TATA AUTOCOMP Hiring – Assistant Manager / Deputy Manager – Direct Purchase | Chennai

TM Automotive Seating Systems (TATA AUTOCOMP) is hiring experienced procurement professionals for the position of Assistant Manager / Deputy Manager – Direct Purchase at its Oragadam, Chennai location. This opportunity is suitable for professionals with 10–15 years of experience in automotive purchasing, direct procurement, supplier development and commodity management.

Candidates with strong knowledge of sheet metal, press stamping and fabrication commodities are encouraged to apply. The role involves managing end-to-end direct purchasing activities, supplier negotiations, cost optimisation, new product development sourcing and vendor performance management in the automotive manufacturing industry.

Job Overview – TATA AUTOCOMP Recruitment

• Company Name: TM Automotive Seating Systems (TATA AUTOCOMP)
• Job Position: Assistant Manager / Deputy Manager
• Department: Direct Purchase / Procurement
• Job Location: Oragadam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
• Experience Required: 10–15 Years
• Qualification: B.E. / B.Tech – Mechanical / Production / Industrial Engineering preferred
• Industry: Automotive / Manufacturing
• Commodity: Sheet Metal, Press Stamping and Fabrication

Key Responsibilities – Direct Purchase

1. Direct Procurement and Commodity Management

• Manage end-to-end direct purchasing activities for automotive manufacturing requirements.
• Handle procurement of sheet metal, press stamping and fabricated components.
• Ensure materials are sourced according to technical specifications, quality standards and delivery requirements.
• Develop procurement strategies to achieve competitive pricing and reliable material supply.

2. Supplier Identification and Development

• Identify and evaluate potential suppliers based on technical capability, quality, cost and delivery performance.
• Develop new suppliers for sheet metal, stamping and fabrication commodities.
• Maintain strong supplier relationships and improve supplier performance.
• Coordinate supplier assessments, audits and development activities.

3. RFQ, Negotiation and Commercial Management

• Manage RFQ processes and quotation analysis.
• Conduct commercial negotiations with suppliers.
• Negotiate component prices, payment terms and commercial conditions.
• Manage purchase orders, contracts and supplier agreements.
• Identify opportunities for procurement cost reduction.

4. Costing and Cost Optimisation

• Perform component costing and should-cost analysis.
• Drive Value Analysis and Value Engineering (VA/VE) initiatives.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities through supplier negotiations and process improvements.
• Support localisation initiatives and alternate supplier development.
• Monitor commodity costs and identify opportunities to improve purchasing competitiveness.

5. New Product Development (NPD) Sourcing

• Coordinate sourcing activities for new product development projects.
• Support APQP and PPAP requirements during supplier development.
• Ensure suppliers meet project timelines and customer requirements.
• Coordinate with engineering, quality, production and project teams.
• Ensure timely supplier nomination and material availability during product launches.

6. Supplier Performance and Purchase Operations

• Monitor supplier performance based on quality, cost and delivery.
• Ensure timely availability of materials for production requirements.
• Track purchase orders and supplier delivery schedules.
• Coordinate with suppliers to resolve procurement and supply-related issues.
• Use SAP/ERP systems for purchasing transactions and procurement reporting.

Technical Skills Required

Candidates should possess strong knowledge and experience in the following areas:

• Sheet metal component procurement.
• Press stamping and fabrication commodities.
• Direct purchase and strategic sourcing.
• Supplier identification and development.
• RFQ management and quotation analysis.
• Commercial negotiation and contract management.
• Component costing and should-cost analysis.
• VA/VE and cost-reduction initiatives.
• Localisation and supplier development.
• NPD sourcing and project management.
• APQP and PPAP.
• SAP/ERP purchasing operations.
• MS Office and procurement data analysis.

Educational Qualification and Experience

Qualification:

• B.E. / B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering.
• Production Engineering or Industrial Engineering graduates are preferred.

Experience Required: 10–15 years.

Candidates should have substantial experience in automotive direct procurement, particularly in sheet metal, press stamping and fabrication commodities. Experience in supplier development, commercial negotiations, component costing and NPD sourcing will be beneficial.

How to Apply for TATA AUTOCOMP Recruitment 2026?

Interested and eligible candidates can share their updated resumes directly through the recruitment email address.

Apply Through Email:

• Email ID: Karthik.pandian@tmseating.com
• Company: TM Automotive Seating Systems (TATA AUTOCOMP)
• Position: Assistant Manager / Deputy Manager – Direct Purchase
• Location: Oragadam, Chennai

Suggested Email Subject: Application for Assistant Manager / Deputy Manager – Direct Purchase

Candidates should mention their total experience, current CTC, expected CTC, current location and experience in sheet metal, stamping and fabrication procurement.

