadership, people management, coordination and decision-making abilities.
• Should be capable of independently leading the complete Oil Packing Operations and delivering departmental KPIs.