Manufacturing Quality Lead (Body shop & Axles line)

Manufacturing Quality Lead (Body shop & Axles line)

Purpose

Lead the Manufacturing Quality function to ensure process compliance, product integrity, and adherence to customer, regulatory, and organizational requirements while driving a Zero-Defect Manufacturing Culture through operational excellence, continuous improvement, and digital quality transformation.

Key Responsibilities

Quality Governance & Compliance

• Lead manufacturing quality across all production lines and product units.
• Ensure compliance with manufacturing processes, control plans, work instructions, customer specifications, tender requirements, and regulatory standards.
• Establish and sustain quality systems, procedures, and controls aligned with IATF 16949 and ISO 9001 requirements.

Product & Process Quality Assurance

• Ensure products conform to design specifications, homologation requirements, and customer expectations.
• Monitor critical process parameters and conduct regular process audits and Travel card preparation covering all critical process and CTQs.
• Oversee in-process inspections of Body BIW, Axles front & rear and aggregates sub-assembly and final quality validation, and product release activities pertaining to M&HCV Buses. Battery assembly knowledge will be an added advantage.

Problem Solving & Continuous Improvement

• Lead root cause analysis and corrective actions for internal defects, customer complaints, warranty issues, and field failures.
• Drive defect prevention through robust quality planning, process controls, and risk mitigation.
• Champion Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and Poka-Yoke initiatives to reduce defects, rework, and COPQ.

Performance & Digital Quality

• Drive quality KPIs including FTQ, DPU, COPQ, warranty performance, and customer satisfaction.
• Implement digital quality tools, dashboards, MES/QMS integration, and data-driven decision-making.
• Present quality performance, risks, and improvement plans to senior management.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Collaborate with Engineering, Manufacturing, Supplier Quality, Projects, and Customer Support teams to achieve quality objectives.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the Manufacturing Quality team.
• Foster a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement across operations.

Qualifications & Experience

• Education: B.E./B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering discipline.
• Experience: 16-18 years in Automotive/EV Manufacturing Quality.

Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of EV manufacturing processes and HV safety requirements.
• Proficiency in AIAG Core Tools (APQP, PPAP, FMEA, SPC, MSA), GD&T, and IATF 16949 requirements.
• Experience in quality audits, problem-solving methodologies, and process capability improvement.