Identify, recommend areas and set targets for quality related improvement in process , product and systems for the category. Assist and ensure implementation of quality systems for the new plants in line with the requirements. Discuss with divisional manufacturing manager / category manager on quality related process improvements areas within the category; Set target for increase in PQRS score and reduction in market complaints with the divisional manufacturing manager / category manager; Assist new units in implementation & certification for HACCP & quality management systems. Sustenance of requirements to comply with food safety,HACCP & quality management systems requirements IN ORDER TO plan quality related projects for overall quality improvement. Finalize RM, PM, FG & process specifications in consultation with the individual stakeholders.Reveiw PQRS scores and market complaints, prepare actions plan and ensure implementations to improve score/ minimize market complaints. Finalize raw material /packing material specification, their storage condition, shelf-life etc. in consultation with PD head; Design manufacturing process protocols & ensure implementation of the protocol across units in order to standardize process & ensure consistency. Design & modify quality audit protocol as and when required; Conduct quality and food safety assessment for all factories (own and CMU); Visit factories to conduct quality audits; Review HACCP compliance. Provide inputs to units in closing gaps wrt HACCP compliance.Prepare and circulate factory visit reports; Follow up with regional managers and contract manufacturers for corrective actions based on the factory visit report; Provide inputs to quality team for the preparation of monthly quality reports; Review the report prepared by the team; Design & review the PQRS system for the category; Coordinate with the factory and R&D team to conduct PQRS; Analyse the PQRS data and share observations with category management; Evaluate quality related market complaints; Assist factory managers in analyzing the root cause of the complaints and designing the action plan; Liaison with brand team/marketing branches in contacting & meeting the consumer to understand the nature of the complaint & its timely resolution. Take decision on material quality in case of disputes at the factory; Highlight critical quality issues to procurement and category management and follow-up for closure Conduct periodic audits of manufacturing and quality systems to ensure adherence to norms. Design and execute systems to measure quality performance parameters. Design plant performance rating system to measure plant performance with respect to quality performance parameters and equipment; Roll-out the system; Set the reward mechanism and monitor the performance IN ORDER TO improve overall performance of the plant. Liaison with PD team, packaging team, maintenance team at HO as & when required to resolve quality related manufacturing issues & work out solution to address the issues. Identify and recommend the quality improvement related initiatives, form teams, collaborate with teams and ensure execution of the projects. Identify quality improvement related initiatives like system improvement, process improvement projects; Participate in defining the selection and prioritization criteria of quality related improvement projects; Lead the prioritized quality related projects; Form a project team as per project requirements; Coordinate with other functions and external agencies to ensure smooth execution of the projects; Conduct periodic reviews; Participate in overall improvement initiatives review meetings along with factory managers and category management IN ORDER TO improve the overall quality of processes and systems at the factory Prior to new product commercialization, asses the product quality performance , identify issues and provide feedback to associated functions. ( Ex: Split cream saw more breakage than benchmarked product. So recipe correction. )Co-ordinate with and marketing team to arrive at the product labeling requirements. Review the ingredient and nutritional panel developed by PD team for labeling; Send the validated nutritional and ingredient panel to brand team for art work development; Review & approve the art work; Validate the recipe developed by PD team as per the regulatory requirements; Take corrective actions along with PD team, if required; Circulate the final recipe to factories for commercial production; Visit the factory during the first commercial run to ensure commercial product is made in-line with the pilot product (with respect to tentative product specifications, process parameters etc); Coordinate with factory, R&D and PD team for nutritional analysis of commercial sample in the external labs; Review the external lab evaluation & take corrective action in consultation with PD team; Conduct feasibility tests, transit tests & provide inputs to packaging, PD, and manufacturing team for correction, if any; Coordinate with R&D for product quality testing and shelf life study;Conduct / coordinate with factories for product performance evaluation in the market (breakage, freshness, pack quality); Provide inputs for corrective action basis market feedback IN ORDER TO ensure timely development of quality product on commercial scale. Finalize the product specification basis actual commercial run data & circulate the same to the units. Conduct audits and ensure compliance to quality related regulatory norms/standards like Weight & Measures, PFA , HACCP and others. Conduct factory audits to ensure adherence to statutory norms / standards; Assist in timely accreditation of the factories by obtaining certificates and licenses; Highlight gaps if any in fulfillment of statutory requirements to the factory managers and contract manufactures; Understand the regulatory environment with respect to label declaration; Conduct comparative evaluation on label declarations; Modify the labels as per the requirements and seek approval from category management, corporate legal team and brand team; Implement the new labeling requirements IN ORDER TO ensure timely compliance to all statutory standards at the factory Coordinate with R&D team for new vendor (raw material and packaging material) approval and provide feedback basis trials in factory. Coordinate with R&D team for new vendor (raw material and packaging material) approval; Provide feedback on the vendor quality basis trials in factory; Verify the approved vendor list Vendor Evaluation (RM/PM)* Define the criteria for ranking the vendors on quality parameters; Conduct vendor performance evaluation with respect to trend analysis; Conduct on-site audit of the vendor facilities; Provide feedback to the vendor and to procurement team for corrective action IN ORDER TO ensure compliance to input quality standards. Provide inputs on raw material specifications, storage norms, shelf life, testing procedures. Take decision on material quality in case of disputes at the factory. Provide inputs on raw material specifications, storage norms, shelf life, testing procedures; Review & finalize the raw material specifications prepared by quality team to ensure compliance to all statutory norms in consultation with PD head; Issue the final raw material specifications to factory, procurement and R&D team; Take decision on material quality in case of disputes at the factory; Highlight critical quality issues to procurement and category management and follow-up for closure.