Supply Chain Manager

Overview

Lead the end-to-end Supply Chain workstream for a new plant start-up and industrialization at Thales in Bangalore, building the processes, systems, governance and organization from a greenfield environment.

What you'll do

• Lead the end-to-end Supply Chain workstream for the new plant start-up and industrialization.
• Build Supply Chain processes, systems, governance and organization from a greenfield environment.
• Develop the Supply Chain launch roadmap aligned with plant commissioning and production ramp-up milestones.
• Define and implement planning policies, inventory strategies, warehouse processes and logistics flows.
• Support New Product Introduction (NPI), industrial transfers and production readiness reviews.
• Recruit, train and develop the Supply Chain team required for production launch and growth.
• Establish operational KPIs, reporting cadence and governance mechanisms prior to SOP (Start of Production).
• Drive launch readiness reviews and manage supply chain-related risks during ramp-up.
• Translate customer demand, sales forecasts and program requirements into an integrated Supply Chain and Production Plan.
• Lead the monthly S&OP process in coordination with Sales, Program Management, Operations, Finance and Engineering.
• Identify demand-supply gaps, capacity constraints, material risks and recovery actions.
• Maintain a rolling 12–18 month supply and capacity outlook.
• Design and implement the site's S&OP / IBP process, governance and decision-making framework.
• Lead executive S&OP reviews during plant launch and production ramp-up phases.
• Own the Master Production Schedule (MPS) and ensure alignment with capacity, manpower, materials and customer demand.
• Optimize production loading across manufacturing lines and work centers.
• Ensure timely release and closure of Manufacturing Orders / Work Orders.
• Monitor plan adherence and drive corrective actions for deviations.
• Establish production lead times, safety stocks and planning parameters.
• Own the MRP process and ensure availability of materials in line with the production plan.
• Monitor material shortages, long-lead items, critical components and supplier constraints.
• Establish and maintain accurate ERP planning parameters (lead times, lot sizes, safety stocks, reorder levels, MOQ, supplier lead times, planning horizons).
• Develop material risk dashboards and provide early-warning alerts.
• Drive shortage recovery plans with Procurement, Suppliers and Operations.
• Lead procurement planning in alignment with production and material requirements.
• Ensure timely release and follow-up of Purchase Orders / Purchase Requisitions.
• Monitor supplier OTD, quality, lead time and responsiveness, and establish supplier recovery plans for critical shortages.
• Identify and mitigate single-source and long-lead supplier risks, and develop alternate sources where required.
• Validate supplier capacity against projected production growth and develop business continuity strategies for critical commodities.
• Own factory inventory performance covering raw material, WIP and finished goods, and drive reduction of excess, obsolete, slow-moving and uncontrolled WIP inventory.
• Ensure inventory accuracy through cycle counting and robust inventory-control processes.
• Provide overall direction to stores, warehouse and material handling operations, including receipt, inspection, storage, kitting and issue to production.
• Establish FIFO/FEFO and storage controls, and ensure traceability and preservation of aerospace/defence materials.
• Coordinate finished-goods dispatches and logistics to meet customer delivery commitments.
• Design warehouse layout, storage concepts, inventory locations and material flow processes, and define inbound, internal and outbound logistics models.
• Manage customs and import/export activities for materials, components, equipment and finished goods, ensuring regulatory compliance.
• Coordinate with customs brokers, freight forwarders and internal functions to ensure timely customs clearance.
• Ensure high data integrity across ERP/MRP systems, including BOM, material master, routings, planning parameters, purchase and production orders.
• Drive digitalization of supply-chain dashboards and performance monitoring, and lead Supply Chain requirements for ERP/MRP implementation, UAT, training and stabilization.
• Establish a Supply Chain Risk Management framework covering critical materials, suppliers, logistics and capacity, and manage the greenfield risk register.
• Lead Supply Chain improvement initiatives using Lean, Kaizen, PDCA, VSM and data-driven problem solving.
• Support New Product Introduction (NPI), engineering changes and industrial transfer programs, including prototype, pilot, qualification and serial production readiness.
• Support customer audits, FAI/PPAP activities and production qualification requirements where applicable.

What you'll need

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, Industrial Engineering or equivalent.
• 10–15 years of experience in Supply Chain / Operations / Production Planning in a manufacturing environment.
• Proven experience managing a factory-level supply chain organization.
• Proven experience leading Supply Chain activities in a greenfield manufacturing facility, plant start-up, industrial transfer, major ERP implementation or production ramp-up environment.
• Demonstrated experience establishing planning, procurement, warehouse and logistics processes from a greenfield or start-up environment.
• Demonstrated success in achieving production readiness, launch readiness and operational stabilization during plant ramp-up.
• Technical competencies in S&OP / IBP, MPS / MRP, production planning and control, material planning, procurement, inventory management, warehouse management, supplier management, capacity planning, and ERP / MRP / PLM systems.
• Advanced Excel / Power BI or equivalent analytics tools.
• Lean Manufacturing / Six Sigma; Greenfield Plant Launch & Start-Up; Industrialization & Manufacturing Ramp-Up; Project and Program Management; Change Management; ERP Deployment & Go-Live; Master Data Governance; Launch Readiness & Operational Readiness Reviews; New Product Introduction (NPI).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability, and ability to manage cross-functional teams.
• Strong stakeholder-management skills, excellent communication and escalation management, and strong execution discipline.
• Ability to operate in a high growth / high-pressure manufacturing environment and to lead through uncertainty and changing priorities.
• Proven ability to build Supply Chain organizations, processes and governance from the ground up, and to recruit, develop and scale teams during rapid growth.

Nice to have

• Master's degree / MBA in Supply Chain Management, Operations or Business Administration.
• Experience in aerospace & defence, electronics, electrical, precision engineering or other high-reliability manufacturing.
• Experience in a greenfield / ramp-up environment.

Details

• Location: Bangalore - Indraprastha, India.