Switch Mobility Hiring Manager – NPD & STA – Sheet Metal | Chennai

Switch Mobility, part of the Hinduja Group, is hiring an experienced professional for the position of Manager – NPD & STA – Sheet Metal in Chennai. Candidates with strong experience in sheet metal components, chassis systems, supplier quality, new product development, and supplier technical development can apply for this opportunity.

The position is suitable for professionals with 10 to 12 years of experience in sheet metal manufacturing, supplier development, NPD, STA, quality, or related automotive engineering functions.

Switch Mobility Job Details

Company: Switch Mobility
Group: Hinduja Group
Job Position: Manager – NPD & STA – Sheet Metal
Job Location: Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Experience: 10–12 Years
Qualification: B.E. / B.Tech
Industry: Automotive / Electric Mobility / Sheet Metal
Function: New Product Development / Supplier Technical Assistance / Supplier Quality

Product Expertise Required

Candidates applying for the Manager – NPD & STA – Sheet Metal position should have good technical knowledge of sheet metal products and manufacturing processes.

Relevant product experience includes:

• Sheet metal components
• Chassis components
• Automotive body parts
• Suspension components
• Steering system components
• Sheet metal manufacturing processes
• Automotive component development
• Supplier manufacturing processes

Experience with automotive chassis and sheet metal component development will be particularly relevant to this position.

Key Responsibilities

Lead Supplier Quality and Development Activities

The selected candidate will be responsible for leading supplier quality and development activities and ensuring suppliers meet the required technical, quality, and manufacturing standards.

The role involves working closely with suppliers to identify issues, improve processes, and ensure consistent component quality.

Conduct Supplier Technical and Quality Audits

The Manager will conduct and support supplier technical and quality audits to evaluate manufacturing processes, quality systems, production capabilities, and process controls.

The objective is to identify gaps and drive corrective and preventive actions.

Drive APQP, PPAP and CAPA Activities

The position involves managing important automotive quality and development activities, including:

• APQP – Advanced Product Quality Planning
• PPAP – Production Part Approval Process
• CAPA – Corrective and Preventive Action
• Supplier quality planning
• Process validation
• Part approval activities

Candidates should understand how these activities are applied during new product development and supplier development.

Lead RCA and Sign-Off Methodology

The selected professional will lead Root Cause Analysis (RCA) for supplier and manufacturing-related quality issues.

The role requires effective problem-solving, identification of root causes, implementation of corrective actions, and appropriate sign-off before issues are closed.

Continuous Improvement

A key responsibility will be driving continuous improvement at supplier locations.

The focus will be on:

• Reducing process variation
• Improving process capability
• Strengthening process controls
• Reducing quality issues
• Improving manufacturing consistency
• Improving supplier performance

Develop Inspection-Free Lines

The candidate will work toward developing robust supplier manufacturing processes where components are capable of meeting defined requirements without depending on RQC inspection.

The objective is to ensure that parts are consistently produced fit for assembly and meet the required quality standards at the source.

Facility, Tooling and Gauge Requirements

During new product development, the Manager will be involved in defining requirements for:

• Manufacturing facilities
• Production equipment
• Tooling
• Dies
• Gauges
• Inspection systems
• Process capability
• Supplier manufacturing infrastructure

These requirements need to be aligned with the component design and production requirements.

SPC and Process Capability Studies

The position requires knowledge of Statistical Process Control (SPC) and process capability analysis.

Candidates should be familiar with:

• SPC studies
• Ppk
• Cpk
• Process variation
• Process capability
• Control plans
• Process monitoring
• Manufacturing process improvement

NPD Project Management

The Manager will plan and manage new product development projects using structured project-management methods.

Responsibilities may include:

• Gantt chart preparation
• Project milestone tracking
• Resource planning
• Change management
• Supplier coordination
• Project reviews
• Risk identification
• Development timeline management

Supplier Leadership Coordination

The role requires regular interaction with supplier leadership teams.

The selected candidate will coordinate with supplier management and technical teams to identify performance gaps and drive improvements in:

• Quality
• Delivery
• Process capability
• Manufacturing readiness
• New product development
• Supplier performance

Required Skills

Candidates should ideally have strong knowledge of automotive sheet metal manufacturing and supplier development.

Important skills include:

• Sheet metal manufacturing
• Chassis component development
• Supplier Quality Assurance
• Supplier Technical Assistance
• New Product Development
• APQP
• PPAP
• CAPA
• RCA
• SPC
• Ppk and Cpk
• Process capability
• Tooling and gauge development
• Supplier audits
• Project management
• Gantt chart planning
• Continuous improvement
• Problem-solving

Educational Qualification

The preferred educational qualification for this position is:

B.E. / B.Tech

An engineering background in Mechanical, Automobile, Production, Manufacturing, or a related discipline can be relevant to this type of role.

