Sr. Manager - Bleaching & Finishing

Job Description: Senior Manager Bleaching & Finishing

Location: Santej / Khatraj (Near Ahmedabad), Gujarat

Department: Woven Textile Processing / Fabric Manufacturing

Company: Arvind Ltd.

Position Overview

Arvind Ltd. is seeking an experienced and technical Senior Manager Bleaching & Finishing to lead the continuous processing operations for our specialized Gabardine Fabric Expansion Project. This role is pivotal in driving shop-floor execution across continuous bleaching (CBR), singeing, mercerizing, and high-end mechanical/chemical finishing ranges (Sanforizing, Stenters, Calenders) dedicated to heavy-duty, high-density bottom-weight twills and gabardines.

The ideal candidate will combine deep expertise in continuous fabric processing chemistry with strong shop-floor management skills to achieve superior hand-feel, shade consistency, dimensional stability, and production efficiency while strictly adhering to EHS and ETP standards.

Key Responsibilities

1. Shop-Floor Processing & Process Control

• Continuous Bleaching & Pre-Treatment: Manage Singeing, Desizing, Continuous Bleaching Ranges (CBR), and Mercerizing lines to ensure uniform absorbency, whiteness, and strength retention for gabardine & heavy twill constructions.
• Specialized Finishing Operations: Oversee chemical and mechanical finishing processes (Stenters, Sanforizing/Zero-Zero ranges, Calendering, Felt finishing, and functional finishes like water-repellent, stain-resistant, or soft-touch coatings).
• Gabardine Technical Parameters: Ensure precise control over diagonal weave clarity, fabric skewness, shrinkage/dimensional stability, weight (GSM), and drape characteristic of premium bottom-weight fabrics.

2. Project Execution & Capacity Scaling

• Participate actively in the setup, machine selection, commissioning, and trial runs for new bleaching and finishing machinery under the Gabardine expansion project.
• Develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), recipe parameters, and process flowcharts for new product variants.
• Collaborate with R&D, Product Development, and Quality Control to convert customer tech-packs into mass-production formulas.

3. Quality Control & Defect Minimization

• Drive First-Time-Right (FTR) processing metrics to reduce re-runs, shade variation, side-to-center variation, creasing, and process defects (e.g., pinholes, uneven mercerization, or drying marks).
• Conduct regular bath analyses, chemical dosage audits, and liquor ratio optimization to ensure consistent process stability.
• Partner with the Quality Assurance team to ensure compliance with buyer-specific physical and chemical test norms (ISO, AATCC, ASTM).

4. Cost Optimization & Operational Excellence

• Optimize thermal energy, power, water, and auxiliary chemical consumption to meet sustainability targets and lower per-meter processing costs.
• Implement Lean, 5S, Kaizen, and Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) methodologies across the bleaching and finishing sections.
• Drive operational downtime reduction through routine preventive maintenance schedules in coordination with the utility and engineering teams.

5. EHS, Compliance & Team Leadership

• Lead, coach, and manage a team of shift engineers, technicians, and machine operators, ensuring high morale and productivity.
• Enforce strict compliance with safety regulations, hazardous chemical handling procedures, zero liquid discharge (ZLD), and ETP operational guidelines.
• Maintain complete documentation and shop-floor records required for customer audits and environmental certifications (e.g., OEKO-TEX, GOTS, ZDHC).

Candidate Profile & Qualifications

• Education: B.Tech / B.E. / B.Sc in Textile Chemistry, Textile Processing, or Chemical Engineering from a recognized institute (e.g., ICT, DKTE, IIT, VJTI).
• Experience: 12 to 18 years of hands-on experience in continuous woven fabric processing (bleaching and finishing), with at least 5+ years in a leadership role.
• Technical Expertise:
  
• In-depth knowledge of continuous ranges (Benninger, Goller, Kusters, Monforts, Morrison, Osthoff, etc.).
• Expertise in chemical formulations for Mercerizing, CBR, and specialized finishing resins/softeners.
• Deep understanding of physical testing norms (shrinkage, tear/tensile strength, abrasion, skewness).
• Soft Skills & Leadership: Strong analytical abilities, cross-functional collaboration, crisis management on the shop floor, and proven team management capabilities.