Merchandiser - NPD & Supply Chain Operations

Sai Teja Swakulasale Pondhe

Merchandising, NPD, Production & Supply Chain Operations

**********@*****.*** 741-***-**** Bangalore, KA LinkedIn/SaiTejaSP PROFILE

Results-driven apparel professional with 3+ years of cross-functional experience in Production Management, New Product Development (NPD), Merchandising, Sourcing, and Supply Chain Operations. Proven track record in managing end-to-end product lifecycles from concept and costing through sampling, vendor negotiation, and bulk production delivery. Hands-on expertise in shopfloor execution, T&A management, capacity planning, line balancing, and quality compliance. Proficient in ERP/PLM systems, MIS reporting, and cross-functional collaboration to drive operational efficiency and business growth. KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

•Improved production efficiency by 15% through workflow optimization and process improvements

•Reduced raw material cost by 10% through strategic sourcing and effective vendor negotiations

•Contributed to 20% sales growth by accelerating PD-to-production timelines and execution efficiency

•Enhanced vendor performance and overall supply chain efficiency through structured coordination and follow-ups

•Reduced out-of-stock SKUs from 300+ to 80+ within 1.5 months, improving product availability through optimized production planning and RM management

SKILLS

Core Skills

1. Product Development & Merchandising

•End-to-End Apparel Merchandising (NPD to Production)

•Product Development, Sampling & Commercialization

•Fabric & Trim Development

•Sampling Execution (Proto / Fit / PP)

•BOM Creation, Product Costing & Tech Pack Review

•Cross-functional Coordination (Design, IE, QA,

Production)

2. Sourcing & Vendor Management

•Strategic Sourcing, Vendor Development & Procurement

•Vendor Negotiation & Commercial Management

•Inventory Management, Material Planning & Procurement Coordination

3. Production & Operations

•Factory Operations & Shopfloor Supervision

•Production Planning & Control (PPC) & Capacity Planning

•Line Balancing & Workflow Optimization

•Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen & 5S

•WIP Tracking & Efficiency Improvement

•Workforce Planning & Team Leadership

•Quality Assurance (Inline, End-line & Final), AQL Standards & Compliance Monitoring

Technical Skills

•ERP / PLM Systems: Uniware, Salesforce, Tally, Logic ERP, Production & Merchandising ERPs

•MS Office: Advanced Excel (Pivot Tables, V, X, H

LOOKUP's, MIS), Word, PowerPoint, Outlook

•Data & Analytics: SQL, Python, Power BI, Advanced Google Sheets

•Reporting & Dashboards: MIS Reporting, Production MIS, Merchandising Dashboards, KPI Tracking

•CAD & Production Tools: AutoCAD, Richpeace, Nest & Cut

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Sr. Executive-Sourcing & NPD

Yashram Lifestyle Brands Pvt Ltd

01/2026 – 08/2026

•Led New Product Development (NPD), strategic sourcing, vendor negotiations, and merchandising operations

•Managed 20+ active styles through the NPD pipeline — concept briefing, sampling, tech pack review, BOM costing, and bulk production handover to Dispatch

•Handled sourcing across 25+ active vendors for fabric, trims, and specialised materials while developing alternate vendors to strengthen supply chain

•Led vendor negotiations to achieve seasonal cost targets and reduce material lead times

•Collaborating with design, QA, production, and sales teams to ensure seamless PD-to-bulk transitions and on-time launches

•Managing T&A tracking, costing feasibility, and delivery planning across all active styles and seasonal collections

•Conducting frequent factory visits to monitor production status, operational efficiency, workflow execution, process adherence, audits, and overall manufacturing performance.

Production Incharge

Yashram Lifestyle Brands Pvt Ltd

01/2025 – 08/2026

•Led end-to-end production operations - Cutting, Stitching, Finishing, Packing, QA, Stores, and Purchase

•Managed 100+ shop-floor operators and 5+ professionals, driving capacity planning, skill alignment, and productivity

•Developed and executed daily and weekly production plans, ensuring alignment with order timelines and business targets

•Implemented line balancing, SAM calculations, and lean practices (5S, Kaizen) resulting in improvement in efficiency

•Oversaw purchase and inventory operations including PO/GRN, material tracking, and coordination with Finance

•Drove cross-functional coordination between Merchandising, PD, QA, Sourcing, and Production for smooth order execution

•Involved into setup of a new manufacturing plant at Anantapur — a critical strategic expansion for the company

•Involved in Planning and executed the full plant setup including machine layout, infrastructure, utility setup, and production floor organisation

•Recruited, onboarded, and trained the entire production workforce and supervisory team from scratch

•Supported development of SOPs, quality workflows, and operational processes tailored to the new facility

•Reduced out-of-stock SKUs from 300+ to under 80 within one month through disciplined production planning and RM management

•Systematically transitioned all operational responsibilities to the newly trained production incharge, ensuring zero disruption to output

Production Engineer & Product Developer

Yashram Lifestyle Brands Pvt Ltd

12/2023 – 12/2024

•Led product development from concept to bulk ensuring seamless design-to-production execution.

•Developed innovative products and customized samples aligned with buyer requirements, contributing to a 20% sales increase.

•Managed end-to-end sampling (proto, fit, PP), including BOM creation, pattern grading, and costing inputs.

•Coordinated with buyers, vendors, and internal teams for tech pack clarifications, approvals, timelines, and cost optimization.

•Supported merchandising activities such as TNA tracking, costing feasibility, and delivery planning.

•Led shopfloor execution with 70+ operators, ensuring quality compliance, productivity targets, and on-time delivery.

•Supported shopfloor production and ensured quality and process adherence during bulk manufacturing.

•Assisted in workflow optimization and line efficiency improvement.

•Worked with multiple fabric types and constructions, building adaptability to technical and performance-based products. Production Planning & Industrial Engg

Adira Collective Apparels Pvt Ltd

04/2023 – 12/2023

•Managed production planning and line allocation across 3 production lines with 30+ operators, tracking daily output to meet delivery schedules

•Executed IE studies, SMV analysis, and efficiency tracking, driving productivity improvement initiatives on the shopfloor

•Monitored and cleared out-of-stock SKUs through daily production planning and raw material coordination

•Handled inventory control, cost monitoring, budgeting support, and MIS reporting

•Maintained quality control standards and compliance, coordinating across supply chain touchpoints

•Prepared and presented daily and weekly production performance reports to management EDUCATION

B.Tech in Civil Engineering,

Anantha Lakshmi Institute of Technology & Sciences 07/2020 – 03/2023

Diploma in Civil Engineering,

PVKK Institute of Technology

06/2017 – 04/2020

LANGUAGES

English

Telugu

Kannada

Hindi

Marathi

Tamil

DECLARATION

I hereby declare that all information provided above is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief. Sai Teja SP

Bangalore

— Fluent

— Native/Bilingual

— Fluent

— Fluent

— Fluent

— Conversational

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