Chief Operating Officer

JOB DESCRIPTION: JOB TITLE: Chief Operating Officer – Tank Division DEPARTMENT: Tank Operations JOB CATEGORY: Management & Leadership LOCATION: Rabalc & Khopoli REPORT TO: Managing Director / CEO FUNCTIONAL AREAS: Plant Operations, Automation & Robotics, Fabrication, Paint Shop, Production Excellence, Quality, SCM, People Leadership ABOUT HI‑TECH: Founded in 1989, Hi‑Tech is a global leader in galvanised radiators and corrugated tanks for transformers. Serving Siemens, ABB, Hitachi, Toshiba, Wesco and others, we operate across Europe, Middle East, Africa, USA, Taiwan, and India. Our Facilities: • Tank Division: MIDC, Rabale, Navi Mumbai • Radiator Division: Khopoli, Maharashtra • Headquarters: Ghansoli, Navi Mumbai QUALIFICATIONS: Education: B.E. / B.Tech or M.Tech in Mechanical / Production / Industrial Engineering. MBA / PGDBM preferred. Professional Experience: Minimum 20–25 years in manufacturing operations, with at least 8–10 years in Senior Leadership / COO / Plant Head role in heavy engineering, sheet-metal fabrication, or automotive sector. Domain Expertise: End-to-end manufacturing operations, Automation & Robotics, Fabrication (cutting, bending, welding, assembly), Paint Shop (liquid & powder), TPM, Lean Manufacturing. Certifications: Lean Six Sigma, TPM / JIPM certification, PMP / Operations Excellence certification preferred. EXPERIENCE: Leadership: Proven track record of managing multi-plant operations with >1000 employees, driving safety, productivity, and culture. Automation & Robotics: Hands-on leadership in deploying robotic welding, CNC machining, PLC / SCADA systems, MES, and smart factory practices. Fabrication Excellence: Deep knowledge of sheet metal, heavy fabrication, cutting, welding, assembly lines, and quality systems. Paint Shop Management: Experience in running high-volume paint shops, ensuring productivity, environmental compliance, and quality finish. Global Exposure: Experience in meeting international customer standards (Siemens, ABB, Toshiba, etc.), and handling audits from global OEMs. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: Operational Leadership: Oversee daily operations across fabrication, automation, paint shop, assembly, and dispatch. Ensure adherence to safety, quality, delivery, and cost targets (SQDC). Automation & Smart Manufacturing: Drive automation roadmap, implement Industry 4.0 (SCADA, MES, IoT), robotic welding, and digital dashboards for plant KPIs. Fabrication & Paint Shop: Optimise fabrication lines (cutting, bending, welding, assembly). Improve paint shop efficiency, reduce rework, ensure EHS compliance. Strategic Planning: Align manufacturing operations with 5-year business growth plan, capacity expansion, and capex projects. Cost & Productivity: Lead cost reduction, OEE improvements, energy efficiency, and resource optimization. People Leadership: Build, coach, and empower plant leadership team. Drive a culture of accountability, ownership, and continuous improvement. Customer Orientation: Ensure timely deliveries, customer satisfaction, and zero-defect supplies to global clients. TOOLS & TECHNOLOGIES: ·      Automation & Robotics: FANUC, ABB, KUKA robotic systems; PLC/SCADA (Siemens, Allen Bradley); MES platforms. ·      Fabrication Systems: CNC cutting, VMC, bending, resistance welding, MIG/MAG/TIG welding lines. ·      Paint Shop: Electrostatic painting, powder coating, CED coating, ETP/STP compliance. ·      ERP & Analytics: SAP/Oracle, Power BI/Tableau for manufacturing dashboards. ·      Lean & TPM Tools: 5S, Kaizen, Kanban, OEE, JIT, Six Sigma. KEY SKILLS & COMPETENCIES: ·      Strategic & Operational Leadership ·      Strong Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills ·      Lean Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement Champion ·      Stakeholder Management & Negotiation Skills ·      High Emotional Intelligence & Team Development Ability ·      Global Quality Standards Orientation LEARNING & GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES: Leadership Growth: Exposure to global customers, supplier ecosystems, and cross-border manufacturing practices. Technology Advancement: Lead automation, robotics, and paint shop modernization projects. Strategic Role: Involvement in long-term capacity expansion, JV partnerships, and global scaling.