Quality Assurance Manager

NORMAN K. RAJU

** ******* ******, ******, **, *8830

Home: 732-***-****. Cell: 917-***-****.

Email: ***********@*****.***

Summary of Over 15 years of experience in Sourcing, Production and QA of

qualifications various products at all stages for style, quality, on time

delivery, maximum profitability and minimal risk. Oversee

Production process from costing through delivery on all

products imported directly. Extensive knowledge of Men's,

Children's (new born to sizes 20 with Extensive knowledge of

Child Safety Regulations), Junior's and Women's Apparel in

Knits and Woven including Sportswear (MLB, NFL. NHL, NBA, NCAA,

etc.,) / Headwear / Active wear / Casual wear / Street wear /

Loungewear / Sleepwear / Underwear / Women's Intimate apparels

Responsibilities:

Oversee the development, implementation and enhancement of

strategies, policies and procedures for sourcing activities.

Manage sourcing processes and procedures to successfully

execute and deliver products on time, which meet the design,

quality and value mission.

Oversee the hiring, training, coaching, and motivation of staff

consisting Production Managers, Product Development Managers

and Technical Designers

Plan and develop operating policies, guidelines and procedures

for the Apparel Sourcing Department and maintaining Time and

Actions Calendars each season plus WIP Reports and Sample Log

charts, etc.,

Research, develop, recommend, select, monitor and communicate

with vendors who meet product needs.

Build partnership with suppliers to ensure vendor direction is

in the line with company's direction and goals.

Manage efforts to aggressively save costs, reduce spending and

increase efficiencies

Create vendor and departmental reporting for monitoring

performance such as cost savings, on time delivery, vendor

performance and product lead times

Partner with Technical Design during development process to

ensure feasibility of product execution

Mange the procurement process from line adoption, to include

package completion, buy, development, approval, production

follow up and managing on-time quality deliveries

Minimize risk; e.g., diversifying country and suppler

placements, monitoring capabilities and creation of contingency

plans

Develop and implement sourcing strategy appropriate for each

reason considering factors such as Country competencies,

Supplier capabilities, Country and Vendor risks, Identify

issues that can affect on-time delivery, etc.,

Travel extensively to ensure accurate understanding of product

to be purchased/sourced and to negotiate best price and

delivery and also monitor work in progress, factory evaluations

and quality control.

Establish factory direct relationships that will enable company

to become less reliant on domestic vendors and 3rd party

sourcing agencies

Monitoring market conditions for yarn prices, labor issues,

international custom laws to avoid issues at the last minute

and to maintain production and deliveries

Sourced and managed Products for Wal-Mart, JC Penny, Target,

Dillard's, Macy's, K-Mart, Sears, etc., and well versed with

CPSIA Guidelines,

Skills, Managing the sourcing function for apparel

Experience and Strong knowledge of fabric and fabric construction

Knowledge: Developed a Comprehensive QUALITY ASSURANCE MANUAL for the

company and for suppliers explaining Inspection Procedures,

Production Controls and Final Shipment. Also introduced new

C-TPAT (The Customs and Trade Partnership against Terrorism)

Security Criteria for Importers.

Good Knowledge of Duty structures, Freight rates and Sailing

Schedules from various countries not only into USA and also to

Europe and Asia Pacific.

Establishing credible relationships with suppliers, customers

and employees with proven results in obtaining cost reductions

and reducing costs in the manufacturing/supplier channel

Understanding of manufacturing and planning processes

Knowledge of trends in market conditions, pricing and futures

markets as they may impact the purchase of current as well as

possible future products and services.

Ability to travel in and outside the United States. Traveled

Extensively.

Excellent manufacturing contacts in China, Thailand, Indonesia,

Vietnam Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Columbia, Dominican

Republic, etc., and have worked with many of them for 15 years.

