Area Manager Plant Launch

The Plant Launch Manager (LL5) for the Chennai Transmission Plant (CTP) provides overall plant leadership for the industrialization launch and stabilization of new transmission programs transmission upgrades localization initiatives and export configurations. This role is accountable for integrating product manufacturing quality supplier and plant-operating teams to deliver safe capable cost-effective and on-time launches through all Global Product Development System (GPDS) milestonesfrom early manufacturing feasibility through Job 1 and sustainable high-volume production.

Operating as the senior plant launch authority the Plant Launch Manager sets the launch governance leads cross-functional decision-making escalates enterprise risks and develops the launch organization. The role owns plant launch readiness against Quality Cost Delivery Safety and Morale (QCDSM) targets while ensuring a disciplined handoff to production operations.

1. Plant Launch Strategy Governance & GPDS Delivery

• Own the integrated plant launch strategy master timing plan investment readiness and operating cadence for CTP transmission programs in alignment with GPDS gateways and regional/global program requirements.

• Lead cross-functional launch governance involving Powertrain Product Development Global Powertrain Manufacturing Engineering (PTME) Plant Quality Production Maintenance Material Planning & Logistics Finance Purchasing and Supplier Technical Assistance.

• Establish clear launch deliverables escalation paths recovery plans and executive reporting for all critical program milestones including virtual build events verification prototypes tooling trials Production Trial Runs (PTRs) Job 1 and ramp-up.

• Provide concise plant readiness assessments and risk-based recommendations to plant regional and global leadership forums; drive timely resolution of issues that threaten program timing cost quality or safety.

• Ensure launch lessons learned are captured standardized and applied to future CTP and regional powertrain programs.

2. Manufacturing Readiness Process Capability & Investment Execution

• Direct the readiness and technical integration of machining assembly test material handling gaging automation traceability and supporting infrastructure for new or modified transmission processes.

• Govern installation commissioning runoffs capability validation and final buy-off of manufacturing equipment tooling test cells leak-test systems torque systems CNC machining centers washing systems and quality stations.

• Ensure critical-to-quality process capability targets are achieved prior to handoff including a minimum Cpk of 1.67 for critical parameters unless an approved program-specific requirement applies.

• Lead plant-level decisions on manufacturing feasibility capacity cycle time staffing ergonomics maintenance strategy and launch containment; ensure corrective actions are integrated into program timing.

• Control launch-related capital and operating expenditures validate business cases and ensure investment delivery meets approved scope timing and cost commitments.

3. Quality APQP & Launch Issue Resolution

• Accountable for launch quality planning and execution including APQP PPAP readiness PFMEA Control Plans standardized work Measurement Systems Analysis (MSA) Statistical Process Control (SPC) and layered process verification.

• Lead senior-level problem-solving for systemic launch concerns such as machining variation assembly mismatches test failures leak failures supplier defects and throughput losses using 8D Shainin Red X Six Sigma 5-Why and other disciplined methods.

• Ensure robust issue management through the applicable Ford systems including AIMS WERS and CMMS3 with clear ownership verified containment permanent corrective actions and closure discipline.

• Partner with Supplier Quality and Supplier Technical Assistance to manage supplier launch performance PPAP maturity incoming quality risks and escalation of critical component concerns.

• Ensure launch-affected processes are prepared for internal and external quality-system audits including ISO 9001 and IATF 16949 requirements.

4. People Leadership Safety & Operational Handoff

• Lead coach and develop Plant Launch Supervisors and technical launch resources; set clear accountabilities build succession depth and strengthen launch-management capability across the plant.

• Create a safety-first launch culture by ensuring all activities comply with Ford safety requirements Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) High-Risk Activity (HRA) controls machine guarding ergonomics and contractor-management expectations.

• Lead plant change-management activities required for successful launch including workforce planning operator and maintenance training work instructions staffing ramp-up and production ownership transfer.

• Align with plant operating leadership to define launch exit criteria stabilize QCDSM performance and execute a structured handoff from launch operations to serial production.

• Foster an inclusive collaborative and accountable team environment that enables rapid escalation data-based decisions and continuous improvement during high-intensity launch periods.

Education:

• Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering Automobile Engineering Production/Manufacturing Engineering Industrial Engineering or a closely related technical discipline.

• Masters degree in Engineering Manufacturing Operations or Business Administration is preferred.

Experience:

• Minimum of 12 years of progressive experience in automotive manufacturing engineering plant operations industrialization or launch with significant exposure to powertrain assembly machining or test operations.

• Minimum of 5 years of people-leadership and/or major program-launch leadership experience in an automotive transmission engine or comparable high-volume manufacturing environment.

• Demonstrated success leading complex cross-functional launches from manufacturing readiness through Job 1 and stable volume ramp-up.

• Proven experience managing capital projects launch budgets supplier interfaces and multiple concurrent project workstreams under demanding timing constraints.

• Powertrain manufacturing: strong knowledge of CNC machining precision gaging metallurgy fundamentals washing assembly automation torque systems leak testing end-of-line testing traceability and material flow.

• Launch systems: advanced understanding of GPDS APQP PPAP PTR PFMEA Control Plans SPC MSA standardized work and manufacturing readiness reviews.

• Engineering and change control: ability to interpret GD&T drawings tolerance stack-ups process specifications and engineering-change workflows including WERS and CMMS3.

• Problem solving: expert application of structured problem-solving methods; Shainin Red X and/or Six Sigma Green Belt/Black Belt certification is strongly preferred.

• Program management: proficiency in integrated timing risk management investment governance executive communication and performance dashboards.

• Executive communication: communicates technical and business risks clearly and decisively with shop-floor teams plant leadership regional stakeholders and global engineering organizations.

• Collaboration and influence: builds productive partnerships across global engineering hubs and local plant functions aligning diverse stakeholders around shared program outcomes.

• Strategic execution: translates program objectives into disciplined plant actions anticipates constraints and drives practical recovery plans when performance deviates from target.

• Resilience and adaptability: leads constructively through ambiguity compressed timing and high-pressure launch conditions while maintaining focus on safety quality and team wellbeing.

• Focus on Customers:Deliver transmission products with world-class quality reliability and performance.

• Care for Each Other:Create an inclusive psychologically safe and physically safe environment where people can speak up learn and succeed.

• Fuel Growth:Develop people and continuously improve launch processes manufacturing capability and operational performance.

• Simplify: Remove unnecessary complexity eliminate waste and establish scalable robust processes for production.

• Build Fords Future:Prepare CTPs people systems and manufacturing capability for future powertrain technologies and evolving customer needs.