Head of Quality Control

Objective of the Role:

To lead and transform the overall Quality function across multiple manufacturing plants in India for a company undergoing major transformation through both organic and inorganic growth initiatives. The role will establish a scalable and standardized Quality framework across existing and acquired businesses, with a strong focus on machining and precision manufacturing, customer satisfaction, process capability and operational excellence.

The position will drive quality transformation, zero-defect initiatives, customer and supplier quality, integration of acquired businesses, and harmonization of quality systems and processes, while building a strong quality culture and leadership capability across the organization.

Roles & Responsibility:

• Develop and execute the overall Quality strategy aligned with the company’s business transformation and growth agenda.
• Lead Quality across multiple manufacturing plants in India, ensuring common standards, systems, processes and KPIs.
• Drive the Quality transformation agenda as the company expands through both organic and inorganic growth, including integration of acquired businesses and harmonization of quality practices.
• Provide strong technical leadership in machining and precision manufacturing, with focus on process capability, defect prevention and manufacturing excellence.
• Lead Plant Quality, Customer Quality, Supplier Quality and Quality Systems across the organization.
• Establish and monitor key quality metrics including Customer PPM, rejection, rework, COPQ, warranty, FPY and process capability.
• Drive zero-defect culture and continuous improvement across all manufacturing locations.
• Strengthen APQP, PPAP, FMEA, SPC, MSA, Control Plan, 8D and CAPA practices across plants.
• Lead critical customer complaints, escalations and corrective/preventive actions, ensuring timely and sustainable closure.
• Drive supplier quality improvement in partnership with Sourcing, Engineering and Operations.
• Conduct regular plant quality reviews and audits, identify gaps and ensure effective corrective actions.
• Standardize best practices across plants and leverage cross-plant synergies to improve quality and productivity.
• Ensure successful integration of new plants, acquired companies, new products and manufacturing processes from a Quality perspective.
• Partner closely with Operations, Manufacturing, Engineering, R&D, Supply Chain and Business teams to embed quality into the manufacturing process.
• Ensure compliance with IATF 16949 / ISO 9001, customer-specific requirements and applicable statutory/regulatory standards.
• Build, develop and strengthen the Quality leadership team and organizational capability across locations.
• Drive quality-related cost reduction, productivity and operational excellence initiatives without compromising customer requirements.
• Establish a robust Quality governance and review mechanism for the entire organization and provide regular updates to the CEO / MD

Candidate Requirements

• 20–25+ years of experience in Quality within Automotive / Auto Components / Engineering / Precision Manufacturing.
• Strong machining experience is mandatory, preferably in CNC machining, precision components, metal cutting, grinding, turning, milling or similar processes.
• Proven experience in leading Quality across multiple manufacturing plants with geographically distributed teams.
• Strong exposure to Plant Quality, Customer Quality, Supplier Quality and Quality Systems.
• Experience in organizations undergoing business transformation, expansion, M&A or integration of acquired businesses will be highly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in standardizing and integrating Quality systems, processes and practices across multiple plants / businesses.
• Strong knowledge of APQP, PPAP, FMEA, SPC, MSA, Control Plan, 8D, CAPA and problem-solving methodologies.
• Proven track record in improving customer PPM, rejection, rework, warranty, COPQ and process capability.
• Strong experience in handling OEM customers, customer escalations and critical quality issues.
• Experience in driving Zero Defect, Continuous Improvement, Lean / Six Sigma and Quality Transformation initiatives.
• Strong understanding of IATF 16949, ISO 9001 and customer-specific requirements.
• Engineering qualification in Mechanical / Production / Manufacturing / Industrial Engineering; postgraduate qualification is an advantage.
• Strong strategic thinking, business orientation, stakeholder management and people leadership skills.
• Should be comfortable working in a high-growth, transformation-driven environment and managing change across multiple locations.