Quality Technologist Mr Price Sport at Mr Price Group

Job Description

• Support and guide the Buying and Sourcing teams through all stages of product development, from design through to manufacture. Conduct a range of technical, investigative and quality control work to ensure the end product performs to specifications.

Responsibilities
Quality Expertise

• Upskill and provide technical quality input to the respective merchants, suppliers and sourcing teams on garment construction, fabrication and design with the purpose of ensuring we deliver the required quality standard to our customers.                                        

Quality Assurance

• Conduct quality evaluations on fit and pre- production samples in terms of sizing, grading, fitting and testing, within the required timeframe and provide comments/ recommendations, in order to ensure that product is in line with required quality standards.  This involves analysing fabric performance (includes ad hoc testing for verification) and trims to ensure they are within the approved quality and appearance standards. 
• Compile & consolidate the sample tracker  and report monthly on any deviations. 
• Conduct wearer trials where required to properly assess fit, execution and product performance.                         

Management of Product Specifications

• Review performance of garment specs with updates and recommendations to specs to the buying fraternity based on market trends and competitors to ensure that our product fit and construction is in line with customer requirements. 
• Ensure grade rules are correctly and consistently applied in respective department. 
• Update and maintain the specification library.                

Product & Supplier Analysis

• Conduct in-depth analysis of suppliers and third party auditor performance in order to identify areas of weakness, risk or improvement in quality and/ or process. 
• Liaise and collaborate with international and local suppliers to resolve queries proactively in order to obtain the best quality products.

Store Audits & DC Returns

• Conduct audits within the store environment to ensure the upholding of product quality standards. 
• Assess customer returns at the DC in order to classify defects and take corrective action where poor quality is applicable.

Quality Control

• Investigate and liaise with the buying/ sourcing teams in order to make proactive decisions on any quality or fit issues that may result in reputational or financial loss or harm to the customer.
• Conduct factory visits and audits (ad hoc as required) to ensure quality compliance and quality standards of products both at in-line and final inspection. 
• Check third party audit reports to either approve or reject accordingly.    

Tariff Management

• Investigate and apply correct tariff code(s) to each product to provide insight into the import duty which will be imposed to give clarity when considering the profitability of a product.

Qualifications
Education

• Diploma or Degree in Clothing Technology and/or Production Management

Experience                   

• 3 - 5 Years

Specific Knowledge

• Microsoft Office (Excel & PowerPoint), Manufacturing and Production Processes, Garment and/or Footwear construction, Pattern Making; Fabric / Material composition, Communication Skills, Relationship management, Multi product expertise

Business Understanding

• Business Acumen, Quality process, Retail market understanding and knowledge