10 Interview Questions and Answers – Direct Purchase (Automotive Industry)

Q1. What are the major responsibilities of a Direct Purchase Manager in an automotive company?

Answer: Direct Purchase management involves sourcing production-related components and raw materials, supplier development, RFQ management, commercial negotiations, cost optimisation, purchase order management and ensuring timely material availability for production.

Q2. What factors should be considered while procuring sheet metal stamping components?

Answer: Important factors include raw material grade, sheet thickness, blank size, component geometry, stamping operations, tooling requirements, cycle time, scrap percentage, manufacturing capacity, quality requirements and supplier delivery capability.

Q3. What is should-cost analysis in procurement?

Answer: Should-cost analysis is a method of estimating the expected manufacturing cost of a component based on raw material, process costs, labour, machining or stamping operations, overheads, tooling amortisation, scrap and profit margins. It helps purchasing teams evaluate supplier quotations and negotiate competitive prices.

Q4. What is the difference between VA and VE?

Answer: Value Analysis (VA) focuses on improving the value of existing products by reducing unnecessary costs while maintaining required functions. Value Engineering (VE) applies similar principles during the product design and development stage to achieve cost-effective designs without compromising performance.

Q5. How do you evaluate and select a new supplier for sheet metal components?

Answer: Supplier selection involves evaluating technical capabilities, manufacturing infrastructure, press capacity, tooling facilities, quality systems, financial stability, production capacity, commercial competitiveness and delivery performance. Supplier audits and sample part validation are also important before final approval.

Q6. What is the importance of RFQ and quotation analysis in direct purchasing?

Answer: RFQ helps collect commercial and technical proposals from suppliers. Quotation analysis compares raw material costs, manufacturing processes, tooling costs, overheads, logistics, taxes and commercial terms to identify the most suitable supplier.

Q7. What is APQP and why is it important in automotive sourcing?

Answer: APQP (Advanced Product Quality Planning) is a structured methodology used to ensure product and process quality during new product development. It helps purchasing, engineering and quality teams coordinate supplier development, risk assessment and project milestones.

Q8. What is PPAP, and what is the purchasing department’s role in it?

Answer: PPAP stands for Production Part Approval Process. It verifies that a supplier understands all customer engineering requirements and can consistently manufacture parts meeting specifications. Purchasing coordinates with suppliers and internal quality and engineering teams to ensure approval documentation and samples are completed on time.

Q9. How can procurement teams reduce costs in sheet metal and fabrication components?

Answer: Cost reduction can be achieved through raw material optimisation, improved nesting and blank utilisation, scrap reduction, process optimisation, supplier negotiations, tooling cost improvements, VA/VE, localisation and development of alternate suppliers.

Q10. How do you manage supplier delivery issues that affect production?

Answer: First, identify the reason for the delay and assess its impact on production. Coordinate with the supplier to establish a recovery plan, expedite material dispatch, explore alternate sourcing where necessary and communicate with production planning teams. Regular supplier performance reviews help prevent recurring issues.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Which company is hiring for Direct Purchase positions?

TM Automotive Seating Systems (TATA AUTOCOMP) is hiring for Assistant Manager / Deputy Manager – Direct Purchase.

2. Where is the job location?

The position is based at Oragadam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

3. How much experience is required?

Candidates should have 10–15 years of relevant experience in direct procurement and purchasing activities.

4. What is the required educational qualification?

B.E. / B.Tech in Mechanical, Production or Industrial Engineering is preferred.

5. Which commodity experience is preferred for this position?

Strong experience in sheet metal, press stamping and fabrication commodities is required.

6. Is SAP knowledge required?

Working knowledge of SAP/ERP purchasing transactions and MS Office is expected.

7. How can candidates apply for this opportunity?

Interested candidates can send their updated resumes to Karthik.pandian@tmseating.com.

Final Summary

TM Automotive Seating Systems (TATA AUTOCOMP) is offering an opportunity for experienced procurement professionals to join its Direct Purchase team at Oragadam, Chennai. Candidates with 10–15 years of experience in sheet metal, press stamping, fabrication procurement, supplier development, commercial negotiations and cost optimisation are encouraged to apply.

Job Profile: Assistant Manager / Deputy Manager – Direct Purchase
Company Name: TM Automotive Seating Systems (TATA AUTOCOMP)
Location: Oragadam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Experience: 10–15 Years
Qualification: B.E. / B.Tech – Mechanical / Production / Industrial Engineering
Key Commodities: Sheet Metal, Press Stamping & Fabrication
Apply Email: Karthik.pandian@tmseating.com