SML Mahindra
SML Mahindra is hiring for Deputy Manager – Manufacturing Engineering (Bus Plant) at Ropar, Punjab
SML Mahindra is hiring a Deputy Manager – Manufacturing Engineering for its Bus Plant in Ropar, Punjab. This opportunity is suitable for experienced professionals with a strong background in manufacturing engineering, process improvement, NPI, capacity planning, tooling, fixtures and automotive production.
Candidates with 8–12 years of experience in automotive, commercial vehicle or bus manufacturing can apply. The role involves working closely with Production, Quality, R&D, PPC, Purchase and Maintenance teams to improve manufacturing processes, productivity and cost performance.
🏭 Industry: Automotive / Commercial Vehicle Manufacturing
💼 Experience: 8–12 years
🎓 Qualification: B.E./B.Tech/Diploma – Mechanical / Production / Industrial Engineering
🔧 Key Responsibilities
* Manufacturing process development & improvement
* NPI & prototype builds
* Capacity planning & line balancing
* Productivity & cost optimization
* Tooling, fixtures & equipment development
* Drive Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen & Continuous Improvement
* Project management & Engineering Change Management
* Coordinate with Production, Quality, R&D, PPC, Purchase & Maintenance teams
⭐ Preferred Profile
* Experience in Manufacturing Engineering / Automotive / Commercial Vehicle / Bus Manufacturing
* Hands-on experience in process engineering, assembly operations, capacity enhancement & manufacturing projects
Apply Now:
📩 hrd@smlmahindra.com
Interview Questions and Answers – Deputy Manager Manufacturing Engineering
1. What is the role of Manufacturing Engineering in an automotive plant?
Answer: Manufacturing Engineering connects product design with the production process. The function develops manufacturing processes, determines equipment and tooling requirements, improves cycle time, supports NPI, manages capacity and drives productivity and cost improvements. It also works with Production, Quality, R&D, PPC and Maintenance to ensure a stable and efficient manufacturing process.
2. How would you improve the capacity of an overloaded production line?
Answer: I would first study the actual production data, takt time, cycle time, manpower, machine utilization and bottleneck operations. After identifying the constraint, I would evaluate line balancing, workstation redistribution, process improvement, manpower optimization, tooling changes and automation opportunities. The improvement should be validated through measurable results such as increased output, reduced cycle time and improved OEE.
3. What is line balancing?
Answer: Line balancing means distributing work among different workstations so that each station operates close to the required takt time. The objective is to minimize idle time, bottlenecks and uneven workload while achieving the required production volume.
4. What factors do you consider during capacity planning?
Answer: Important factors include customer demand, takt time, cycle time, available working hours, machine and equipment capacity, manpower availability, shift pattern, downtime, rejection, changeover time and OEE. I would also consider future demand and planned model or volume changes.
5. How do you approach a Kaizen project?
Answer: I start by identifying a specific problem using production data or shop-floor observation. I analyze the current condition, identify the root cause, develop countermeasures and implement the improvement. Finally, I measure the result and standardize the improved process. Examples of measurable results could include reduced cycle time, manpower, rejection, movement or downtime.
6. What is the importance of NPI in manufacturing engineering?
Answer: NPI ensures that a new product is introduced into production with a reliable and manufacturable process. Manufacturing Engineering reviews product design, process sequence, tooling, fixtures, equipment, capacity and operator requirements before SOP. Early identification of manufacturing issues helps prevent costly changes after mass production starts.
7. How would you reduce manufacturing cost?
Answer: I would analyze the major cost drivers such as manpower, cycle time, material utilization, energy, rejection, downtime, tooling and equipment utilization. Improvement opportunities can come from process optimization, line balancing, automation, reduction of defects, material handling improvements and elimination of non-value-added activities.
8. What is Engineering Change Management?
Answer: Engineering Change Management is a controlled process for implementing changes in product design, process, equipment, tooling or documentation. Before implementation, the impact on quality, cost, capacity, inventory and production must be evaluated. The change should then be communicated to all affected functions and implemented with proper revision control.
9. How do you handle disagreement between Production and Manufacturing Engineering?
Answer: I would first understand both sides and collect objective data from the process. Instead of relying on opinions, I would compare cycle time, quality, safety, manpower and production requirements. A practical solution should be developed jointly and validated on the shop floor before standardizing it.
10. What manufacturing KPIs would you monitor?
Answer: Important KPIs include OEE, productivity, cycle time, downtime, line efficiency, rejection, rework, production achievement, manpower productivity, changeover time and manufacturing cost. The exact KPIs depend on the plant’s business objectives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the experience required for SML Mahindra Deputy Manager – Manufacturing Engineering?
The position requires 8–12 years of experience.
Where is the job located?
The position is based at the SML Mahindra Bus Plant in Ropar, Punjab.
What qualification is required?
Candidates with B.E./B.Tech/Diploma in Mechanical, Production or Industrial Engineering are eligible.
Is automotive experience required?
The preferred profile includes experience in Manufacturing Engineering, Automotive, Commercial Vehicle or Bus Manufacturing.
What are the major skills required?
Key skills include process engineering, NPI, capacity planning, line balancing, productivity improvement, tooling, fixtures, Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen and project management.
How can candidates apply?
Interested candidates can share their updated resume at hrd@smlmahindra.com.
Tips to Prepare for the Interview
Candidates should be prepared to discuss actual manufacturing improvement projects they have handled. Focus on measurable results such as cycle-time reduction, OEE improvement, capacity enhancement, manpower reduction, cost savings and productivity improvement.
