Vendor Development- Frame & Fabrication

Role Overview:

We are looking for an experienced professional in Vendor Development Frame & Fabrication from the 2-wheeler automotive industry, responsible for supplier identification, development, qualification, cost optimization, and quality assurance of frame, chassis, and fabricated components.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify, evaluate, develop, and onboard vendors for frame, chassis, sheet metal, welded assemblies, brackets, mounts, and other fabricated components for 2-wheeler vehicles.
• Drive vendor development for components manufactured through sheet metal fabrication, laser cutting, bending, stamping, pressing, welding, machining, and associated fabrication processes.
• Work closely with Design, R&D, Quality, SQA, SCM, and Production teams to ensure component feasibility, manufacturability, quality, and timely development.
• Lead supplier technical evaluations, capability assessments, process audits, and supplier qualification.
• Drive VA/VE initiatives, localization, cost reduction, and should-cost analysis to achieve targeted component costs without compromising quality.
• Evaluate supplier capabilities in tooling, fixtures, welding, fabrication processes, capacity, and infrastructure.
• Coordinate prototype development, sample submissions, dimensional validation, trials, and production readiness.
• Ensure adherence to engineering drawings, GD&T, dimensional tolerances, welding standards, and automotive quality requirements.
• Drive APQP, PPAP, FMEA, control plans, and corrective/preventive actions in coordination with Quality teams.
• Monitor supplier performance against quality, cost, delivery, capacity, and development timelines.
• Resolve supplier-related quality and manufacturing issues through root cause analysis and structured corrective actions.
• Develop alternate suppliers, strengthen the vendor base, and mitigate supply-chain risks.
• Negotiate commercial terms, tooling costs, development costs, and component pricing with suppliers.

Required Skills & Experience

• 10+ years of experience in Vendor Development, Supplier Development, or Strategic Sourcing within the 2-wheeler automotive industry.
• Strong hands-on experience in developing vendors for frame, chassis, sheet metal, welded structures, and fabricated components.
• Good understanding of fabrication processes, including stamping, pressing, laser cutting, bending, welding, fixtures, and tooling.
• Experience in supplier technical assessment, process capability evaluation, new product development, and production ramp-up.
• Strong knowledge of engineering drawings, GD&T, dimensional requirements, and automotive quality systems.
• Proven experience in cost negotiation, VA/VE, localization, and supplier cost optimization.
• Ability to coordinate with cross-functional teams and independently drive supplier development projects.
• Strong commercial negotiation, analytical, problem-solving, and supplier relationship management skills.

Educational Qualification

BE/B.Tech in Mechanical, Automobile, Production Engineering, or a related discipline. A relevant diploma with substantial industry experience may also be considered.

Preferred Candidate Profile

• Candidates currently working with 2-wheeler OEMs or automotive component manufacturers supplying frame, chassis, and fabricated assemblies.
• Experience in developing suppliers for new vehicle platforms and managing components from prototype to mass production.
• Strong supplier network and established understanding of the Indian automotive fabrication ecosystem.

Key focus: We are looking for someone with proven experience in developing frame and fabrication vendors for 2-wheelers, rather than a general sourcing professional whose exposure is limited to commercial procurement or purchase order management.