Production Manager -Sole Manufacturing-Suolificio Linea Italia India Pvt Ltd

Company: Suolificio Linea Italia
Location: Pondicherry, India (onsite)
Reporting to: CEO
Compensation: Approx. ₹12 lakh CTC per annum
Languages: Fluency in Tamil required; English proficiency preferred.
Experience Requirement: Minimum 10 years of total experience in plastic or rubber manufacturing, including at least 5 years in a leadership role managing cross‑functional teams.

Role Overview

The Production Manager will oversee all operational aspects of the TPR/TPU/EVA sole manufacturing plant—including injection‑moulding, finishing, maintenance and production planning. Reporting directly to the CEO, the role aims to deliver high‑quality products on schedule while maintaining safety, efficiency and cost‑effectiveness. New Product Development (NPD) will report separately to the CEO; the Production Manager will collaborate closely with NPD to ensure new designs are manufacturable.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Production Planning: Develop and execute production schedules that align with customer demand and plant capacity. Set performance targets for throughput, efficiency and cost, and adjust plans based on real‑time metrics.
• Operational Management: Direct daily injection‑moulding and finishing operations. Oversee preventive maintenance programmes for equipment and moulds, ensuring minimal downtime. Lead production planning teams to balance workloads and coordinate dispatch of finished soles.
• People Management: Build and mentor teams across moulding, finishing, maintenance and planning. Set clear objectives, provide training and coaching, conduct performance reviews and foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Quality and Compliance: Implement robust quality control systems to ensure products meet specifications. Enforce health, safety and environmental regulations; maintain documentation for ISO/IATF standards; and promote 5S/6S and lean manufacturing practices.
• Cost and Efficiency: Manage departmental budgets, monitor scrap and rework rates, and identify cost‑saving opportunities without compromising quality. Track key performance indicators and implement corrective actions to improve cycle time, yield and equipment utilization.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Partner with NPD (reporting to the CEO) on new product introductions, providing manufacturability feedback and ensuring smooth scale‑up. Liaise with procurement for materials, and coordinate with sales/marketing to align production schedules with customer demand. Provide regular operational reports and improvement proposals to the CEO.

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree or diploma in Mechanical/Production/Polymer Engineering or related field. A diploma or degree from the Central Institute of Plastics Engineering & Technology (CIPET) is highly desirable.
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in plastic or rubber manufacturing, with at least 5 years managing multiple departments or teams.
• Deep knowledge of TPR, TPU and EVA materials, injection‑moulding machines and finishing processes.
• Proven ability to manage budgets, implement lean/5S practices and drive process improvements.
• Strong organisational, communication and problem‑solving skills; familiarity with production planning or ERP systems is an advantage.

Personal Attributes

• Hands‑on leader with a pragmatic approach to problem solving and decision making.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively across functions and levels.
• Commitment to continuous improvement, safety and quality.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: ₹95,000.00 - ₹100,000.00 per month

Benefits:

• Cell phone reimbursement
• Health insurance
• Provident Fund

Work Location: In person