Also revise Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, line balancing, NPI, capacity calculation, Engineering Change Management, tooling and fixture concepts. Be ready to explain one difficult shop-floor problem and how you identified its root cause and implemented a sustainable solution.
How to Apply
Interested candidates can send their updated CV to:
Mention the position “Deputy Manager – Manufacturing Engineering” clearly in the email subject line.
2-Line Job Summary
SML Mahindra is hiring a Deputy Manager – Manufacturing Engineering in Ropar, Punjab, for candidates with 8–12 years of automotive/manufacturing experience and expertise in NPI, process improvement, capacity planning and Lean Manufacturing.
Apply: hrd@smlmahindra.com | Location: Ropar, Punjab | Qualification: B.E./B.Tech/Diploma – Mechanical/Production/Industrial Engineering.
Interview Questions and Answers – Deputy Manager Manufacturing Engineering
1. What is the role of Manufacturing Engineering in an automotive plant?
Answer: Manufacturing Engineering connects product design with the production process. The function develops manufacturing processes, determines equipment and tooling requirements, improves cycle time, supports NPI, manages capacity and drives productivity and cost improvements. It also works with Production, Quality, R&D, PPC and Maintenance to ensure a stable and efficient manufacturing process.
2. How would you improve the capacity of an overloaded production line?
Answer: I would first study the actual production data, takt time, cycle time, manpower, machine utilization and bottleneck operations. After identifying the constraint, I would evaluate line balancing, workstation redistribution, process improvement, manpower optimization, tooling changes and automation opportunities. The improvement should be validated through measurable results such as increased output, reduced cycle time and improved OEE.
3. What is line balancing?
Answer: Line balancing means distributing work among different workstations so that each station operates close to the required takt time. The objective is to minimize idle time, bottlenecks and uneven workload while achieving the required production volume.
4. What factors do you consider during capacity planning?
Answer: Important factors include customer demand, takt time, cycle time, available working hours, machine and equipment capacity, manpower availability, shift pattern, downtime, rejection, changeover time and OEE. I would also consider future demand and planned model or volume changes.
5. How do you approach a Kaizen project?
Answer: I start by identifying a specific problem using production data or shop-floor observation. I analyze the current condition, identify the root cause, develop countermeasures and implement the improvement. Finally, I measure the result and standardize the improved process. Examples of measurable results could include reduced cycle time, manpower, rejection, movement or downtime.
6. What is the importance of NPI in manufacturing engineering?
Answer: NPI ensures that a new product is introduced into production with a reliable and manufacturable process. Manufacturing Engineering reviews product design, process sequence, tooling, fixtures, equipment, capacity and operator requirements before SOP. Early identification of manufacturing issues helps prevent costly changes after mass production starts.
7. How would you reduce manufacturing cost?
Answer: I would analyze the major cost drivers such as manpower, cycle time, material utilization, energy, rejection, downtime, tooling and equipment utilization. Improvement opportunities can come from process optimization, line balancing, automation, reduction of defects, material handling improvements and elimination of non-value-added activities.
8. What is Engineering Change Management?
Answer: Engineering Change Management is a controlled process for implementing changes in product design, process, equipment, tooling or documentation. Before implementation, the impact on quality, cost, capacity, inventory and production must be evaluated. The change should then be communicated to all affected functions and implemented with proper revision control.
9. How do you handle disagreement between Production and Manufacturing Engineering?
Answer: I would first understand both sides and collect objective data from the process. Instead of relying on opinions, I would compare cycle time, quality, safety, manpower and production requirements. A practical solution should be developed jointly and validated on the shop floor before standardizing it.
10. What manufacturing KPIs would you monitor?
Answer: Important KPIs include OEE, productivity, cycle time, downtime, line efficiency, rejection, rework, production achievement, manpower productivity, changeover time and manufacturing cost. The exact KPIs depend on the plant’s business objectives.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the experience required for SML Mahindra Deputy Manager – Manufacturing Engineering?
The position requires 8–12 years of experience.
Where is the job located?
The position is based at the SML Mahindra Bus Plant in Ropar, Punjab.
What qualification is required?
Candidates with B.E./B.Tech/Diploma in Mechanical, Production or Industrial Engineering are eligible.
Is automotive experience required?
The preferred profile includes experience in Manufacturing Engineering, Automotive, Commercial Vehicle or Bus Manufacturing.
What are the major skills required?
Key skills include process engineering, NPI, capacity planning, line balancing, productivity improvement, tooling, fixtures, Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen and project management.
How can candidates apply?
Interested candidates can share their updated resume at hrd@smlmahindra.com.
Tips to Prepare for the Interview
Candidates should be prepared to discuss actual manufacturing improvement projects they have handled. Focus on measurable results such as cycle-time reduction, OEE improvement, capacity enhancement, manpower reduction, cost savings and productivity improvement.
Also revise Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, line balancing, NPI, capacity calculation, Engineering Change Management, tooling and fixture concepts. Be ready to explain one difficult shop-floor problem and how you identified its root cause and implemented a sustainable solution.
How to Apply
Interested candidates can send their updated CV to:
Mention the position “Deputy Manager – Manufacturing Engineering” clearly in the email subject line.
2-Line Job Summary
SML Mahindra is hiring a Deputy Manager – Manufacturing Engineering in Ropar, Punjab, for candidates with 8–12 years of automotive/manufacturing experience and expertise in NPI, process improvement, capacity planning and Lean Manufacturing.
Apply: hrd@smlmahindra.com | Location: Ropar, Punjab | Qualification: B.E./B.Tech/Diploma – Mechanical/Production/Industrial Engineering.
To apply for this job email your details to hrd@smlmahindra.com
