Production Manager/ Production Developer

Position Overview:The position requires strong technical knowledge of garment construction, product development, production management, quality control, supplier management, and luxury apparel standards.KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:Product DevelopmentManage the product development process from initial design concept through final approved production sample.Review designs for technical feasibility, construction, fit, finishing, and production practicality.Work closely with the Design team to translate creative concepts into commercially and technically viable garments.Review and approve fabrics, trims, accessories, construction methods, and finishing techniques.Coordinate development of first samples, fit samples, revised samples, PPS, and size sets.Identify potential production, quality, cost, or construction issues during the development stage and provide solutions.Ensure that final products accurately reflect the approved design, specifications, measurements, and quality standards.Review patterns and technical aspects of garments and coordinate necessary corrections with pattern makers and production teams.Support the development of new suppliers and manufacturing capabilities where required.Production Management:Plan, coordinate, and monitor production from order confirmation through to final delivery.Prepare and maintain production schedules and ensure that production milestones are achieved.Monitor production capacity across in-house and external manufacturing facilities.Allocate production to appropriate factories, workshops, tailors, and suppliers based on capability, quality, capacity, and delivery requirements.Monitor daily and weekly production output and identify potential delays at an early stage.Follow up continuously with suppliers and production teams to ensure adherence to agreed deadlines.Escalate production risks, delays, quality concerns, and capacity issues to management with proposed solutions.Coordinate urgent production requirements and prioritize critical styles/orders when necessary.Monitor production efficiency and identify opportunities to improve processes, capacity, and productivity.Supplier and Factory Management:Source, evaluate, and develop suitable factories, workshops, tailors, and suppliers.Assess suppliers based on quality, workmanship, capacity, lead time, pricing, reliability, and ability to meet Carter and White standards.Negotiate CMT, production, sampling, and other manufacturing costs where required.Maintain strong professional relationships with suppliers while ensuring that contractual and company requirements are followed.Monitor supplier performance and maintain records of quality, delivery, pricing, and overall reliability.Address production failures, delays, quality issues, and corrective actions with suppliers.Conduct factory and workshop visits when required to monitor production and resolve technical or operational issues.Quality Control:Ensure that all production meets Carter and White quality standards before shipment or delivery.Work closely with the QC team to establish and maintain appropriate quality-control procedures.Review QC reports and ensure that identified defects are properly investigated and corrected.Monitor recurring defects and implement corrective and preventive actions.Ensure that production teams understand required quality standards, construction methods, measurements, and finishing requirements.Support technical investigation of garment defects and determine whether issues originate from development, pattern, fabric, construction, production, or finishing.Ensure that rejected or defective garments are properly rectified before final delivery.Monitor quality performance of both local and international suppliers.Production Costing C Commercial Control:Review and negotiate production and CMT costs with factories and suppliers.Evaluate the cost impact of fabrics, trims, construction details, finishing, workmanship, and production methods.Identify opportunities to reduce unnecessary production costs without compromising the luxury positioning or quality of the product.Review supplier quotations and provide recommendations to management.Monitor additional production costs resulting from alterations, reworks, defects, delays, or production failures.Support management with production-related cost analysis and recommendations.Fabric, Trim C Material Management:Coordinate with relevant teams regarding fabric and trim requirements for development and production.Check fabric availability and suitability before production confirmation.Identify material shortages or risks that could affect production timelines.Coordinate fabric and trim allocation to appropriate styles and suppliers.Work with suppliers to source alternative fabrics, trims, or production solutions when required.Ensure that materials used in production correspond to approved standards and samples.Technical & Production DocumentationMaintain accurate production and development records.Review and coordinate technical specifications, measurements, construction details, BOMs, and production requirements.Maintain updated sample status, production status, delivery schedules, and supplier information.Track approvals, comments, corrections, and revisions throughout the development and production process.Ensure that suppliers receive the latest approved information and that obsolete specifications are not used for production.Tailor and In-House Production ManagementManage and monitor the performance and productivity of in-house tailors and production staff.Assess tailor skill levels and allocate work according to individual capabilities.Establish realistic production targets and monitor daily output.Support recruitment and assessment of technically qualified tailors.Ensure high standards of workmanship, speed, precision, and finishing.Identify training requirements and areas for improvement within the production team.Monitor in-house capacity and provide management with projections for future production requirements.Cross-Department CoordinationAct as the key production and product-development point of contact between Design, Management, Buying, Retail, QC, Procurement, Finance, suppliers, and factories.Coordinate priorities across departments to ensure smooth execution of collections and production orders.Provide regular production and product-development updates to management.Communicate production risks and proposed solutions clearly and proactively.Investigate issues raised by Retail or other departments and coordinate appropriate corrective action.Ensure that feedback is communicated through the appropriate internal channels and followed through to resolution.Reporting and Management UpdatesPrepare regular production status reports covering:Production completedCurrent productionUpcoming productionProduction capacityTailor/headcount updatesSampling and development statusSupplier performanceQuality issuesDelays and risksCorrective actionsProvide management with clear visibility on production performance and potential risks.Highlight critical issues requiring management decisions or intervention.REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:Minimum 5–8 years of relevant experience in apparel production, product development, or a similar senior position.Strong experience in premium or luxury fashion is highly preferred.Proven experience managing both in-house and external production.Experience working with local and international garment manufacturers and suppliers.Strong experience in womenswear and/or menswear garment construction.Experience with high-quality and delicate fabrics is preferred.Experience managing tailors, workshops, factories, and production teams.Technical Knowledge:The candidate should have strong knowledge of:Garment constructionPattern making and garment fittingSampling and product developmentProduction planningFabric and trim selectionTechnical specifications and measurementsQuality controlGarment finishingProduction costingCMT and supplier negotiationsProduction capacity planningFactory and supplier evaluationLuxury/premium garment standardsKEY SKILLS:Strong leadership and production-management skillsExcellent garment technical knowledgeStrong understanding of luxury apparel qualityExcellent attention to detailStrong visual inspection skillsAbility to identify sewing and construction defectsStrong understanding of garment fit and proportionsAbility to identify production risks before they become criticalStrong negotiation and supplier-management skillsExcellent organizational and time-management skillsAbility to manage multiple styles, suppliers, and deadlines simultaneouslyStrong problem-solving and decision-making abilitiesAbility to work under pressure and manage urgent production requirementsStrong communication and cross-functional coordination skillsCommercial awareness and cost-conscious decision makingHigh level of accountability and ownershipPERSONAL ATTRIBUTESThe ideal candidate should be:Highly organized and structuredProactive rather than reactivePrecise and detail-orientedCommercially awareDecisive and solution-orientedComfortable challenging suppliers when standards are not metAble to maintain high standards under significant time pressureStrong in follow-up and executionProfessional and diplomatic in supplier and internal relationshipsPassionate about product quality and luxury craftsmanshipCapable of independently managing the full production and development process