Experience Required

The position requires approximately 10–12 years of professional experience.

Candidates with substantial experience in automotive sheet metal, supplier development, supplier quality, NPD, chassis components, or manufacturing engineering may find this opportunity relevant.

How to Apply for Switch Mobility Jobs?

Interested candidates can apply by sending their updated CV/resume to the following email address:

Email: recruit.india@switchmobilityev.com

While applying, candidates should mention the following information:

• Total Years of Experience
• Current CTC
• Expected CTC
• Current Location

Candidates should ensure that their CV clearly highlights relevant experience in sheet metal, chassis components, supplier quality, NPD, APQP, PPAP, SPC, and supplier development.

Switch Mobility Manager – NPD & STA Interview Questions

Candidates preparing for this position may be asked technical and managerial questions related to sheet metal manufacturing, supplier quality, NPD, and process capability.

1. What is APQP and why is it important?

APQP stands for Advanced Product Quality Planning. It provides a structured approach for planning and controlling product and process development so that quality requirements are addressed before mass production.

2. What is PPAP?

PPAP stands for Production Part Approval Process. It provides evidence that the supplier’s manufacturing process can consistently produce components meeting specified requirements.

3. What is the difference between Cpk and Ppk?

Both are process capability/performance indices, but they use different approaches to estimate process variation. Cpk generally evaluates short-term or within-process capability using an estimate of inherent variation, while Ppk reflects overall process performance using overall variation.

4. What is RCA?

RCA means Root Cause Analysis. It is a structured approach used to identify the underlying cause of a problem rather than simply correcting its immediate symptom.

Common RCA methods include:

• 5 Why Analysis
• Fishbone Diagram
• Fault Tree Analysis
• Data-based problem analysis

5. What is SPC?

SPC stands for Statistical Process Control. It uses statistical techniques and process data to monitor manufacturing processes and identify abnormal variation.

6. How can supplier process variation be reduced?

Process variation can be reduced by improving process controls, identifying root causes, standardizing manufacturing parameters, improving tooling and gauges, conducting capability studies, implementing SPC, and continuously monitoring critical process characteristics.

7. What is an inspection-free manufacturing line?

An inspection-free or reduced-inspection approach focuses on building a robust and capable manufacturing process so that quality is controlled at the source rather than relying heavily on final inspection.

8. What factors should be considered while developing a sheet metal supplier?

Important factors include:

• Manufacturing capability
• Press capacity
• Tooling capability
• Material handling
• Welding and joining capability
• Gauge availability
• Process capability
• Quality systems
• Capacity
• Delivery performance
• Technical manpower
• Infrastructure

9. What is the role of a supplier quality engineer during NPD?

The supplier quality function helps ensure that suppliers are technically and operationally prepared to manufacture components meeting quality, cost, delivery, and development requirements.

10. How do you manage an NPD project?

An NPD project can be managed through defined milestones, Gantt charts, resource planning, regular project reviews, risk identification, supplier coordination, change management, and tracking of development activities against the planned timeline.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Switch Mobility hiring for Manager – NPD & STA – Sheet Metal?

Yes. Based on the provided job details, Switch Mobility is hiring for a Manager – NPD & STA – Sheet Metal position in Chennai.

What is the experience required?

The stated experience requirement is 10–12 years.

What is the qualification required?

Candidates should have a B.E. or B.Tech qualification.

Where is the job located?

The position is based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

What type of experience is relevant?

Experience in automotive sheet metal, chassis components, supplier quality, supplier development, NPD, STA, manufacturing processes, APQP, PPAP, SPC, and process improvement is relevant.

How can candidates apply?

Interested candidates can send their updated resume to recruit.india@switchmobilityev.com

Candidates should mention their years of experience, current CTC, expected CTC, and current location while applying.

Final Words

This Switch Mobility Manager – NPD & STA – Sheet Metal job opportunity in Chennai is suited to experienced automotive professionals with a strong background in sheet metal components, chassis systems, supplier development, quality assurance, and new product development.

Professionals who have hands-on experience with APQP, PPAP, CAPA, RCA, SPC, Ppk, Cpk, supplier audits, tooling, gauges, and continuous improvement should consider applying if their experience matches the requirements.

Disclaimer: This job information is based on the recruitment details provided. Candidates should verify the latest vacancy status and application requirements before applying.