Head of Printing Department (Offset Printing on Sheet Metal)

Role Objective:

To lead and optimize all operations within the printing and coating division of the tin can manufacturing process, ensuring maximum productivity, top-quality output, cost efficiency, safety, and workplace organization. The role also drives a culture of discipline, cleanliness, and continuous improvement under 5S principles.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Production & Productivity Management

• Delegate and monitor daily, weekly, and monthly production schedules for

  printing and coating lines

  .
• Achieve monthly production targets through targeted productivity and optimum machine utilization and manpower deployment.
• Coordinate with Production Planning & Control (PPC) and Component and Fabrication Production for seamless workflow and timely delivery.

2. Quality & Process Control

• Maintain consistent

  print quality, registration, colour matching, and coating uniformity

  as per approved standards.
• Maintain LSD shade cards for all customer SKUs,  colour wise progressives and Pantone share cards for all jobs
• Supervise

  positives, plate preparation, and process department management

  for accuracy and quality assurance.
• Lead root-cause analysis for print and coating defects and establish corrective/preventive actions.
• Establish and ensure adherence to SOPs for all testing procedures such as lacquer tests, Colour matching tests etc. 

3. Manpower & Labour Management

• Allocate and supervise operators, helpers, and prepress staff across shifts for smooth operations.
• Maintain discipline, safety, and morale across the department.
• Identify training needs and conduct periodic skill enhancement for operators.
• Foster teamwork and accountability for achieving departmental targets.

4. Maintenance Coordination

• Make and adhere to preventive maintenance schedules and breakdown maintenance of all printing, coating, and plate-making machines.
• Collaborate with the maintenance team to ensure minimal downtime and availability of spares.
• Maintain detailed records of machine performance, stoppages, and service history.

5. Cost Centre & Resource Management

• Manage departmental costs including inks, coatings, thinners, blankets, plates, and utilities.
• Track and reduce material waste, rejections, and rework.
• Implement

  cost control and waste reduction initiatives

  through process optimization.

6. Cleanliness, Organization & 5S Implementation

• Ensure

  cleanliness and orderliness

  across printing, coating, and prepress areas.
• Maintain proper

  racking, stacking, and identification of printed/unprinted sheets

  .
• Implement and sustain

  5S practices (Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, Sustain)

  .
• Conduct periodic audits to monitor adherence to safety and housekeeping standards.

7. Process & System Management

• Maintain job cards, color standards, machine logs, and print history records for traceability.
• Support MIS data entry and ensure timely reporting of production metrics.

8. Coordination & Communication

• Liaise with PPC, QA, Production Maintenance and Toolroom teams to ensure smooth coordination.
• Provide slips to the Toolroom and Maintenance department in case of breakdowns so that timely and recorded resolution can happen
• Participate in daily and weekly review meetings to present departmental performance.
• Engage with marketing or clients on technical print and coating matters as needed.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Education:

  Diploma or Degree in Printing Technology or Mechanical Engineering.

• Experience:

  10–15 years in

  offset printing on metal sheets (tinplate/aluminum)

  .
• Hands-on knowledge of

  Fuji, Crabtree, or Mailänder

  offset presses, coating machines, and prepress systems preferred.
• Strong leadership, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
• Exposure to

  ISO / 5S / TPM

  environments is highly desirable.

Key Skills:

• Expert in offset lithography and coating process on metal.
• Strong understanding of color matching, Pantone standards, and print troubleshooting.
• Proficiency in productivity monitoring and data-driven decision-making.
• Leadership, communication, and team management skills.
• Working knowledge of

  MS Excel / ERP / production software

  .