Varun Bhakta

About Varun Bhakta

I am a food manufacturing professional with 11+ years of global experience, including 8 years in the USA and currently serving as Plant Head. My career has been built around leading large-scale operations, driving process excellence, and building high-performing teams in the food ingredients and manufacturing sector.Proven track record in operations management, production planning, quality assurance, supply chain optimisation, and team leadership. Skilled in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, OEE improvement, cost optimisation, and regulatory compliance (FSSAI, FDA, HACCP, GMP). Core Expertise:• End-to-end plant management (production, quality, supply chain & maintenance)• Scaling operations to meet growing demand while optimising costs• Driving OEE improvement, waste reduction, and productivity gains through Lean & Six Sigma practices• Leading cross-functional teams and fostering a culture of safety, compliance & continuous improvement• Delivering on customer commitments with agility in a B2B and B2C environment Career Highlights:• Scaled monthly output by 40% within 6 months through process re-engineering and capacity optimisation.• Reduced operational downtime by 25% by implementing predictive maintenance strategies.• Led a team of 200+ employees across production, quality, and supply chain functions.• Successfully transitioned and ramped up new product lines in bakery ingredients and dairy alternatives.I’m now exploring new leadership opportunities where I can leverage my expertise in plant management, operational excellence, and business growth to make a meaningful impact.

Experience

1. Plant Head

   Open Secret

   Jan 2025 — Present · Mumbai, IN

   In my role at Open Secret, I led the plant operations, focusing on the production of baked snacks and health mixes. I worked closely with various teams to optimize processes and ensure high-quality output. My leadership fostered a culture of innovation and efficiency, contributing to the company\'s growth in the competitive snack market.

Education

• Doctor Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University

  Bachelor’s Degree, Computer Technology/Computer Systems Technology

• Missouri University of Science and Technology

  Master's degree, Engineering/Industrial Management

Skills

• Lean Manufacturing
• Continuous Improvement
• Process Improvement
• Six Sigma
• Computer Engineering
• Tolerance Analysis
• Operations Management
• Project Management