Sridhar Venugopal

18+ years of expertise in Automotive Purchase & Supply Chain Management across OEM and Tier-1 environments (Ford Motor, Ashok Leyland, Simpson & Company); SAP MM Certified. Proven track record in Direct Material Cost (DMC) reduction, VAVE, Should-Cost Analysis, Vendor Development and End-to-End P2P cycle management across ICE and EV-adjacent commodity categories.

Delivered measurable results: 11% freight cost reduction, 19% transit damage reduction, INR 200 Lakhs inventory cost savings, INR 30 Lakhs non-moving inventory elimination; 99% inventory accuracy. Expertise in Supplier Qualification (IATF 16949 / APQP / PPAP), Commodity Strategy, RFQ/e-Auction, SOB (Share-of-Business) management, localization/resourcing, and CAPEX/OPEX tendering. Skilled in cross-functional collaboration with Engineering, Quality, Finance and Marketing for demand planning, new model programs (NPI), budgeting and logistics coordination.

Adept at leading supplier scorecards, KPI monitoring, contract negotiations and continuous process improvement (CPI) initiatives aligned to automotive sector benchmarks.

Manager-purchase — Smart City Project (Automotive-Grade Manufacturing) - Madras Security Printers - Chennai

(2022-09)

• Managed end-to-end Supply Chain & Purchase operations for smart city project manufacturing: PO release, supplier scheduling, delivery adherence and inventory control aligned to IATF-style documentation practices.
• Executed CAPEX procurement: risk assessments, tendering, bid evaluations, vendor approvals and contract preparation for high-value equipment and professional services.
• Conducted competitive RFQ/bid analysis across multi-vendor panels; negotiated contract terms to mitigate liabilities, penalties and supply risk.
• Reconciled supplier payments with Finance; maintained ISO/TS audit documentation and compliance records.
• Delivered working-capital savings through extended payment terms negotiation and supplier lead-time reduction initiatives.
• Collected and analysed vendor quotations on quality, cost and delivery (QCD); managed purchase indents from cross-functional departments.

Senior Engineer — Materials (Automotive Components Manufacturer) - Simpson & Company Limited - Chennai

(2020-12 - 2021-12)

• Spearheaded end-to-end Supply Chain for automotive components; identified process gaps and implemented corrective actions to enhance OTIF and supplier delivery performance.
• Developed new vendors for improved QCD (Quality-Cost-Delivery); raised POs and coordinated techno-commercial negotiations.
• Achieved INR 30 Lakhs cost saving by identifying and reducing non-moving inventory across multiple plants.
• Implemented Design Change Orders (DCO) / Engineering Change Orders (ECO) on schedule in coordination with Engineering and Quality teams.
• Monitored supplier KPIs, distributed monthly scorecards and ensured GRNs processed immediately for timely supplier payments.

Senior Engineer — Supply Chain (Global OEM, Asia Pacific & Africa Region) - Ford Motor Company - Chennai

(2013-03 - 2018-01)

• Managed import supply chain for global automotive parts from international vendors to support Ford plants across Asia Pacific and Africa — coordinating customs, EXIM documentation and supply scheduling.
• Led new purchase initiatives (resourcing / Total Value Management) achieving approx. INR 10 Lakhs YOY cost savings through strategic vendor resourcing.
• Delivered multi-lever cost reductions: 9% via MIS-driven spend review, 5% via resource optimisation, INR 1 Crore via energy-audit-linked procurement initiative.
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams (Engineering, Quality, Logistics, Finance) to ensure uninterrupted supply and resolve supplier delivery risks.

Deputy Manager — Materials (Commercial Vehicle OEM) - Ashok Leyland - Chennai

(2007-01 - 2013-02)

• Managed spare parts planning, demand forecasting, order generation and stock planning for commercial vehicle after-market; achieved 98%+ parts fill-rate consistently.
• Executed inventory rationalisation: transferred non-moving inventory to spares warehouse, achieving INR 200 Lakhs cost reduction.
• Onboarded 4+ new vendors for critical parts supply, ensuring supply continuity and competitive pricing.
• Awarded VOR (Vehicle Off Road) Champion for achieving 100% indent fulfilment within 24 hours — ensuring zero production stoppage.
• Monitored supplier KPIs and coordinated with Quality for PPAP/incoming inspection of critical automotive components.

Senior Engineer — Materials (Automotive Components Manufacturer) - Simpson & Company Limited - Chennai

(2004-07 - 2007-01)

• Managed materials procurement and supply chain operations to support automotive component manufacturing requirements.
• Coordinated with suppliers on delivery schedules, quality standards and PO management; ensured timely material availability for production.

MBA - Operations Management - IGNOU, New Delhi (2011)

B.E. - Mechanical Engineering - Bharath Institute of Science & Technology (2002)