Bharat Munde : Where Hands-On Expertise Meets Strategic Supply Chain Leadership
Bharat Munde
Head of Supply Chain
Whether it is a production bottleneck, a procurement constraint, or a technological shift into an opportunity for reinvention. The rare combination of curiosity, flexibility and respect for the processes has made him develop supply chains that are not only effective, but also smart, resilient and capable of supporting the future. This journey is of Bharat Munde, Head of Supply Chain at Liebherr Appliances India.
Having graduated with a bachelor’s degree, Bharat joined General Electric as a trainee engineer where he was exposed to production planning and daily operations at the ground level. This early exposure built the foundation for him to develop an understanding of coordination, discipline and process visibility.
The procurement entry point led him into the bigger supply chain world. However, the real turning point came when he was tasked to lead the supply chain function for the GE Division of railways locomotive where he negotiated strategies with the company’s senior leadership and honed his outlook towards leadership. Bharat also developed agility and decision-making skills while at LG Electronics.
He currently leads the entire supply chain umbrella at Liebherr Appliances, over seeing logistics, Buying, stores and production planning. As a global innovator and one of the foremost premium refrigerator and freezer producers, Liebherr Appliances keeps on the edge in design, innovation, and quality throughout its worldwide plants, including Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, Malaysia, and India.
We are delighted to engage in an exclusive interview with Bharat, who takes us through his professional journey and leadership.
How do you use your experience to align your supply chain strategy with the company’s core vision and mission?
To synchronize my supply chain strategy with organizational goals, I view supply chain as a core business function that integrates production, distri- bution, and warehousing into a single backbone of the organization.
I align my approach through the “Five ‘R’s”— ensuring the right product, in the right quantity, at the right time, with the right quality, and at the right cost. Working in a quality-centric environment like Liebherr Appliances brings rewarding challenges in securing high-quality raw materials, services, and partner performance, but it also strengthens strategic discipline.
In today’s dynamic global landscape shaped by changing trade regulations, tariffs, sanctions and emerging technologies, proactiveness is a necessity. I remain attentive to market trends, regulatory changes, keep early-warning systems, and resort to immediate and practical solutions like creating alternative sources, managing inventory, or adjusting processes. This guarantees a robust, stable supply chain that is completely aligned to the business objectives of the company.
How do you stay updated with industry trends, market changes, customer behavi-our, regulatory develop- ments, and emerging risks?
In order to be informed about the trends and developments in the industry and market, I personally follow the latest trends in the supply chain technologies and international business, along with keeping track of trends such as data analytics, automation, blockchain, and generative AI.
I regularly follow industry news, technology updates, and global events to understand how customer behaviour, regulations, and risks are shifting. I take part in seminars, webinars, exhibitions, and networking events, which allow me to learn directly from experts and gain insights into upcoming trends.
I make it a practice to explore and experiment with new digital tools within my organization, be it in the form of analysis, automation, forecasting, risk management, inventory control or end-to-end visibility enhancement.
Never-ending learning, constant curiosity, and readiness to introduce new techno -logies keeps me in a advantageous position in the market and ensures that the organization and I continue to stay relevant in the future.
What leadership guidelines and methodologies define your approach, and what philosophy makes you unique as an industry leader?
Leaders are often expected to wear different hats in different situations, I adapt my approach based on the situation, but I consistently follow four core principles that define my leadership style: clarity, continuous improvement, team work, and balancing IQ with EQ.
Clear communication is essential in the supply chain, as even small gaps can lead to major consequences, so I ensure openness and honesty across my team. I strongly believe in continuous improvement, encouraging my team to identify problems, think creatively, and test new solutions every day. I also prioritize team work over individual heroism; when we win, we win together, and when we fail, we learn together.
Finally, I value intelligence and emotional maturity; I would be able to solve problems well and establish a strong relationship with people who can assist the team in difficult times.
Altogether, being straight forward, continuously developing, functioning as a team, and being emotionally balanced are the leadership philosophies that I follow and
Leaders who stay curious, adaptable, and open to change will be the ones who shape the future of this supply chain function
How do you stay updated with industry trends, market changes, customer behavi-our, regulatory develop- ments, and emerging risks?
In order to be informed about the trends and developments in the industry and market, I personally follow the latest trends in the supply chain technologies and international business, along with keeping track of trends such as data analytics, automation, blockchain, and generative AI.
I regularly follow industry news, technology updates, and global events to understand how customer behaviour, regulations, and risks are shifting. I take part in seminars, webinars, exhibitions, and networking events, which allow me to learn directly from experts and gain insights into upcoming trends.
I make it a practice to explore and experiment with new digital tools within my organization, be it in the form of analysis, automation, forecasting, risk management, inventory control or end-to-end visibility enhancement.
Never-ending learning, constant curiosity, and readiness to introduce new techno -logies keeps me in a advantageous position in the market and ensures that the organization and I continue to stay relevant in the future.
What leadership guidelines and methodologies define your approach, and what philosophy makes you unique as an industry leader?
