Plant Manager

Job Overview

We are looking for an experienced and result-oriented Plant Manager with a strong background in the FMCG industry, preferably in food processing or food manufacturing. The candidate will be responsible for overseeing end-to-end plant operations, production planning, quality control, manpower management, inventory, maintenance, and operational efficiency.

The ideal candidate should possess strong leadership skills, a process-oriented mindset, and the ability to drive productivity while maintaining high standards of quality, safety, and cost-effectiveness.

Key Responsibilities

1. Plant & Production Management

• Oversee day-to-day plant operations and ensure smooth functioning of all production activities.
• Develop and execute production plans in line with business requirements and sales forecasts.
• Monitor production output, productivity, capacity utilization, and overall equipment effectiveness.
• Ensure timely production and dispatch while minimizing downtime, wastage, and operational bottlenecks.
• Implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) and continuously improve manufacturing processes.

2. Quality Control & Food Safety

• Ensure adherence to quality standards, food safety regulations, hygiene protocols, and applicable statutory requirements.
• Coordinate with the Quality Assurance (QA) team to maintain product consistency and compliance.
• Ensure compliance with applicable FSSAI, GMP, HACCP, and other relevant food safety standards.
• Drive root-cause analysis and corrective and preventive actions for quality issues.
• Maintain proper documentation, traceability, and records for audits and inspections.

3. Manpower & Team Management

• Lead and manage production supervisors, operators, technicians, and other plant personnel.
• Plan manpower deployment, shift schedules, and workforce utilization.
• Monitor team performance and ensure adherence to discipline, safety, and productivity standards.
• Train employees on operational procedures, quality standards, and workplace safety.

4. Inventory & Supply Chain Coordination

• Coordinate with procurement, warehouse, quality, and dispatch teams to ensure uninterrupted production.
• Monitor raw materials, packaging materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods inventory.
• Ensure proper material handling, storage, FIFO/FEFO practices, and stock reconciliation.
• Minimize material losses, product damage, and inventory discrepancies.

5. Cost Control & Operational Excellence

• Monitor production costs, material consumption, energy usage, and overall operational expenses.
• Identify opportunities to reduce wastage and improve resource utilization.
• Implement Lean Manufacturing, 5S, Kaizen, and other continuous improvement initiatives.
• Track production KPIs and prepare regular operational performance reports.

6. Plant Maintenance & Safety

• Ensure preventive and corrective maintenance of machinery, equipment, and utilities.
• Coordinate with maintenance teams to minimize equipment breakdowns and production interruptions.
• Enforce workplace safety standards, PPE usage, and emergency preparedness.

7. Reporting & Cross-Functional Coordination

• Prepare daily, weekly, and monthly production and plant performance reports.
• Coordinate with senior management on production targets, operational challenges, and improvement plans.
• Collaborate with Finance, HR, Procurement, Quality, Warehouse, and Sales teams to achieve business objectives.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree or Diploma in Food Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Production Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum 58 years of relevant experience in plant or production management within the FMCG industry, preferably in food processing, food manufacturing, or packaged food.
• Experience in handling end-to-end plant operations, production planning, manpower, inventory, and quality systems.
• Strong understanding of food safety standards, manufacturing processes, and plant-level statutory compliance.
• Experience in managing production teams, controlling operational costs, and achieving production targets.
• Working knowledge of ERP systems, production MIS, and inventory management systems.