Factory Manager - Beverages Manufacturing

Job Description Factory ManagerPosition: Factory Manager

Experience: 15-22 years in beverage/FMCG manufacturing, with 5+ years in a plant leadership role

Qualification: B.Tech/B.E. in Food Technology, Dairy Technology, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related discipline. MBA/PGDM in Operations is an advantage.

Job Purpose:

The Factory Manager will be responsible for the overall management and performance of the beverage manufacturing facility, ensuring safe, efficient, cost-effective, and compliant production. The role will lead production, quality, maintenance, utilities, warehouse coordination, manpower, EHS, and continuous improvement initiatives to achieve business, quality, and customer-service objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead end-to-end factory operations to achieve production plans, quality standards, cost targets, and delivery schedules.

• Develop and execute daily, weekly, and monthly production plans in coordination with Supply Chain, Sales, and Procurement.

• Ensure optimum utilization of production lines, manpower, materials, utilities, and equipment.

• Monitor OEE, line efficiency, production yield, downtime, wastage, and changeover performance.

• Drive reduction in production losses, rejects, rework, product giveaway, and material wastage.

• Ensure effective implementation of SOPs, work instructions, and process controls.

• Identify bottlenecks and implement corrective and preventive actions.

• Ensure consistent execution of beverage manufacturing processes including water treatment, syrup preparation, blending, carbonation, filling, packaging, CIP/SIP where applicable, and line changeovers.

• Ensure adherence to approved recipes, formulations, process parameters, and specifications.

• Maintain high standards of hygiene, sanitation, GMP, and food-safety practices.

• Work closely with the QA/QC team to maintain product quality and food-safety standards.

• Ensure compliance with applicable Indian food and beverage regulations, including FSSAI requirements.

• Drive implementation and adherence to HACCP, GMP, FSMS, and other applicable food-safety systems.

• Coordinate with Engineering/Maintenance teams to maximize equipment availability and reliability.

• Ensure preventive and predictive maintenance programs are implemented effectively.

• Prepare and control the factory operating budget and drive manufacturing-cost reduction.

• Implement Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, 5S, TPM, Six Sigma, or other continuous-improvement methodologies.

• Lead and develop production, engineering, quality, warehouse, and support teams.

• Ensure a safe working environment and strict adherence to EHS policies.

• Coordinate with Procurement, Planning, Warehouse, and Logistics teams to ensure uninterrupted availability of materials.

• Support plant-capacity expansion, new production lines, automation, and modernization projects.

Required Skills & Competencies:

• Strong knowledge of beverage manufacturing and packaging operations

• Excellent understanding of food safety, GMP, HACCP, and quality systems

• Strong plant and people leadership skills

• Production planning and operational excellence

• Cost management and analytical skills

• Knowledge of maintenance and industrial utilities

• Strong problem-solving and decision-making ability

• Lean/TPM/Kaizen/continuous-improvement mindset

• Good understanding of statutory and EHS requirements in India

• Strong communication, coordination, and stakeholder-management skills

• Ability to work in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and manage multiple priorities