Assistant Manager NPD

1. Job Purpose

To manage end-to-end new product development activities, ensuring technical feasibility, cost competitiveness, customer approval, process validation, and timely launch of automotive forged and machined components.

1. Key Responsibilities

Review customer RFQs, drawings, specifications, and conduct technical and manufacturing feasibility studies.
Coordinate product and process development for forging, machining, heat treatment, and other applicable operations, at plant level and corporate NPD team. Manage development of forging dies, trimming tools, machining fixtures, cutting tools, and inspection gauges. Lead APQP activities, project planning, milestone monitoring, and cross-functional reviews.¢ Coordinate prototype development, forging and machining trials, dimensional inspection, and product validation.¢ Ensure timely completion of PPAP documentation and customer approvals as per applicable requirements.¢ Monitor development costs, project timelines, quality targets, and tooling readiness.¢ Ensure process capability, risk assessment, and compliance with IATF 16949 and customer-specific requirements.¢ Coordinate production handover, launch stabilization, and closure of development-related issues.¢ Guide NPD engineers and coordinate with Production, Quality, Purchase, PPC, Tool Room, and suppliers.

1. Required Technical Competencies

¢ Knowledge of forging, precision machining, heat treatment, and automotive steel grades.
¢ Understanding of engineering drawings, GD&T, tolerances, and metallurgical requirements.¢ Working knowledge of APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, MSA, SPC, and IATF 16949.¢ Knowledge of tooling, fixtures, gauges, process capability, and manufacturing cost estimation.¢ Strong project management, problem-solving, customer coordination, and cost-reduction skills.

1. Key Interfaces

Customers, Production, Quality Assurance, Tool Room, Purchase, Supplier Quality, PPC, Finance/Costing, and external tooling suppliers.

1. Behavioural Competencies

Leadership, analytical thinking, planning and execution, communication, teamwork, customer focus, and continuous improvement mindset.