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.