T R A Anand
E-mail: anand.tra@gmail.com
ID: 55bc82d64c46e94369
Over 8 years of work experience with Ford Motor Company, one of the world’s leading
automobile manufacturers.
Core Competencies
 Strategic Sourcing Decisions for global & local Ford operations.
 Competitive purchasing of automobile components including moulds / tools, gauges /
fixtures including negotiation of supply terms, achieving annual cost reduction targets
and localization.
 The total value of buy is around US $ 600 / car from 6 suppliers.
 Integral part in design and launch team of new models of Ford in India including
Fiesta, Fusion, Endeavour & Ikon upgrades & exports.
 Program Management of component development from design freeze through tool
development & trials leading to PSW (Quality, Production & Capacity) sign off.
 Monitoring and managing Supplier Improvement Metrics & Process Integration using
Purchasing Information Management Systems (Purchasing ERP & linked Supply
Chain & Engineering ERPs).
Career Objectives
 Lead the Purchasing & Supply Chain function of a global automobile major.
 To seek further challenges through assignments carrying greater responsibilities,
wherein I could utilize my functional skills to meet the organization’s challenges.
 Leading teams and drive positive work culture to meet organizational goals &
objectives.
Work Experience
Ford India Private Limited, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Present Position:
Duration:
Nov 1998 till date
Deputy Manager ~ Purchasing (Production)
September 2004 till date
Job Profile in Brief
 Responsible for sourcing, development & delivery of various components in
automobiles including Plastic Exterior & Interior Trims, Glasses, Mirrors, Plastic Fuel
Tanks & Fluid Handling Systems.
 Developing strategy for localization & sourcing of components for the B376 program
(Fiesta).
 Complete program management from design to launch of new models from tool /
component development, monitoring of manufacturing, validation of designs, develop
support systems and manage a synchronized liaison of all program functional
activities
 Competitive sourcing of components using tools such as benchmarking studies / zero
based costing
 Acted as key coordinator and represented Purchasing function during interactions
with Ford’s global entities viz., Product Development, Supplier Technical Assistance
(STA) Engineers, Finance / Cost Estimation, Manufacturing, Material Planning &
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Logistics (MP&L) & Vehicle Launch teams for program approvals & builds in-line with
the Ford Global Product Development System till Vehicle Launch.
Key Accomplishments
 Facilitate technology tie up for component localization and competitive sourcing of
components such as Instrument Panels / Bumpers / Hydrographic Finish.
 Component Development ~ supplier assessment & identification, development,
launch, capacity building & supplier improvement actions leading to Total Value
(Cost) Management.
 Competitive cost settlement for the manufacture of injection / blow moulds, checking
gauges & assembly / welding fixtures with tool makers across the globe such as:
 Sekisui, Japan for Instrument Panel & Console,
 Venture Metro, Australia for the Bumpers,
 Trident, Australia for Door Trims & Exterior Trims,
 Earntrade, Malaysia for Radiator Grilles & Lift Gate Handles,
 Mirror tools from Taiwan / China,
 Front End Module Bolster injection mould from HCM, Italy,
 FEM Steel rail tool from PPAJ, Thailand &
 Pillar Trims from Indian tool rooms.
 Negotiation and price settlement for major components like the Instrument Panels,
Bumpers, Body Side Moldings, Rear Wing Spoilers & Mirrors inclusive of body color
painting, Door trims, Pillar Trims with the Sumi-Motherson Group, Cockpit Clusters &
FEM with Visteon India, Passenger Information Display with Pricol, etc, plastic resins
/ compounds with Tier 2s like Machino-Basell & rationalization of grades.
 Negotiations and finalizing agreements with toolmakers and component makers for
the Ford driven engineering changes for cost control and timing to meet the program
deliverables.
 Tool shipment and customs clearance under the EPCG scheme including liaison with
the various agencies involved in the process such as tool makers, shipping lines,
C&F agents, Chartered Engineers for certification & within Ford like Taxation,
Customs & Logistics team.
 Drive process to eliminate waste in value chain through Kaizen, Lean Manufacturing,
Quality Operating Systems, Kanban / JIT / ILVS (Ford trigger based) deliveries, price
benchmarking through regression model, etc.
