Masters in Knitwear Design and Technology

Looking to re-enter the workforce and leverage my educational background and professional experience in merchandising,
quality analysis, and product development to make a meaningful contribution to the organization.

•   Worked closely with VP of Sourcing (multiple business divisions) and Director of Compliance to manage and maintain audit reports and performance scorecard for all active vendors, sub-contractors for the company
•   Analyzed and presented cost data of testing procedures from multiple domestic and international testing labs to recommend the most cost-effective option
•   Maintained testing expense sheet for the previous and current year (monthly and quarterly) to help forecast future
testing budget for multiple big-box stores
•   Analyzed testing costs for each component based on past trends and forecasted approximate testing costs for
future orders. Presented the data to internal stakeholders
•   Identified possible bottlenecks and suggested solutions to product testing procedures to ensure smooth
production process
•   Collaborated and constantly communicated with Responsible Sourcing Teams (RST) of various retailers and licensees to understand their compliance and quality protocol requirements. Relayed the information to vendors,
internal departments via presentations and guided them through various stages of facility approval process.
•   Communicated with 3rd party testing laboratories and auditing agencies (SGS, Intertek, etc.) to ensure all vendors
and their facilities were always compliant with requirements.
•   Ensured constant follow-up with internal departments, vendors, and suppliers to make sure all raw-materials,
components arrive in-house on time for testing to be on-track for all orders (especially time sensitive orders).
•   Initiated and arranged random testing in various product categories to ensure product integrity and quality was
always top-notch.

QC Lab Specialist

Served as the main point of contact for all vendors/supplier communication and between Vendor and internal
design team.
• Worked closely with the VP of Operations to understand the design and technical product requirements and collaborated with multiple vendors and suppliers to deliver correct product quality on-time.
• Maintained all component usage details, cost-sheets for each product and product component.
• Negotiated product cost, delivery timelines to ensure important milestones dates are respected and product
arrived on schedule.
• Evaluate samples for design, quality, cost issues along with design team and provided feedback/solutions to vendors/suppliers in-timely fashion to make product as per specifications.
• Raised PO's and maintained WIP's for sales samples ensuring correct price points, delivery schedule to have
correct product for sales meetings.

Sampling Co-ordinator

•   Responsible for daily communications and follow-up with multiple testing laboratories, buyers, retailers, and internal teams to ensure smooth testing process for timely "OK to ship".
•   Maintained testing department expense report for costing and budgeting purposes. Catalogued entire product
testing history to avoid unforeseen chargebacks or claims.
•   Provided necessary and thorough understanding of various testing related procedures by decoding information in retailer manuals, memos, testing lab manuals, etc.
•   Streamlined procedures to avoid repeat/multiple testing, trained staff on hand and successfully brought down
company's failure rate by 2% for 2009-2010.

Customer Compliance & Testing Coordinator

Managed product development from start to finish for various business categories to be retailed at world-wide
Tommy Hilfiger stores.
• Provided seasonal and yearly vendor performance analysis; production capacities, lead times and minimums,
shipping performance, manufacturing strengths and weaknesses which facilitated Merchandising Manager's (MM)
future business allocation decisions.
• Solved and collaborated challenging design, quality, production issues between internal and overseas technical
design team/QA team/vendor to meet target costs, improve product quality and ship on time.
• Supervised R&D (fabric, samples), Sample development, sourcing, and day-to-day communication with domestic/international suppliers.
• Negotiated costing and raised POs for correct information.
• Drove vendor production centers to adhere to weekly WIP reports for shipping on time to avoid discounts, late
shipment claims and chargebacks. Updated weekly shipping inbound with vessel sailing/flight information.
• Traveled internationally with merchandising/design team to review, evaluate, and update all technical
specifications (design, construction, fit and pattern changes, and approvals) for product sampling.
• Worked alongside MM to identify, introduce and initiate R&D with new and potential vendors to Europe design
and sourcing team for future business opportunities.

Merchandiser, DESCON SYNTHETICS (India) Pvt. Ltd - a 100% export-oriented unit catering to the US and EU market. June 2002- June 2004
• Designed Men's, Women's sweaters, Outerwear for various buyer meets and trade shows. Catalogued and maintained Sample Showroom.
• Closely supervised the raw material & trim sourcing, sample development, review and updating of tech packs with respect to all design& fabric, trim, fit& construction, packing comments and changes.
• Prepared product cost sheets with component wise consumption, sourcing details and their individual costs.

Product Development Coordinator

Find out detailed information about Pranali Mankad,  in San Diego, CA

Pranali Mankad: in San Diego, CA

Pranali Mankad

MAD ENGINE

SEIRUS INNOVATIONS

MAD ENGINE

TOMMY HILFIGER (India) Pvt. Ltd

MS University of Baroda

National Institute of Fashion Technology

San Diego Mesa College