Chandra Sekhar R

Sourcing/ Production/ Quality Manager

2009 – 2014

• Handling Sourcing/ Production and Quality of:Denims - Ladies: 60% (2.4 Million Pcs), Mens: 10% ( 0.4 Million Pcs)Woven – Ladies 20% (0.85 Million Pcs)Knits/ Sweaters - Ladies 10% (0.40 Million Pcs)• Clients Handled: New Look, Next, Dorothy Perkins (UK), LRG, Pacific Sunwear, Mountain Khaki (USA), FOREVER NEW (Company’s own Brand: Australia), Target (Australia), C&A (Europe), Woolworths(South Africa), EDCON (South Africa), MIM (France), Mango (Spain)….etc. - • Integrating all Sourcing/ Production and Quality related activities into short-term and long-term strategic vision. • Collaborate with Design, Product Development and Production; lead the process of identifying manufacturing needs for each season; attend Product Development meetings on a regular basis to integrate sourcing into the product development process and provide additional insight regarding manufacturing challenges and opportunities. • Lead and manage the production, sourcing and quality control team to ensure business requirements are met. • Involve in production trade regulations, testing protocol, product integrity, production cycle timeline, fabric and garment construction • Proactively review supplier compliance, capability and capacity to ensure that existing and future business requirements are met. • Establishing and developing new relationships and expectations with domestic & international vendors to enhance sourcing strategy, creating respectful, symbiotic relationships for combined growth. • Consistently meeting production deadlines and ensuring meeting product specifications and quality standards. • Participate in the execution of cost process and negotiations and tracking of cost submittals from factories; aim to achieve specific margin goals. • Oversee all fabric and manufacturing negotiations. Establish parameters for effective negotiating and pricing • Facilitate implementation of existing and new vendors to ensure conformance to the required quality standards, compulsory social compliance requirements and corporate standards. • Frequently travel to factories to attend Production/Quality and Delivery issues and resolve. • Monitor and inform/ communicate/ apply standards - created/ maintained by external bodies and integrate within internal quality management systems. • Manage staff according to company standards (Appraisals, discipline, training, development, budget/ cost effectiveness, etc…)

Production/ Q A Manager

2006 – 2009

? Manage Production/ Quality of Woven/ knit garments and sweaters for company owned brands (Bill Blass Jeans, Blass sport, Joseph A and Takeout Sweaters) for USA. ? Manage Production/ Quality of several private label production such as CATO, MAURICES, KOHLS, JCPenney, TARGET, SEARS, POLECI etc.. ? Responsible for giving local approvals for wash standards, hand feel, color standards etc…. ? Conduct Factory Evaluations prior to order placement. ? Inspection planning and scheduling. ? Controlling costs on traveling expenses for audits. ? Provide sound technical advice to vendors/ factories for upgrading quality systems of the production facilities. ? Visit various exhibitions from time to time in China, Hong Kong and Macau for identifying potential vendors. ? Frequently visit various production facilities in several parts of south and north China for Production Status and conducting random audits of merchandise under production.

Sr. Manager - Production/ Q A

2005 – 2006

? Responsible for achieving a minimum output of 10000 bottoms per day (Denims & Twills) ? Handle shipments of outsourced production with one expatriate manager ? Established in-house Mini Testing Lab for conducting routine tests on Product safety/ color standards etc.. ? Handling team of over 150 local Cambodian employees (QC & QA) with two expatriate Managers and one Cambodian Manager (Promoted) ? Responsible for conducting R & D for all new style bookings ? Represent Company in handling customer/ representatives in explaining existing and proposed Production/ quality assurance systems of the company ? Approvals of bulk washing standards against buyer’s approved targets ? Travel to different destinations in Far East & South East Asia and USA to obtain sample/ wash approvals/ discuss technical issues with Buying Offices/ representative offices. ? Train & Promote deserving Local Cambodian Employees to Supervisory/ Managerial positions

Manager Production/ Quality Assurance

2003 – 2005

• Company/Factory situated in Bien Hoa City of Dong Nai Province • Started with managing the Quality Assurance Department of In-House Production of Men’s & Women’s Tops & Bottoms. • Client base : J C Penney, Wrangler, Kohls, Joneswear, Jordache, Sears, Roytex, TSI • Handled Production/ Quality from Fabric to Shipment of all the production out-sourced in sub-contract/ direct order factories. • Price negotiations with sub-contract factories prior to order placement • Monitor & Control Production, Quality & Delivery as per schedule

Business Owner

1998 – 2003

? Established Embroidery Factory with 150 Manual Embroidery Machines with a staff strength of over 200 workers. ? Sourced Embroidery job-work from various Apparel Exporters in New Delhi/ Noida/ Gurgaon. ? Specialized in Embroidery on Woven & Knit apparels/ soft goods. ? Achieved an Annual Turnover of Rupees 12.5 Million.

Q C Manager

1994 – 1998

? Introduced and implemented Inspection Platform system for pre-shipment quality control of merchandise. ? Was able to control department costs through advance inspection planning and scheduling. ? Handled Quality of both Woven/ Knits Apparels and Soft furnishings. ? Monitored QC activities of all quality assurance inspectors on all India level. ? Monitoring quality audits conducted by sub-agents in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. ? Improved the quality of QC file content for conducting smooth audit of merchandise. ? Suggested/ Implement corrective measures to vendors on problematic issues from time to time.

Manager Quality Assurance

1997 – 1998

• Hired and established Quality Assurance Department in the company. • Implemented factory and compliance evaluation program for all vendors in India and Nepal. • Established direct communication with the DNT department of corporate office in St. Louis (USA) regarding approvals and testing issues. • Conducted vendor evaluation and generated reports regarding financial status, quota holding, product specialization etc. • Conducted surprise quality control audits at vendors’ production facilities. • Resigned and started own Embroidery business

Quality Assurance Inspector

1989 – 1994

? Established and handled operations of inspection center independently for more than two years. ? Conducted QA audits for textile garments, leather garments, shoes, small leather goods and sports goods. ? Handled shipments from initial inspection stage to final inspection.

Sample Co-ordinator/ Quality Auditor

1987 – 1989

? Worked with fashion designers and coordinated with sample unit for development of sample range. ? Conducting inspections for salesman samples and shipments. ? Managed sample material sourcing and procurement. ? Follow up of samples produced at vendor locations for timely submission ? Help field QA’s in conducting inspections of shipments during production seasons

1970 – 1982

Degree

1982 – 1985

Degree