Project Management (Magnet Manufacturing)

Role Purpose

Desired Experience

• Hands-on involvement with:
• NdFeB / SmCo / Ferrite magnet production
• Powder metallurgy and sintering technologies
• Process design and factory setup
• Experience with international plant setup projects (Greenfield or Brownfield)
• Exposure to practices from Chinese/Korean/Japanese magnet manufacturers or Tier-1 automotive suppliers.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Technical Project Leadership

• Provide strategic technical leadership for magnet manufacturing projects from conceptualization to commissioning.
• Drive turnkey execution of magnet plant projects including layout planning, process flow optimization, and capacity planning.
• Act as the single-point technical custodian for project feasibility, timelines, and quality benchmarks.

2. DPR & Feasibility Development

• Prepare Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) including:
• Technical feasibility
• Production capacity modeling
• Process flow diagrams (PFDs) and P&IDs
• CAPEX estimation and ROI analysis
• Utilities & infrastructure requirement planning
• Develop techno-commercial proposals for stakeholders and investors.

3. Plant Design & Engineering

Lead design of magnet manufacturing plant including:

• Raw material processing areas
• Powder metallurgy and sintering units
• Milling, pressing, sintering, and heat treatment zones
• Surface coating and finishing lines
• Assembly and magnetization units
• Coordinate architectural and civil layouts aligned to process flow efficiency and safety.

4. Process Engineering & Technical Specifications

Define and oversee process design for magnet production stages:

• Raw material preparation
• Alloy melting and strip casting
• Hydrogen decrepitation (HD)
• Jet milling & powder classification
• Isostatic pressing
• Sintering & grain boundary diffusion
• Surface treatment & coating processes

Develop detailed technical equipment specifications for:

• Furnaces (vacuum sintering, annealing)
• Milling & grinding machines
• Pressing machines
• Coating & plating units
• Magnetizing equipment

5. Machinery Procurement & Vendor Management

• Evaluate and onboard global equipment vendors (China, Korea, Japan, Europe).
• Prepare RFQs, technical bid evaluations, and final vendor selection.
• Ensure compliance with international manufacturing standards and specifications.

6. Fabrication, Installation & Commissioning

• Monitor fabrication of plant machinery and process installations.
• Lead site execution including machine alignment, calibration, and testing.
• Ensure seamless commissioning of production lines and ramp-up operations.

7. Integration of Mechanical & Chemical Processes

• Oversee integration of mechanical and chemical engineering aspects across magnet production.
• Ensure process stability, yield optimization, and quality consistency.
• Implement continuous improvement through process automation and control systems.

8. Quality & Compliance Management

• Establish quality protocols aligned to ISO, IATF, and automotive industry requirements.
• Ensure compliance with safety regulations, hazardous material handling, and environmental standards.
• Implement testing protocols for magnetic performance and metallurgical analysis.

9. Project Governance & Reporting

• Monitor and report project progress to leadership.
• Manage technical risks and mitigation plans.
• Ensure timeline adherence and cost control.

Key Deliverables

• Comprehensive DPR for magnet manufacturing facility
• Complete plant layout and process design documentation
• Equipment technical specification and procurement roadmap
• Fully commissioned magnet production line
• Operational SOPs and technical manuals

Performance KPIs

• Successful delivery of plant commissioning within timeline
• Process efficiency and yield optimization
• Adherence to CAPEX budgets
• Compliance with international manufacturing standards
• Reduction in rework and process downtime

Core Competencies

• Strong technical expertise in magnet production processes
• Advanced project management capability
• Deep understanding of mechanical & chemical integration
• Vendor negotiation & technical evaluation skills
• Risk management & process optimization mindset
• Leadership and cross-functional collaboration

Behavioural Attributes

• Strategic thinking and problem-solving
• High technical acumen with execution discipline
• Strong communication and presentation skills
• Ability to manage complex multi-vendor environments