Leaders are often expected to wear different hats in different situations, I adapt my approach based on the situation, but I consistently follow four core principles that define my leadership style: clarity, continuous improvement, team work, and balancing IQ with EQ.
Clear communication is essential in the supply chain, as even small gaps can lead to major consequences, so I ensure openness and honesty across my team. I strongly believe in continuous improvement, encouraging my team to identify problems, think creatively, and test new solutions every day. I also prioritize team work over individual heroism; when we win, we win together, and when we fail, we learn together.
Finally, I value intelligence and emotional maturity; I would be able to solve problems well and establish a strong relationship with people who can assist the team in difficult times.
Altogether, being straight forward, continuously developing, functioning as a team, and being emotionally balanced are the leadership philosophies that I follow and
promote in my team.
What is the future roadmap you have envisioned for yourself?
My future goal is to continue contributing to the supply chain industry while sharing my knowledge with young professionals entering this rapidly evolving field. As supply chain enters an exciting phase of digital transformation, I want to be part of its development and actively engage in learning and applying new tools such as AI, data analytics, automation, and smart planning, to prepare my team and organization ready for the future.
Ultimately, my long-term destination is to grow as a leader, build strong and capable teams, drive innovation, and support the organization in becoming future-ready.
What advice would you offer to emerging leaders in the industry?
My advice to emerging leaders is to embrace new technology rather than fear it. Best example here is, the barcode, invented in 1952, took almost 20 years to find commercial success. Even the inventors could not imagine how deeply it would transform manufacturing and supply chain—from warehousing and tracking to quality control and production and much more. AI is going through the same cycle today, but its evolution will be much faster.
Many leaders hesitate due to concerns about disrupting existing processes, poor data readiness,or limited under - standing of AI, but these are natural barriers.
The way forward is to start small; experiment with simple use cases, learn from them, and build confidence gradually. Leaders who stay curious, adaptable, and open to change will be the ones who shape the future of this function. Continuously learning, accepting change, and guiding teams through steady, incremental steps is the mindset that will define successful industry leaders.
Bharat Munde, Head Of Supply Chain, Liebherr Appliances India
Bharat brings a rare blend of ground-level operational insight, strategic agility, and end-to-end supply chain leadership, consistently transforming complex challenges into resilient, future-ready systems across global manufacturing environ- ments. His curiosity, adapt ability, and process driven mindset enable him to build smart, efficient, and scalable supply chains that drive lasting organizational impact.
Hobbies:
I enjoy reading the news, traveling and exploring new cultures, staying fit, playing sports, and listening to music whenever I get the time.
Favourite books:
The Goal by Eliyahu Goldratt and Atomic Habits by James Clear.
Favourite travel destination:
My favourite travel destinations are places with mountains and valleys, where I can be close to nature.
Favourite cuisine:
Indian home-style food, which I enjoy the most
•Awards and recognition:
Received awards for process improvement and cost-saving initiatives.
What is the future roadmap you have envisioned for yourself?
My future goal is to continue contributing to the supply chain industry while sharing my knowledge with young professionals entering this rapidly evolving field. As supply chain enters an exciting phase of digital transformation, I want to be part of its development and actively engage in learning and applying new tools such as AI, data analytics, automation, and smart planning, to prepare my team and organization ready for the future.
Ultimately, my long-term destination is to grow as a leader, build strong and capable teams, drive innovation, and support the organization in becoming future-ready.
What advice would you offer to emerging leaders in the industry?
My advice to emerging leaders is to embrace new technology rather than fear it. Best example here is, the barcode, invented in 1952, took almost 20 years to find commercial success. Even the inventors could not imagine how deeply it would transform manufacturing and supply chain—from warehousing and tracking to quality control and production and much more. AI is going through the same cycle today, but its evolution will be much faster.
Many leaders hesitate due to concerns about disrupting existing processes, poor data readiness,or limited under - standing of AI, but these are natural barriers.
The way forward is to start small; experiment with simple use cases, learn from them, and build confidence gradually. Leaders who stay curious, adaptable, and open to change will be the ones who shape the future of this function. Continuously learning, accepting change, and guiding teams through steady, incremental steps is the mindset that will define successful industry leaders.
Bharat Munde, Head Of Supply Chain, Liebherr Appliances India
Bharat brings a rare blend of ground-level operational insight, strategic agility, and end-to-end supply chain leadership, consistently transforming complex challenges into resilient, future-ready systems across global manufacturing environ- ments. His curiosity, adapt ability, and process driven mindset enable him to build smart, efficient, and scalable supply chains that drive lasting organizational impact.
Hobbies:
I enjoy reading the news, traveling and exploring new cultures, staying fit, playing sports, and listening to music whenever I get the time.
Favourite books:
The Goal by Eliyahu Goldratt and Atomic Habits by James Clear.
Favourite travel destination:
My favourite travel destinations are places with mountains and valleys, where I can be close to nature.
Favourite cuisine:
Indian home-style food, which I enjoy the most
•Awards and recognition:
Received awards for process improvement and cost-saving initiatives.