The Manager, Foundry Extrusion will be responsible for the complete operational and technical management of the Aluminium Billet Casting (Foundry) and Extrusion Press divisions at the Dobbaspet unit. This pivotal role ensures the continuous, safe, and efficient production of high-quality aluminium billets and extruded profiles that meet Jindal Aluminium’s domestic and international standards, including those for specialized alloys (1xxx to 7xxx series) and complex profiles.
Key Responsibilities
1. Production Management & Efficiency
- End-to-End Oversight: Manage the entire flow from melting and alloy preparation to DC casting of billets and subsequent extrusion into finished profiles.
- Target Achievement: Develop and execute daily, weekly, and monthly production plans to consistently meet volume targets and ensure on-time delivery (OTD).
- Process Optimization: Drive efficiency improvements (OEE) by minimizing Scrap Rate and Downtime across the foundry and extrusion lines.
- Resource Planning: Optimize the utilization of extrusion presses (up to 4000 UST capacity), billets, and utilities (gas, power) to control costs and maximize yield.
2. Quality Assurance & Metallurgy
- Alloy Control: Oversee the precise mixing and analysis of aluminium alloys using advanced equipment (e.g., computerized Spectro Vac) to ensure billets conform to strict chemical and mechanical specifications (IS, EN, ASTM standards).
- Casting Integrity: Ensure the quality and integrity of cast billets using techniques like ultrasonic testing to prevent internal defects (cracks, porosity).
- Profile Quality: Ensure extruded products meet required dimensional tolerances (precision up to 425mm CCD) and surface finish quality for subsequent value-added processes (anodizing, powder coating).
- Continuous Improvement: Champion Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma initiatives within the area to foster a culture of sustained process excellence.
3. Safety, Health, and Environment (SHE)
- Uphold Jindal Aluminium’s commitment to safety by enforcing stringent protocols for working with molten metal, high-pressure equipment, and heavy machinery.
- Ensure departmental compliance with all statutory, regulatory, and company ISO 14001/45001 standards.
- Actively promote the company’s focus on sustainability, including the efficient use of energy (in alignment with renewable energy goals) and proper waste management (dross, hazardous material handling).
4. Die Shop and Maintenance Coordination
- Coordinate with the in-house Tool Shop to manage the design, manufacturing, and refurbishment of extrusion dies, ensuring they are ready to support production schedules.
- Collaborate with the Maintenance team to implement robust Preventive and Predictive Maintenance (PM/PdM) schedules for melting furnaces, casting equipment, homogenizing ovens, and extrusion presses.
- Spearhead troubleshooting efforts for complex mechanical and metallurgical issues to ensure optimal equipment uptime.
Qualifications and Requirements
Education
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent relevant engineering discipline.
Experience
- Minimum of 8-12 years of progressive experience in a large-scale, continuous process metal manufacturing environment (preferably Aluminium).
- At least 4 years in a managerial or senior supervisory role overseeing both Foundry (Billet Casting) and Extrusion operations.
- Demonstrated experience in implementing and sustaining Lean/Six Sigma methodologies in a production setting.
Key Skills
- Deep Technical Mastery: Strong expertise in aluminium metallurgy, DC Casting technology, and the complete hot-working extrusion process.
- Leadership: Proven ability to manage, train, and motivate a large, multi-shift workforce and cross-functional teams.
- Problem-Solving: Expert in technical Root Cause Analysis (RCA) to resolve complex quality and process deviations.