Assistant Production Manager

Job Posting Title: Assistant Production Manager

Are you the kind of person that is always thinking, sketching, seeking, and adjusting? Who needs to understand how things work and then figure out how they can work better? Are you a passionate, tenacious, solver who loves to work with others who share your drive? Are you positive, constructive, and ingenious?

Are you always solving? Then we’d like to meet you and bet you’d like to meet us.

Ashland has an exciting opportunity for an Assistant Production Manager to join our Resource Group Team at our Mumbai office. This is a very visible, significant role within the Company and the Manufacturing division. This position will report to Plant Manager.

Position Summary

The Assistant Production Manager is responsible for supporting and leading day-to-day manufacturing operations to ensure production targets are achieved safely, efficiently, and in compliance with GMP and regulatory requirements. The role oversees dispensing, blending, equipment operations, manpower allocation, documentation, cleaning validation activities, and continuous improvement initiatives while fostering a strong culture of safety, quality, and operational excellence.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

Production Planning & Execution

• Support the Plant Manager in executing daily, weekly, and monthly production plans.
• Ensure timely completion of manufacturing batches as per production schedule.
• Coordinate with Warehouse, Quality Assurance, Quality Control, Engineering, and Supply Chain departments to ensure seamless operations.
• Monitor production performance and take corrective actions to address bottlenecks and delays.
• Ensure optimum utilization of manpower, equipment, and resources.

Manufacturing Operations

• Supervise and oversee operations of:

o  Amixon Blender

o  V-Blender

o  IBC Blender

o  Dispensing Systems

o  CIP (Clean-In-Place) Systems

o  Material Handling Equipment

• Ensure equipment qualification status and readiness before production.
• Monitor critical process parameters and compliance with approved Batch Manufacturing Records (BMRs).
• Review line clearances before commencement of operations.

GMP & Documentation Compliance

• Ensure strict adherence to cGMP, GDP, SOPs, and site quality systems.
• Review and verify Batch Manufacturing Records (BMRs), logbooks, and associated production documents.
• Ensure real-time documentation practices are followed by operators and supervisors.
• Support investigations related to deviations, incidents, out-of-specification results, and customer complaints.
• Participate in internal, customer, and regulatory audits.

Dispensing & Material Management

• Ensure dispensing activities are performed accurately according to approved procedures.
• Verify material identification, status labels, and reconciliation activities.
• Ensure material traceability and inventory accuracy within the production area.
• Coordinate with warehouse teams to ensure timely availability of materials.

Cleaning & CIP Management

• Ensure proper execution of cleaning and CIP activities as per validated procedures.
• Review cleaning records and ensure compliance with cleaning schedules.
• Coordinate with QA for cleaning verification and validation requirements.
• Drive initiatives to reduce cleaning downtime and improve equipment availability.  

People Management

• Supervise Production Operators and Supervisors on shift activities.
• Conduct training and qualification of production personnel on SOPs, GMP, safety, and operational requirements.
• Develop team capability through coaching and performance management.
• Ensure manpower availability through effective shift planning.

Safety, Health & Environment (EHS)

• Promote a strong safety culture across all manufacturing activities.
• Ensure compliance with EHS procedures, risk assessments, and permit-to-work systems.
• Lead accident, near-miss, and unsafe condition investigations.
• Implement corrective and preventive actions arising from safety observations.
• Drive the objective of Zero Lost Time Injuries (LTI).
• Ensure proper use of PPE and compliance with safety standards.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve productivity, quality, and operational efficiency.
• Lead Lean Manufacturing, 5S, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Monitor production KPIs and implement actions to improve performance.
• Support equipment localization and cost optimization projects.

In more than 100 countries, the people of Ashland LLC. (NYSE: ASH) provide the specialty chemicals, technologies and insights to help customers create new and improved products for today and sustainable solutions for tomorrow. Our chemistry is at work every day in a wide variety of markets and applications, including architectural coatings, automotive, construction, energy, personal care and pharmaceutical. Visit www.ashland.com to see the innovations we offer.
 
At Ashland our vision is to be a leading, global specialty chemicals company whose inspired and engaged employees add value to all we touch. In fact our people, employees, customers and vendors define who we are. They are the driving force behind everything we do.
 
Not only do we value our customers but we value our employees, and we work to offer them a dynamic and challenging environment. We hold ourselves to high standards at Ashland, and we value integrity and honesty.
 
Ashland has a history of attracting the best people and keeping them. The reasons are simple: industry competitive salary and benefits, pay-for-performance incentive plans and a diverse work environment where employees feel challenged and valued. People come to Ashland and stay. As a growing Fortune 500 specialty chemicals company, we offer opportunities for development and advancement throughout our global organization. Our values define who we are and what we care about as a company. If you are looking for a relationship with a company instead of simply a job, this may be a great fit.

Ashland is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled/Gender Identity/Sexual Orientation. 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. NOTE:  We do not accept resumes from external staffing agencies or independent recruiters for any of our openings unless we have a signed recruiting agreement in place to fill a specific position.