Sanjeev Guddad

Leadership Role – Manufacturing Engineering & Technical Operations

• Led a multidisciplinary team of 30 engineers and science professionals across Process Engineering, Equipment Maintenance, Automation & Controls, and Manufacturing Digitalization
• Oversaw key functions including Technical Operations, Product Lifecycle Management, and Root Cause Failure Investigations
• Directed major capital and strategic projects such as:
  Facility expansion and infrastructure upgrades
  Installation and commissioning of a new reagent liquid filling line
  IVD production scale-up and Molecular Biology Grade Water Plant commissioning
  Automation of assembly lines using collaborative robots (cobots)
• Pioneered the use of Generative AI in manufacturing operations, particularly in maintenance troubleshooting and failure investigations
• Championed TPM (Total Productive Maintenance) implementation across the site to drive equipment reliability and operational efficiency

Responsible for Manufacturing Operations across PCA (Protein & Cell Analysis) and GTS (Genetic Testing Services) blocks

• Led end-to-end manufacturing operations in two key business units: PCA and GTS
• Successfully delivered 57.5 million reactions of COVID-19 Test Kits and Nucleic Acid Isolation Kits
• Oversaw production and supply of over 1,800 SKUs related to primary and secondary recombinant antibodies
• Achieved over 25% reduction in inventory levels during FY 2022–23 through strategic planning and process optimization
• 400% Capacity Enhancement of Nucleic Acid Isolation Kit.

Process & Industrial Engineering:

• Led multiple cost-reduction initiatives in APIs, protein powders, tablets, capsules, and softgels—delivering substantial savings through yield enhancement, solvent recovery, and process optimization.
• Successfully scaled up over 140 products from lab to commercial scale, completing validation and packaging qualification for 140+ SKUs.
• Oversaw packaging equipment commissioning, including Norden tube fillers, Groningen bottle filling lines, IMA tablet fillers, and Bosch capsule filling machines.
• Managed Standard Routings, Work Center Capacity utilization, Annual Production Volumes & Hours, Scrap % Analysis, and Work Order Variance reviews.
• Utilized data engineering and visualization tools to support production analytics and continuous improvement.
• Six Sigma Green Belt Certified; led the Focused Improvement Pillar and applied statistical tools for process capability studies and defect reduction.

Contract Manufacturing: Oversaw operations at 8 contract manufacturing facilities across India, managing a portfolio of 78 products with an annual turnover of approximately ₹300 Cr.

• Led end-to-end contract manufacturing activities including vendor selection, contract negotiations, and agreement finalization.
• Directed material and production planning in alignment with S&OP processes to ensure smooth supply chain execution.
• Monitored OTIF (On-Time In-Full) performance and ensured production compliance with service level targets.
• Ensured adherence to cGMP and regulatory standards across all partner facilities.
• Managed inventory effectively to optimize working capital and minimize stockouts or overages.
• Resolved production and supply chain issues through root cause analysis and cross-functional collaboration.
• Drove cost optimization initiatives resulting in measurable savings in manufacturing and logistics.
• Spearheaded onboarding and operationalization of new contract manufacturing sites, ensuring seamless integration and regulatory readiness.

• Enhanced production capacity for several API molecules and contributed to long-term (5-year) manufacturing strategy planning based on projected demand and volume growth.
• Involved in basic engineering and design for both greenfield and brownfield projects, including the commissioning of new API manufacturing blocks.
• Led API process optimization and cost-reduction initiatives, improving yield, efficiency, and operational reliability.
• Provided technical support across 3 API production blocks, addressing critical quality and performance issues.
• Resolved multiple technical challenges related to crystallization, filtration rates, drying time, and reaction conversions.
• Optimized solvent recovery and reuse processes, and implemented effective catalyst recovery strategies to enhance sustainability and reduce costs.