Business Unit Head – Auto Components (Suspension Systems)

The prime responsibility will be to lead the business unit with end-to-end responsibility for plant operations, profitability, productivity, and customer satisfaction. The role focuses heavily on manufacturing excellence in suspension systems, leveraging deep industry knowledge and strong operational acumen to ensure delivery of world-class products to OEM customers. 

Location: Chakan, Pune 
Reports To: Managing Director / CEO 
Annual Revenue Base: ₹ 100 Crore 
Industry: Automotive Components – Suspension Systems 

Company Profile: 

Client has a strategic joint venture between them and Italian global leader in automotive components, a trusted name in engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain excellence. The company specializes in design, development, and manufacturing of high-performance suspension systems for passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, and two-wheelers. With a manufacturing footprint in India and access to global R&D expertise, company delivers OEM-grade suspension components such as stabilizer bars, and torsion bars. The company maintains a strong commitment to operational excellence, quality assurance, and customer satisfaction, catering to leading global and domestic automotive brands. 

Responsibilities: 

1. Operations & Manufacturing Excellence 
•    Lead the plant’s core operations including production, quality, maintenance, and engineering. 
•    Drive output and efficiency of key suspension components like coil springs, stabilizer bars, and torsion rods. 
•    Implement Lean, TPM, Six Sigma, and Industry 4.0 initiatives to improve quality, reduce waste, and optimize cost. 

2. P&L and Strategic Ownership 
•    Full P&L accountability for the business unit. 
•    Define and execute operational strategy aligned with the joint venture’s goals. 
•    Ensure efficient use of resources while meeting revenue, cost, and margin targets. 

3. Quality & Compliance 
•    Uphold global quality standards (IATF 16949, ISO 9001/14001). 
•    Lead customer and third-party audits; implement CAPAs with a zero-defect approach. 
•    Strengthen process controls across all manufacturing stages. 

4. Customer and Stakeholder Management 
•    Interface with OEM clients for delivery planning, quality resolution, and new product integration. 
•    Strengthen commercial and technical relationships with key customers. 
•    Represent the plant in business reviews with global and domestic leadership. 

5. Product & Process Engineering 
•    Collaborate with design and R&D teams on new suspension products. 
•    Ensure robust NPI (New Product Introduction) processes including APQP, PPAP, and FMEA. 
•    Lead process innovation and automation initiatives. 

6. Team Leadership & Development 
•    Lead and mentor a cross-functional team across operations, quality, supply chain, and engineering. 
•    Create a culture of ownership, performance, and continuous improvement. 
•    Drive safety, morale, and retention of skilled manpower. 

Critical Skills: 
•    Deep knowledge of suspension system manufacturing (coil springs, torsion bars, etc.) 
•    Strong operations management and leadership skills 
•    Financial acumen with P&L ownership 
•    Lean manufacturing, TPM, Six Sigma expertise 
•    Customer handling and OEM interface capability 
•    Strategic thinking and business development mindset 
•    Proficiency in ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, etc.) 

Educational Qualification: 
•    B.E./B. Tech in Mechanical / Production / Automotive Engineering 
•    MBA in Operations / Strategy (preferred) 

Job Requirement: 
•    15–20 years of experience in automotive manufacturing, with a strong focus on suspension systems 
•    Minimum 5 years in a leadership/plant or business unit head role 

Performance Metrics (KPIs): 
•    Production efficiency & Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) 
•    Quality metrics (PPM, audit scores, customer complaints) 
•    Delivery performance (On-Time-In-Full – OTIF) 
•    EBITDA, cost per unit, and inventory turnover 
•    New product launch timelines & success rates 
•    Safety performance and employee engagement index 

Behavioural Competencies: 

1. Strategic Thinking & Business Acumen 
•    Understands market, customer, and internal cost dynamics 
•    Aligns unit operations with long-term business goals 

2. Ownership & Accountability 
•    Takes full responsibility for plant performance, P&L, and delivery 
•    Demonstrates proactive decision-making under pressure 

3. People Leadership & Team Building 
•    Builds high-performance teams and develops talent 
•    Drives engagement and cross-functional collaboration 

4. Change Management & Agility 
•    Leads digital transformation, process changes, and cultural shifts 
•    Responds effectively to operational disruptions or market shifts 

5. Customer Orientation 
•    Maintains strong relationships with OEMs 
•    Understands and anticipates customer needs and translates them into plant priorities 

6. Analytical Thinking & Problem Solving 
•    Applies structured thinking (e.g., root cause analysis, 8D, 5 Why) to resolve issues 
•    Uses data to improve processes and performance 

7. Resilience & Emotional Maturity 
•    Remains composed under pressure 
•    Balances demands from JV partners, customers, and internal teams 

Preferred companies for hiring from (Preferred Manufacturing /Process / Product Experience)
•    Automotive Suspension Component Manufacturing 
•    Metal Forming & Hot/Cold Working