Head - Manufacturing - Textile/Garments

We are looking for a seasoned operational leader to take end-to-end charge of manufacturing and plant operations.

The incumbent will lead production, production planning & control (PPC), industrial engineering, quality assurance, engineering & utility maintenance, warehousing/stores, and environmental health & safety (EHS). While prior leadership experience in innerwear/undergarments, intimate wear, or knitwear manufacturing is an added advantage, a proven track record of driving operational excellence, productivity, and scale across broader textile/apparel manufacturing setups is equally valued.

Key Responsibilities:

1. End-to-End Production & Productivity Management:

- Lead overall plant operations to deliver monthly, quarterly, and annual production volumes within budgeted costs and defined timelines.

- Drive line efficiency, capacity utilization (OEE), and shop-floor throughput across cutting, stitching/sewing, bonding, finishing, and packaging lines.

- Monitor key manufacturing KPIs (cost per unit, labor productivity, cut-to-ship ratio, rework percentage) and drive continuous improvements.

2. Production Planning & Inventory Control (PPC & Stores):

- Partner with Central Planning and Supply Chain to translate demand forecasts into executable master production schedules (MPS).

- Supervise raw material (fabric, trims, elastics, accessories), WIP, and finished goods warehousing.

- Implement robust inventory controls, minimize carrying costs, prevent material obsolescence, and ensure zero line-stoppages.

3. Quality Assurance & Brand Adherence:

- Enforce rigorous quality control systems from raw material inspection (yarn/fabric/trims) to in-line and end-of-line audits.

- Ensure finished goods meet international AQL benchmarks, fit/finish precision, and stringent customer satisfaction metrics.

- Champion Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and Corrective & Preventive Actions (CAPA) to curb rejections and internal defects.

4. Industrial Engineering (IE) & Lean Manufacturing:

- Direct Industrial Engineering teams to optimize line balancing, standard minute values (SMV/SAM), layout designs, and ergonomic workflow.

- Institutionalize Lean, 5S, Kaizen, and Six Sigma initiatives to eliminate waste, cycle-time bottlenecks, and non-value-added activities.

5. Plant Engineering, Utilities & Maintenance:

- Oversee engineering utilities (compressors, boilers, DG sets, HVAC, electrical distribution, and effluent treatment where applicable).

- Drive preventive, predictive, and total productive maintenance (TPM) schedules to ensure maximum machinery uptime and asset lifespan.

- Spearhead energy-saving and carbon-reduction initiatives across plant operations.

6. Safety, Social Compliance & Statutory Governance:

- Maintain an uncompromising focus on EHS standards, striving for zero lost-time incidents (LTI).

- Ensure 100% statutory compliance with the Factories Act, labor laws, wage codes, pollution control board norms, and occupational safety mandates.

- Lead buyer/third-party compliance audits (e.g., WRAP, Sedex/SMETA, ISO, OEKO-TEX, Higg Index).

7. People Leadership & Industrial Relations:

- Lead, mentor, and build technical capabilities across managerial, supervisory, and shop-floor operator tiers.

- Cultivate harmonious workplace relations, manage contract workforce agencies, and resolve plant-level grievances proactively.

Candidate Profile & Qualifications:

Education:

- Mandatory: B.Tech / B.E. in Textile Engineering or Textile Technology.

- Preferred: MBA / PG Diploma in Production / Operations Management from a recognized institute.

Experience:

- 15 - 24 years of core manufacturing and plant leadership experience in the textile/apparel industry.

- Experience in innerwear, undergarments, intimate apparel, or knitwear is a strong advantage, though candidates with comprehensive experience in woven/apparel/garment manufacturing will also be considered.

Age Bracket:

- Approximately 45 - 50 years.

Key Skills & Competencies:

- Deep technical insight into textile fabrication, sewing assembly, and garment construction.

- Strong grip on Industrial Engineering principles (SAM/SMV calculation, line balancing, takt time).

- Working knowledge of ERP systems (SAP/Oracle), PPC modules, and shop-floor analytics.

- Proven leadership in leading large, multi-thousand-operator manufacturing teams and navigating complex statutory/labor environments.