Short Description:
Plan, direct, and coordinated the operations of the production department. Duties and responsibilities include formulating policies, managing daily operations, and planning the use of materials and human resources. The Production Manager role is key to developing and producing a top-quality product at a competitive cost for the company.
Duties / Responsibilities:
- Oversee activities directly related to making products.
- Direct and coordinate activities of businesses or departments concerned with product production.
- Review financial statements, sales and activity reports, and other performance data to measure productivity and goal achievement and to determine areas needing cost reduction and program improvement.
- Manage staff, preparing work schedules and assigning specific duties.
- Create, maintain, and optimize Production SOP.
- Establish and implement departmental policies, goals, objectives, and procedures, conferring with board members, organization officials, and staff members as necessary.
- Determine staffing requirements, interview, hire, and train new employees, and oversee those personnel processes while regulating company policies and procedures.
- Oversee the entire sourcing/production team as well as overseas vendors.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with design and tech teams at all stages of development: raw material & trim development and sourcing; tech packs; proto & production fittings; cost strategy execution.
- Develop a seasonal production calendar and lead weekly cross-functional WIP meetings to ensure each department knows upcoming deadlines, priorities, and issues.
- Research supplier innovations and support cross-functional teams in developing new product categories.
- Support the business’s strategic objectives by maintaining an effective supplier portfolio and developing processes to increase efficiency.
- Lead team to maintain cost & margin information with the most updated information from assortment, fabric, or construction changes.
- Cultivate and manage strategic relationships with vendors: manage manufacturing agreements, and daily communications, troubleshoot problems, and issue chargebacks as needed.
- Negotiate effectively with overseas suppliers (cost, quality, and delivery lead times), securing cost efficiencies and timely production schedules.
· Coordinate with design for the release of tech packs and swatches for initial costing.
· Obtain and maintain initial line costing from factories followed by final negotiations.
· Track and manage purchase orders and ensure all orders align with customer requirements.
- Ensure product compliance standards by reviewing QC reports, communicating feedback to factories, and arranging factory audits and testing.
- Manage and analyze cost breakdowns: usage, unit cost, labor and overhead, and profit analysis.
· Responsible for stock take and work with accounts on reconciliations.
· Document all chargebacks for senior management to review.
· Evaluate internal team procedures and proactively pilot more efficient and effective processes.
- Follow up at development, production, and quality assurance stages in continuous communication with vendors.
- Allocate purchase orders to factories based on capacity and capability with calendar and budget in mind.
- Improve department communication and emphasize margin building with more efficient design and materialization.
- Purchase price tickets & raw materials as needed.
- Manage product deliveries and coordinate logistics with the freight forwarder and internal supply chain teams.
- Oversee payment of invoices for all purchase orders, samples, freight, and duties
- Manage all production team activities including sample flow, POs, calendar, QC, fittings, costing, invoice payment, logistics, new supplier development, and supplier oversight.
Skills / Requirements / Qualifications· This role requires experienced sourcing professional in the apparel industry, with extensive knowledge of product development, production, and quality assurance.
· Good relationship management skills with overseas suppliers under ethical standards is a must have.
· Minimum 5 years of experience as an apparel sourcing or production manager exclusively in the fashion industry
· Minimum 5 years of experience/knowledge of product construction, tech packs, and design needs
· Minimum 5 years of experience in advanced knowledge about the critical path, costing, manufacturing, and calendar management.
· Minimum 5 years of experience with the private label approval process.
· Minimum 5 years of experience of negotiation experience in Production/Sourcing and/or Supply Chain roles of increasing scope, complexity, and leadership responsibility
· Knowledge of Production Trade Regulations, testing protocol, product integrity, production cycle timeline, and fabric and garment construction
· Ability to develop & implement strategies according to plans, monitor progress, and make the necessary adjustments to achieve objectives.
· Exceptional time management and organizational skills with the ability to multi-task in a fast-paced and changing environment Strong planning skills with expertise in multitasking.
· A strong written and verbal ability to establish trustworthy and durable relationships with suppliers and colleagues.
· Willingness to travel to visit overseas suppliers as required.
· Very good computer skills, especially Microsoft 365
· Experience with PLM and ERP tools; WFX and Netsuite is a bonus.
