Responsible for actively engaging with the Product Development team, sales, merchandising, supply chain, and manufacturing to provide guidance, oversight, and technical expertise that assist in ensuring consistent quality, and timely execution of item start-up in manufacturing. Plan and supervise the development to launch validation process for new finished items and for mandated customer periodic product testing. Arrange, examine, and route component shells and finished item test samples and supervise 3rd party lab testing of finished HSP products, to confirm that HSP meets all customer specific requirements and claims. Provide validation test data and samples to customers as required. Reconcile any reported non-conformances in product testing results to achieve approval for production to start and or to ship from HSP NA plants. Evaluate and disposition products, component fabrics and color swatches manufactured and/or sourced by Hollander to ensure they meet established customer specific and HSP quality specifications. Define testing requirements of components with HSP Asia teams or suppliers.
All Hollander Associates are expected to support Operations by working efficiently and maintaining a high level of productivity in order for the organization to meet and exceed customer demands.
This position places a strong significance on effective teamwork, clear communication, problem solving, organization, judgement, reliability and a strong work ethic.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Manage customer product testing for assigned key customer accounts. Maintain relationships with customer technical and quality liaisons and third party lab contacts. Schedule and request test samples from HSP production for new items, item changes, and annual testing per customer requirements. Create and submit Testing Request Forms (TRFs) with test samples to third party labs to validate compliance to basic physical properties, product safety, labeling, performance claims, and all unique customer required testing.
Prepare and submit Corrective Action Plans for customer testing non-conformances and submit retesting as needed to obtain full approvals/passing results. Coordinate action plan step implementation with Asia teams and NA plants as appropriate
Maintain customer website interfaces and PLM inputs for testing submissions and inspections for various customers as required. Store all outside and internal test reports in the appropriate HSP SharePoint and Agile files to maintain history.
Evaluate submitted product/component samples and provide written summary to appropriate persons (including, but not limited to Merchandising, Suppliers, Sourcing, and the HSP Asian offices).
Coordinate competitor product analysis & testing. Create evaluation reports based on external labs reports and internal design review, Present findings at review meetings with merchandising, and store written summaries on the shared drive for accessibility.
Publish technical design review reports for certain key customers for new items.
Examine submitted color lab dips/samples for conformity to standard and provide directional feedback to HSP Asia teams and Boca Merchandising on improvements required.
Test component products internally (thread count, weight, dimensional stability to laundering, etc.) as needed.
Review and approve 3rd party testing lab invoices.
Maintain customer testing logs to track new and recurring testing status thru design validation stage gates, and request follow-up samples from both Asia and/or from NA plants for repeat testing per defined customer protocols.
Issue Letters of Guarantee to customers upon request (GCCs, COCs) based on historical test results.
Collaborate with Corporate and Plant Quality Teams in problem solving for customer complaints and supplier and internal quality issues.
Create fiber trials requests, track status, and lead fiber trial review meetings with merchandising and the supply chain.
Assist the HSP manufacturing plants with pre-production by providing technical support.
Collaborate with Senior Director of QA & Compliance, Regulatory Compliance Team, and Merchandising to ensure all product claims are consistently worded and clearly stated on artwork text, so that claims can be supported by appropriate product testing.
Collaborate in the TOP sample review validation process of new production items to ensure all compliance and workmanship issues have been addressed.
May be assigned to mentor other Hollander Quality teams or to trouble-shoot quality issues in other plants.
Understand objectives and work with Hollander associates of all levels in a professional manner to achieve goals and continuously improve quality.
Requires limited travel, typical office work, and extensive collaborative work with other departments and locations
Comply with company and safety guidelines.
May be assigned other duties as needed.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
No direct reporting supervision, but must supervise customer specific testing process for assigned customer accounts. Direction given HSP Asian teams, to NA plant sample makers, and to 3rd party testing labs as necessary to accomplish the overall product validation process.
REQUREMENTS, SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS:
Education requirement: College degree (BA/BS) or equivalent work experience with technical emphasis. Textile related degree a plus.
Able to communicate and train associates to achieve customer technical requirements.
Experience in the textile environment, particularly home textiles or apparel, is preferred.
Experience with Agile or other PLM systems is preferred.
Excellent problem solving skills and experience is required.
Have good vision and above average color perception.
Display the need for thoroughness and attention to detail.
Strong emotional intelligence and professionalism is required.
Have excellent communication skills (verbal and written). Also, possess the ability to communicate effectively with associates of all levels and with customers.
COMPUTER SKILLS A MUST. Basic knowledge of EXCEL, Word, and Outlook, including SharePoint, required.
Bilingual (English/Spanish or English/French) is a plus.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an Associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Associates in this role will spend over 90% of the day in a stationary position while using a computer or other devices. Good manual dexterity is required to use common office equipment (e.g., computers, mobile devices, calculators, copiers, scanners). There is also an occasional need to position self to maintain equipment, including under tables and desks as well as the ability to move about the office and common office areas. There is also an occasional need to bend, stoop and lift (typically less than 10 lbs). as well as frequently touch and feel. The ability to hear and see with vision abilities in close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust and focus is necessary
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an Associate encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Associates in this role spend much of the day in a climate-controlled office environment with a low to moderate noise level. EEO/Vet Disabled
