Head of Printing Department (Offset Printing on Sheet Metal)

Role Objective :

To lead and optimize all operations within the printing and coating division of the tin can manufacturing process, ensuring maximum productivity, top-quality output, cost efficiency, safety, and workplace organization. The role also drives a culture of discipline, cleanliness, and continuous improvement under 5S principles.

Key Responsibilities :

1. Production & Productivity Management

Delegate and monitor daily, weekly, and monthly production schedules for printing and coating lines .

Achieve monthly production targets through targeted productivity and optimum machine utilization and manpower deployment.

Coordinate with Production Planning & Control (PPC) and Component and Fabrication Production for seamless workflow and timely delivery.

2. Quality & Process Control

Maintain consistent print quality, registration, colour matching, and coating uniformity as per approved standards.

Maintain LSD shade cards for all customer SKUs,  colour wise progressives and Pantone share cards for all jobs

Supervise positives, plate preparation, and process department management for accuracy and quality assurance.

Lead root-cause analysis for print and coating defects and establish corrective / preventive actions.

Establish and ensure adherence to SOPs for all testing procedures such as lacquer tests, Colour matching tests etc.

3. Manpower & Labour Management

Allocate and supervise operators, helpers, and prepress staff across shifts for smooth operations.

Maintain discipline, safety, and morale across the department.

Identify training needs and conduct periodic skill enhancement for operators.

Foster teamwork and accountability for achieving departmental targets.

4. Maintenance Coordination

Make and adhere to preventive maintenance schedules and breakdown maintenance of all printing, coating, and plate-making machines.

Collaborate with the maintenance team to ensure minimal downtime and availability of spares.

Maintain detailed records of machine performance, stoppages, and service history.

5. Cost Centre & Resource Management

Manage departmental costs including inks, coatings, thinners, blankets, plates, and utilities.

Track and reduce material waste, rejections, and rework.

Implement cost control and waste reduction initiatives through process optimization.

6. Cleanliness, Organization & 5S Implementation

Ensure cleanliness and orderliness across printing, coating, and prepress areas.

Maintain proper racking, stacking, and identification of printed / unprinted sheets .

Implement and sustain 5S practices (Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, Sustain) .

Conduct periodic audits to monitor adherence to safety and housekeeping standards.

7. Process & System Management

Maintain job cards, color standards, machine logs, and print history records for traceability.

Support MIS data entry and ensure timely reporting of production metrics.

8. Coordination & Communication

Liaise with PPC, QA, Production Maintenance and Toolroom teams to ensure smooth coordination.

Provide slips to the Toolroom and Maintenance department in case of breakdowns so that timely and recorded resolution can happen

Participate in daily and weekly review meetings to present departmental performance.

Engage with marketing or clients on technical print and coating matters as needed.

Qualifications & Experience :

Education : Diploma or Degree in Printing Technology or Mechanical Engineering.

Experience : 10–15 years in offset printing on metal sheets (tinplate / aluminum) .

Hands-on knowledge of Fuji, Crabtree, or Mailänder offset presses, coating machines, and prepress systems preferred.

Strong leadership, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.

Exposure to ISO / 5S / TPM environments is highly desirable.

Key Skills :

Expert in offset lithography and coating process on metal.

Strong understanding of color matching, Pantone standards, and print troubleshooting.

Proficiency in productivity monitoring and data-driven decision-making.

Leadership, communication, and team management skills.

Working knowledge of MS Excel / ERP / production software .