Product Development Manager

MOHAMED A BIJAPURI

847-***-**** (Home) **** Lincoln Avenue

224-***-**** (Cell) Skokie, IL 60077

**********@*******.***

An excellent coach and proven team leader with the strong background of supply chain, supplier relations, and integrated systems development impacting suppliers, developing a world class supply chain organization, and owning the supply side of the new products. A creative professional with consistent record of merchandising placement, competitive pricing strategies, products launches, products sourcing, and branding. A demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally within the company, as well as globally with suppliers, and work closely with merchandising, design, sales, engineering, information systems, manufacturing and finance. Develop strong win/win relationships with suppliers to control cost, thereby improving performance and profits. An individual with strong background in developing and executing global sourcing and procurement strategies, including supplier certification and partnering with global manufacturing and distribution environment.

WORK EXPERIENCE:

Sunstone Imports, Morton Grove, IL / Roman Company Creve Coeur, MO Sept 2008 – Present

Manager of Product Development / Sourcing

Supervise the Product Development / Sourcing departments of both sterling / costume divisions.

Provide overall strategic, tactical and operational direction and support the organization with best cost manufacturing strategy. Develop high-potential and high-performing staff and implement strategies to become a more competitive procurement function, driving enhanced economic value to the enterprise.

Seek out and capitalize on strategic opportunities with the supply base the yield significant advantages for the enterprise to improve corporate profitability. Participate in the strategic and tactical negotiation of major supplier contracts. Leverage financial resources through the implementation of cost effective purchasing agreements on a global scale.

Formulate and deploy procedures governing all aspects of (materials procurement, material planning, inventory management, and supplier development), supporting global operational excellence, customer satisfaction, product leadership, and operating philosophy initiatives. Lead the transition to a demand-pull system by coordinating with sales, manufacturing and logistics functions.

Implement continuous improvement processes within the supply chain group, as well as with suppliers. Lead the effort in the design, development and implementation of integrated information systems within the manufacturing, materials, and distribution functions.

Communicate the vision to suppliers to elicit them as partners in the new direction of global supply chain management. Develop and maintain on-going relationships with key suppliers and establish effective programs and processes of ensuring “best in class” supplier performance.

Lead in the evaluation of in-sourcing strategies, assessment and deployment.

Develop a pipeline of new product initiatives through market/trend analysis, customer focus/input and competitive activity including innovative and unique solutions that support our compelling design patent leadership.

Engage with our customers to integrate their feedback, and drive towards continuous improvement.

Responsible of approving all new vendor factories prior to doing business. Review new vendor’s capacity / discuss company’s procedure and help suppliers to pass the customers inspection requirements. Factory Compliance to meet USA / local laws requirements.

Provide direction to our Design / Merchandising teams on which vendor would be best for any particular program / category. Work with Design / Merchandising teams to create market plan by vendor prior to each market.

Review vendors score card / vendor performance and analysis reports. Work with our vendors and outside contractors, to ship our products to customers directly from our Asia office.

Provide the vision and leadership needed to drive innovation through the Product Management team. Develop and implement processes that will yield a continuous flow of new product or category ideas that accurately address customer needs and exceed expectations. Hold a high bar for the development of the branded line and gain understanding of the challenges. Understands patents and the trademark processes.

Direct the development of comprehensive category strategies and detailed plans for targeted industries, including identification of opportunities, market needs, product roadmap, product solutions, market potential and sales potential.

Develop strategies for product, pricing, market entry and management of products in the new product development process from strategy through post-launch evaluation to meet corporate objectives for revenue, profit and brand. Provide vision for potential strategic partnerships with other brands.

Travel globally and attend all products shows to bring new product concepts and product trends. Visit vendor factories and determine supplier for new product lines by analyzing the vendor capacity / performance.

Sunstone Imports, Morton Grove, IL April 2003 – Sept 2008

Manager of Asia Operations

Supervised the Asia office operations and reported directly to the President.

Recruited staff for Asia office as needed.

Communicated via conference call with Operation / Product Development in USA facility to resolve any issue.

Partnered with vendors to resource components, stones, and packaging to ship finished products.

Organized factories to perform Quality Control process before shipping products in the US.

Travelled around the world to source new vendors / new products.

Expedited purchase orders to meet delivery requirements.

Worked with product development to expedite sample orders for markets.

Factory Compliance to meet USA / Local laws requirements.

Consolidation shipments / Logistics.

Expanded Asia Office to recruit product development staff to develop / source new market trends.

Sourced products with better prices from vendors

Extracted data from operation system and ran audit reports.

Reviewed vendors score card / vendor performance and analysis reports.

Organized travel for product development / operations in USA for trade shows / vendor appointments.

Sunstone Imports, Evanston, IL Sept 1999 – April 2003

Purchasing Manager

Supervised the Purchasing department.

Held Weekly meetings with Operations staff / Product Development to resolve any issues.

Helped our vendors to source components, stones, and packaging to ship finished products.

Travel led around the world to source new vendors / new products.

Reviewed MRP and expedite purchase orders to meet delivery requirements.

Worked with product development to expedite sample orders for markets.

Consolidation shipments / Logistics.

Sourced products with better prices from vendors.

Reviewed vendors score card / vendor performance and analysis reports.

Extracted data from operation system and ran audit reports and review them.

Reviewed and approved vendor invoices.

Travelled with product development / operations departments to attend trade shows / market / vendor appointments.

Sunstone Imports, Evanston, IL March 1993 – Sept 1999

Purchasing Buyer

Reviewed MRP and placed purchase orders based on the forecast.

Reviewed MRP and expedited purchase orders to meet delivery requirements.

Worked with product development to expedite sample orders for markets.

Negotiated with vendors for better prices for our products.

Held weekly meetings with planning department to review any forecast discrepancies..

Montgomery Wards, Skokie, IL August 1992 – March 1993

Customer Service Representative

Managed the cash register as needed.

Helped customers to select the correct products in Apparel department.

Stocked the floor as needed.

Organized the stock floor for occasional sales events.

Assisted manager to increase the department sales.

Worked with security guard to open / close the store.

EDUCATION:

The I. Y. Colleges of Arts & Science, Mumbai, India

Major: Chemistry

Took 2 years college courses in Science.

J. A Meghani High School, Mumbai, India .

Completed high school degree.

COMPUTER SKILLS:

JD Edward Enterprise World, AS400, ERP, Windows, AS400 Query, Lotus Notes, MS Word, MS Excel, MS Access, MS Power Point, MS Outlook, and IBM Client Access.

Contact this candidate