 Negotiate annual price reduction actions with suppliers and non-design cost
reduction targets.
 Participate / Monitor / Drive supplier VA / VE cost reduction proposals.
 Drive continuous improvement actions at Suppliers’ end and identify / improve highrisk suppliers.
 Work with suppliers' to facilitate & achieve the Ford Quality Certification (Q1 Award).
Cross Functional Assignments
 Led the development of the commodity sourcing strategy (or commodity business
plan) for the Asia-Pacific Region for Clusters & Glasses which involved extensive
interaction with Purchasing, STA, and Cost Estimation & PD teams across the
region.
 Commodity sourcing strategy under development for the other plastic trims for the
region.
 Export opportunities ~ Lead in identifying export opportunities for Plastic Trims
components to meet the global quality & capacity requirements. Already businesses
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worth ~ US$ 10 m (with considerable savings) sourced in India for Europe & North
American markets.
 Purchasing lead for Sarbanes-Oxley (S-Ox) audit compliance & regional internal
control & General Auditors Office audits.
 6-Sigma Green Belt trained.
Senior Buyer
June 2001 to August 2004
 Purchasing lead for the program launch of B226 (Ford Fusion). This involved co-ordination
with the Vehicle Launch, PD, MP&L (includes Supply Chain Management {SCM}, Material
Handling & Packaging Engineering, Customs & Logistics & Pre-Production Management),
Finance, Manufacturing, Europe Purchasing & STA for PPAP / PSW timing of components
through the APQP process, pre-builds supportability, engineering change management
involving cost control & support plan to meet build timings for local & imported components &
report outs for management reviews.
 Led localization, price finalization & development of the rear bumper with mould made in
Australia, door trims with locally made moulds, glasses, fuel & brake bundles, brake tubes
and fuel tubes for the Fusion.
 Developed the glasses (laminated windshield & tempered sidelites) for the U268 program
(Ford Endeavour).
 Led the interior theme color change development, which included introduction of local Hydro
Graphic (Cubic) finish on the cockpit module for the first time in India as part of the freshening
program of the C195 (Ford Ikon).
 Key development of the molded door trims for the C195 upgrade with the tools imported from
Australia on a crash timeline.
Buyer
November 1998 to May 2001
 Joined as Buyer ~ Production Purchasing responsible for the development of varied
commodities and components like glasses (windshields, sidelites & backlites), plastic fuel filler
housings & flap doors, exterior door handles, chromed radiator grilles and lift gate handles,
electroplated nomenclature badges, Ford Blue Oval Badge, owner’s manual, brake tubes,
clutch tubes, fuel & brake bundles, fuel breather / vent tubes, Power Assisted Steering (PAS)
Hoses, radiator cap, fuel filler cap, fasteners, etc. with a Total Buy of US$ 300 / car.
 Development of PAS hoses for export to the C195 China program & development of export
packaging requirement of export of components to Mexico, China and South Africa.
 Cooper Standard Automotive India, the supplier for fluid handling systems won the coveted
FoMoCo World Excellence Gold Award in 2002 for Outstanding Quality, Delivery and Cost
Performance, an example of continuous supplier improvement actions.
 Lead for Process Integration / Purchasing Information Management Systems like WIPS
(Worldwide Integrated Purchasing System) ~ a global purchasing ERP & CMMS (Common
Material Management System) ~ a global supply chain ERP.
Key Strengths
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Ability to start on the job immediately and to be task oriented.
Committed team man & willingness to persevere to work around problems.
Focus on in-depth attention to detail and to function independently.
Mentoring skills & adept in managing people to make things happen.
Possess a high degree of initiative & enthusiasm.
Excellent communication skills, both oral & written.
Education
 Masters in Business Administration, University of Madras, Graduated ~ 1997, I Class.
 Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical & Production), Annamalai University, Graduated ~
1995, I Class.
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Recreational Activities
 Represented University & District Schools in cricket, table tennis, badminton & carrom.
 Keen follower of sports, current affairs, music, voracious reader of fiction.
 Avid quizzer.
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