Personal and A leader with a positive attitude, high level of energy, clear

Leadership sense of urgency and direction, and ability to inspire and

Qualifications: invigorate associates at all levels

A personality profile suited for an expansion stage enterprise,

i.e. an entrepreneurial, roll-up-the-sleeves type who is

self-starting, flexible, focused, confident, "hungry",

resilient, resourceful, go-getter with "can-do-attitude".

A strategic thinker with the ability to develop long term plans

to best address the needs of the organization

Able to think through the details and contingencies of options

and plans and make sound business decisions

Articulate and able to clearly state objectives and strategies

to superiors, subordinates, customers and suppliers

Work experience January 2011 to Present: - HB Athletic- Globe Tex Apparel

VP of Global Sourcing.

Managing company's Sourcing needs for customers such as

Alleson, Wilson, New Balance, Adidas, Under Armour, Harley

Davidson, Greg Norman, Majestic (VF), etc.,

Introduced Professional Vendors in China, Indonesia, Vietnam,

Bangladesh, India, Thailand and Pakistan to produce merchandise

in spite of quantities being bare minimum.

Successfully implemented SOP's and streamlined Sourcing and

Production activities and implemented effective Calendars.

Travelled to above mentioned countries very frequently for

negotiations, placing orders and also to monitor work in

progress.

November 2009 - October 2010: G-III Apparel Group - Sportswear

Division.

Director of Sourcing: Men's and Women's Sportswear

Successfully managed and Sourced Entire Sportswear Line for

leagues such as NFL, NCAA, MLB, NBA and NHL.

Identified Professional Vendors in China, Indonesia, Vietnam,

Bangladesh, India, Thailand and Pakistan to produce merchandise

in spite of quantities being bare minimum per team.

In spite of recent issues with deliveries and yarn prices, I

was able to ship out majority of the goods on time and with

required quality. Negotiated with vendors vigorously to fulfill

commitments as per prices assured.

During this crisis, I made frequent visits to factories located

in above mentioned countries and worked with them very closely

to make sure there are no issues with production planning,

quality and deliveries. Worked with Forwarders extensively for

smooth sailing.

March 2007 - March 2009: New Era Cap Company - Apparel

Division,

Director of Global Sourcing (North America, Europe and Asia):

Men's and Juniors & Children (Mainly Sportswear)

Successful in Launching Company's new Apparel Division (also to

our retail stores).

Managed Sourcing, Production and Quality of New Era brands not

only to USA and also to Canada, Europe (New Era and also

Soccer Team Apparels) and Asia Pacific.

In addition to NE, also successfully managed sourcing and

production activities for European Needs including Football

(Soccer) apparel covering many teams.

April 2002 - Jan 2007 (Almost 5 Years): Check Group LLC, New

York,

VP of Production & Worldwide Sourcing:

Men's, Juniors and Children.

BRANDS: PHAT FARM, FUBU, ECKO, OUTKAST, VOKAL, NBA (NATIONAL

BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION TEAM SPORTSWEAR (NBA). LOUNGE WEAR AND

SLEEPWEAR) APPLE BOTTOMS (WOMEN'S JUNIOR SPORTSWEAR, SLEEPWEAR

AND INTIMATE APPARELS),

April 2001 - April 2002 : Van Mar Inc., New York, USA

Production Manager, (Under fashions & Intimate Apparel)

May 1995 - April 2001 : True Connections, Bangalore, India

Executive Director (Sourcing, QA and Production)

(Buying agents for True Sports, Netherlands, True Fit

International, U.K. and Manex International, Boston and several

Importers in USA (Target, Sears, Wal-Mart, etc.,)

February 1990 - March 1994 : Kikomo Ltd., New York, USA

Product Manager - Kikomo Division (Men's & Women's Branded and

Private Label)

(JCPenny, Shopko, Kmart, Wal-Mart, Kohl's, Goody's, Target,

Sears, )

EDUCATION: Wagner College, New York, USA

MBA in Marketing and Finance.

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