ADM Group India Sogefi ADM Suspensions Hiring Plant Head & Purchase Manager Chakan, Pune

Sogefi ADM Suspensions is hiring experienced automotive professionals for two senior positions at its Chakan, Pune facility: Plant Head and Purchase / Procurement Manager. The opportunities are suited to professionals with strong experience in automotive manufacturing, plant operations, procurement, supplier management, cost reduction, and operational excellence.

Industry: Automotive / Suspensions

1️⃣ Plant Head

🗓️ Exp: 18–25 Years
🎓 Qualification: B.E./B.Tech – Mechanical / Production / Industrial Engineering

⭐ Key Expertise:
* Plant Leadership & P&L Responsibility
* SQDCP, OEE & Operational Excellence
* Lean, TPM, Six Sigma & Industry 4.0
* APQP, PPAP & New Product Launches
* IATF 16949, ISO 14001 & ISO 45001
* OEM & Tier-1 Automotive Manufacturing

2️⃣ Purchase / Procurement Manager

🗓️ Exp: 10–15 Years
🎓 Qualification: B.E./B.Tech – Mechanical / Production / Automobile

⭐ Key Expertise:
* End-to-End Direct & Indirect Procurement
* Supplier Development & Relationship Management
* Commercial Negotiation & Cost Reduction
* Supplier Performance – Quality, Cost & Delivery
* Procurement MIS, Savings & Spend Analysis
* IATF 16949 & Procurement Compliance
* 3–5 Years of Managerial Experience

Interview Questions & Answers – Plant Head

1. What are the most important KPIs for a Plant Head?

I would monitor Safety, Quality, Cost, Delivery, Productivity, OEE, customer complaints, inventory, employee productivity, and profitability.

SQDCP provides a practical framework for monitoring plant performance. However, KPIs should ultimately be connected to business objectives and customer requirements.

2. How would you improve OEE?

I would first analyze the three major OEE components: Availability, Performance, and Quality.

I would identify the largest losses through downtime analysis, speed losses, changeover losses, breakdowns, minor stoppages, and rejection. Corrective actions would then be prioritized based on their impact and tracked through daily management.

3. How do you handle a plant operating below its production target?

I would first establish the gap between planned and actual output. Then I would analyze whether the problem is caused by machine availability, cycle time, manpower, material shortages, quality rejection, changeovers, or planning issues.

Once the primary losses are identified, I would assign ownership and implement a recovery plan with daily monitoring.

4. How would you implement TPM?

I would establish a structured TPM roadmap covering relevant pillars such as Autonomous Maintenance, Planned Maintenance, Focused Improvement, Quality Maintenance, Education & Training, and Development Management.

The implementation should start from basic equipment conditions and gradually progress toward improved reliability, reduced breakdowns, operator ownership, and measurable OEE improvement.

5. How do you manage a major customer quality complaint?

My first priority would be containment to protect the customer. I would then establish a cross-functional team, identify the root cause, implement permanent corrective action, and verify its effectiveness.

I would also ensure that the relevant process documents, control plans, PFMEA, and standards are updated to prevent recurrence.

Interview Questions & Answers – Purchase Manager

6. How do you achieve procurement cost reduction?

I would analyze supplier quotations and cost structures and use tools such as benchmarking, competitive RFQ, alternate sourcing, VA/VE, localization, volume consolidation, process improvement, and commercial negotiation.

The objective is to achieve sustainable cost reduction without compromising quality or delivery.

7. How do you evaluate supplier performance?

I would evaluate suppliers using Quality, Cost, Delivery, responsiveness, capacity, technical capability, and corrective-action performance.

Supplier performance should be tracked through measurable KPIs and reviewed periodically.

8. How would you handle a supplier demanding a price increase?

I would first understand the reason for the increase and validate the cost drivers, such as raw material, energy, labour, logistics, or process changes.

I would compare the requested increase against market data and historical pricing and explore productivity or commercial alternatives before accepting any increase.

9. What is the difference between direct and indirect procurement?

Direct procurement involves materials or components that become part of the manufactured product.

Indirect procurement covers goods and services required to operate the business but which generally do not become part of the final product, such as consumables, maintenance items, office supplies, and certain services.

10. How do you develop a weak supplier?

I would first identify the specific performance gap through data. Then I would work with the supplier on a structured improvement plan covering quality, capacity, delivery, process capability, manpower, and infrastructure.

Progress should be reviewed against clearly defined milestones until the supplier reaches the required performance level.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the experience required for Plant Head?

The Plant Head position requires 18–25 years of experience.

What is the experience required for Purchase Manager?

The Purchase / Procurement Manager position requires 10–15 years of experience, including 3–5 years of managerial experience.

Where are these positions located?

Both positions are based at Chakan, Pune.

Which industry is preferred?

The positions are in the automotive / suspension manufacturing sector, with OEM and Tier-1 automotive experience particularly relevant.

What qualifications are required?

The Plant Head role requires B.E./B.Tech in Mechanical, Production, or Industrial Engineering.

The Purchase Manager role requires B.E./B.Tech in Mechanical, Production, or Automobile Engineering.

Which quality standards are relevant?

Experience with IATF 16949, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 is relevant for the Plant Head position, while IATF 16949 and procurement compliance are relevant to the Purchase Manager role.

How to Apply

Interested and eligible candidates can share their updated resume at:

📩 careers@admgroupindia.com

Candidates should clearly mention the position they are applying for and highlight relevant experience in automotive manufacturing, plant leadership, procurement, supplier development, cost reduction, or operational excellence.

Job Summary

Sogefi ADM Suspensions | Chakan, Pune | Plant Head – 18–25 Years | Purchase / Procurement Manager – 10–15 Years | Automotive / Suspension Manufacturing

Experienced automotive professionals with expertise in plant operations, P&L, SQDCP, OEE, Lean, TPM, procurement, supplier development, commercial negotiation, and cost reduction can apply at careers@admgroupindia.com