VP Supply Chain – Equipment - Semiconductor

About The Business

Tata Electronics Private Limited (TEPL) is a greenfield venture of the Tata Group with expertise in manufacturing precision components.

Tata Electronics (a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Sons Pvt. Ltd.) is building India’s first AI-enabled state-of-the-art Semiconductor Foundry. This facility will produce chips for applications such as power management IC, display drivers, microcontrollers (MCU) and high-performance computing logic, addressing the growing demand in markets such as automotive, computing and data storage, wireless communications and artificial intelligence.

Tata Electronics is a subsidiary of the Tata group. The Tata Group operates in more than 100 countries across six continents, with the mission 'To improve the quality of life of the communities we serve globally, through long term stakeholder value creation based on leadership with Trust.’

Role in a nutshell

Own the end‑to‑end procurement strategy, sourcing, contracting, logistics, and supplier readiness for semiconductor equipment (process and metrology) for a mega scale greenfield fab. Ensure slot reservation, factory installs, spares/consumables readiness, and service level agreements are in place to achieve tool move‑in, qualification, and ramp milestones on‑time and on‑budget, in compliance with local and global trade/tax regimes.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership:
• Develop and manage strategic partnerships with OEMs and equipment suppliers.
• Build a Phase‑wise equipment procurement master plan aligned to process of record (POR), construction schedule, cleanroom readiness, AMHS track readiness, and tool hook‑up sequences.
• Develop category strategies per toolset: new vs refurbished, OEM vs third‑party, frame agreements, slot reservations, and copy‑exact and copy smart considerations.
• Establish total cost of ownership (TCO) models (capex, install, consumables, service, uptime impact) and should‑cost for high‑value modules (e.g., vacuum/pumps, RF power, optics. etc).
• Work with logistics and customs team to set export control pathways and India trade architecture.
• Procurement & Supplier Management:
• Run RFI/RFP/RFQ with technical‑commercial bid evals; negotiate pricing, delivery slots, acceptance criteria (FAT/SAT/ESD), LDs, performance guarantees (uptime/MTBF/MTTR), and spares bundles.
• Close Master Purchase Agreements (MPAs) and Global Frame Agreements with OEMs; define software rights, source code escrow (if applicable), cybersecurity clauses, and field service SLAs.
• Structure refresh/obsolescence and end‑of‑life provisions; secure upgrade paths (throughput, overlay, CD, defectivity), bundled training, and resident engineer commitments.
• Negotiate contracts to secure critical equipment, spare parts, and service agreements.
• Ensure supplier compliance with quality, safety, and sustainability standards.
• Schedule Assurance & Supplier Readiness
• Maintain a long‑lead item & slot tracker per toolset; align to L3/L4 schedules (move‑in → hook‑up → qualification → process release).
• Stand up supplier readiness reviews (SRR) and Production Part Approval Process (PPAP)-like checklists for tools: crating specs, rigging plans, utilities matrix, software versions, FI checklists, and spares kit validation.
• Implement expediting & recovery routines with early‑warning triggers: factory capacity, export license delays, shipping exceptions, customs holds, site access or cleanroom readiness slips.
• Operations & Logistics:
• Oversee equipment planning, sourcing, installation, and maintenance support.
• Work with logistics team to design global logistics plans for high‑value, sensitive, and hazardous subsystems (optics, stages, high‑vacuum, lasers, RF, gas boxes, abatement).
• Implement risk management frameworks to mitigate supply disruptions and lead-time challenges.
• Drive SECS/GEM, E84/E87/E90 compliance; ensure MES/AMHS/FMCS integration, recipe/parameter control, FDC/APC hooks, and cybersecurity hardening.
• Define data acceptance and SAT data packs; implement tool genealogy and as‑built/as‑configured digital thread.
• Spares, Consumables & Service Continuity
• Build startup and sustaining spares strategies; deploy consignment and min‑max policies integrated with MES.
• Negotiate multi‑year service contracts with uptime SLAs (e.g., ≥95–98%), response times, escalation ladders, and OPEX caps; structure outcome‑based models (uptime/throughput).
• Establish local service capability (OEM/third‑party) and critical spares localization (where feasible) to reduce MTTR and import dependency.
• Cost, Risk & Governance
• Own the equipment capex and OPEX models; deliver savings vs baseline via value analysis and value engineering (VAVE), shared spares pools, and energy/consumables optimization.
• Maintain risk registers (single‑source OEMs, export license lead times, shipping lanes, customs clearances, site readiness); implement dual sourcing/alternate modules where possible.
• Run tender boards, change order/claims management, ethics & compliance audits, and management reporting (schedule, cost, risk, quality, EHS).
• Innovation & Transformation:
• Drive adoption of advanced technologies in equipment lifecycle management (IoT, predictive maintenance, virtual metrology, advance analytics, digital twins).
• Champion automation and analytics to optimize equipment utilization and reduce downtime and overall equipment efficiency (OOE)
• Leadership & Collaboration:
• Lead cross-functional teams across procurement, modules, maintenance, operations, facilities, finance, and logistics.
• Collaborate with R&D and operations to ensure timely availability of equipment for new technologies and product introductions.
• Developing a world class Equipment supply chain team
• Build a high-performance construction supply chain management team with an ability execute greenfield and brownfield fab projects.
• Develop a hiring, training, coaching/mentoring and retaining strategy to build organization capacity and capability
• Develop a continuously learning and developing culture to build talent pipeline for near, mid- and long-term requirements
• Ensure succession and career planning for each team members.
• Ensure learning and development opportunities for teams.
• Encourage diversity and inclusion as per corporate values and guidelines.

Essential Experience

• 20+ years in capital equipment procurement/supply chain for semiconductor or adjacent high‑tech (display, memory, advanced packaging, HDD, photonics), with 8-10 + years in leadership roles leading major toolset categories.
• Proven track record in semiconductor or high-tech equipment supply chains. Deep understanding of tool install & qualification workflows, FI/MES/AMHS interfaces, and service uptime drivers in an HVM fab.
• Expertise in global procurement, supplier negotiations, and lifecycle management of complex equipment.
• Experience in implementing advanced supply chain technologies (ERP, IoT, predictive analytics).
• Demonstrated success in managing multi-entity, cross-border equipment supply chain operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, or related field. Master’s degree (MBA or equivalent) preferred.
• Strong knowledge of semiconductor equipment, global trade regulations, and compliance standards.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strategic sourcing & complex negotiations | Supplier development & recovery
• Cross‑functional leadership across Operations, Facilities, IT, EHS, Finance, Legal
• Decision‑making under uncertainty | Data‑driven & structured problem solving
• Stakeholder communication with OEM CXOs and regulators | High ownership & urgency
• Ability to drive transformation initiatives and deliver measurable business impact.