General Manager - Operations

Job Description

Job Title: General Manager – Operations / Plant Head Location: Bilimora, Gujarat (Plant Site) Job Type: Full-Time | Senior Management Role Reports To: Chairman & Managing Director, Director, COO Experience Required: 20+ years in cross-functional operations management (preferably in manufacturing, industrial tools, or engineering) Language Requirement: Professional Fluency in English | Neutral Leadership Organisational Relationships Reporting To: CMD, Director, COO External Relationships: • Suppliers & Vendors • External Auditors • Statutory Authorities • Visiting Buyers / Strategic Partners About Bipico Industries Established in 1974, Bipico Industries (Tools) Pvt. Ltd. is a pioneer in the manufacturing of industrial cutting tools in India. As the first indigenous manufacturer of Bimetal Bandsaw Blades, Bipico has earned its place as a trusted and legacy brand in the domestic and international markets. With exports to over 25 countries, a robust domestic footprint, and an expanding presence via our UAE-based subsidiary, Bipico remains committed to Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India values. Purpose of the Job The General Manager – Operations/Plant Head is the senior-most on-site authority responsible for the efficient, compliant, and accountable operation of Bipico’s Bilimora manufacturing plant. The scope of this role spans across all key departments—Production Planning and Execution, Maintenance, QA, Stores, Procurement, HR, Dispatch, and coordination with Sales and Marketing. This leadership position requires a unique combination of operational excellence, effective people management, firm discipline, and strong professional values. The Plant Head acts as the anchor of execution while senior leadership drives broader expansion and business development. The GM is expected to function independently, resist internal politics, champion cross-functional harmony, and foster a high-performance culture grounded in structure, continuous improvement, and professionalism. They are responsible for translating management’s strategic vision into operational reality—with quality, cost efficiency, safety, and team alignment at the core. Principal Tasks and Responsibilities Strategic Leadership & Governance • Prepare and manage the annual plant budget (CAPEX, OPEX, manpower), track performance and initiate course correction • Represent the Bilimora plant in high-level strategic reviews and reporting sessions • Formulate and implement operational strategies aligned with company goals • Lead plant capacity planning based on annual targets and sales forecasts • Recommend and implement de-bottlenecking initiatives focused on yield, cost, quality, and energy efficiency Production Planning & Execution • Oversee production planning and ensure flawless execution in alignment with customer commitments • Drive uninterrupted operations between planned shutdowns and control unplanned downtime • Execute shop floor balancing, time studies, and process alignment to improve output efficiency • Establish lean practices and SOP-based workflows across departments Cross-Functional Collaboration • Align daily operations with Sales, Purchase, Stores, and Logistics for dispatch readiness and material availability • Coordinate with QA to monitor internal rejections, rework, and complaints • Drive effective collaboration across production, stores, QA, HR, and planning for seamless handovers • Ensure proactive material planning and avoid raw material stockouts Quality, Compliance & Process Excellence • Enforce QMS, ISO, EMS, OSHAS, 5S, and TPM across all operational departments • Lead statutory compliance, environmental clearance renewals, and internal safety audits • Maintain a culture of preventive maintenance, root cause analysis, and disciplined documentation • Promote a zero-defect, zero-incident philosophy plant-wide People Management & Culture Building • Lead, mentor, and review all department HODs; ensure KRA alignment and performance reviews • Build a fair, transparent, and disciplined culture rooted in professional behavior • Pre-empt and resolve interpersonal or interdepartmental conflicts without bias • Oversee training needs identification, planning, and execution for plant-level upskilling • Participate in selection and hiring of critical plant roles in coordination with HR Technology, Innovation & Systems • Identify automation opportunities and IT upgrades to improve plant productivity • Stay updated with industry 4.0 trends; pilot suitable innovations after management approval • Implement new plant projects and CAPEX initiatives within timeline and budget • Evaluate ERP effectiveness and recommend improvements across inventory, production, and quality modules Client, Vendor & Stakeholder Management • Host customer, auditor, or strategic visits at the plant with full professional protocol • Act as the escalation point for plant-level inspections, buyer queries, or quality issues • Maintain constructive relationships with key vendors, service providers, and local authorities • Ensure communication with internal and external stakeholders is timely, professional, and data-driven Information & Performance Reporting • Generate structured MIS reports, dashboards, and operational insights for the management team • Analyze department-wise KPIs and recommend corrective action plans • Ensure reporting timeliness and accuracy across production, maintenance, QA, and manpower functions • Present monthly plant performance reviews with clarity, transparency, and improvement metrics Candidate Profile Education • Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or Industrial Management • MBA/PGDM in Operations or General Management preferred Experience • Minimum 15 years of plant operations experience with exposure to both shop floor and strategic functions • Industry experience in industrial tools, engineering goods, or high-precision manufacturing is preferred • Proven success in leading cross-functional teams and turning around plant performance Skills & Competencies • Commanding leadership style with emotional intelligence • Fluent in professional spoken and written English; Hindi and Gujarati are beneficial • Ability to maintain neutrality and uphold company values over internal alliances • Strong presentation and MIS reporting skills • Proficient in ERP, CRM, and Quality/Lean systems implementation Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) (To be set and tracked post-onboarding) • Operational Efficiency Index (OEE, yield, downtime, plant uptime) • Production Planning Adherence (Planned vs. Actual performance) • Cost Efficiency (Budget adherence, energy savings, process optimization) • Zero Unscheduled Downtime and equipment maintenance tracking • Inventory Health (Stock turns, stockouts, and WIP accuracy) • Complaint & Quality Metrics (Internal rejections, rework, customer complaints) • Manpower Utilization & Absenteeism • Employee Engagement and Industrial Relations • Regulatory & Safety Compliance Score • New Project Implementation Rate • KRA Review Closure Rate and cross-departmental reporting