Quality Control Manager (Manufacturing)

Summary

The Quality Control Manager owns the fit sampling and pre-shipment approval process to ensure our garments meet Hamrick's standards for fit, construction, fabric performance, cost effectiveness, and customer expectations. This role is the primary technical quality partner to Product Development/Design and the primary troubleshooting contact for factories in Bangladesh, Vietnam, and China. The QC Manager reviews, measures, and communicates approval/rejection and required corrections for all fit samples, and approves production bundles (top-of-production) prior to shipment. This position requires deep technical apparel knowledge, a strong eye for detail, excellent cross-functional communication, and the ability to challenge and support design decisions to protect fit, quality, yield, and sell ability. Ideal candidates bring real-world factory experience across spreading, cutting, and sewing, enabling faster troubleshooting and stronger coaching with suppliers.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end fit sampling process, from receipt through final disposition.
• Review, measure, and evaluate all fit samples for fit, proportional balance, construction quality, and adherence to specs.
• Communicate clear approvals/rejections with actionable, technical correction notes and photos/markups.
• Ensure fit samples are an accurate representation of intended bulk production: correct pattern execution, fabric choice, trim, construction methods, and finishing details.
• Partner with Product Development/Design to confirm construction details are appropriate for fabric type and end-use, and that techniques are cost-effective without sacrificing quality.
• Provide technical feedback to Design/Product Development when details are missed, including: *Fabric direction and nap (nap up/nap down) *Stripe/plaid placement and matching *Bias fabrics and stretch/relaxation considerations *Fabric shading/lot variation risks *Construction method recommendations to improve fit, appearance, durability, and manufacturability
• Review and approve production bundles/top-of-production samples sent into Hamrick's prior to shipment.
• Validate that bulk output matches approved fit sample/specs across measurement, construction, workmanship, and overall appearance.
• Identify risks early and drive corrective action plans with factories before goods ship.
• Apply deep knowledge of spreading, cutting, fabric utilization, and yield standards to support cost and margin targets.
• Evaluate marker/yield implications of fabric type, nap direction, matching requirements, and cutting constraints (e.g., cutting in place, bias layout).
• Train and coach factories on yield expectations, fabric utilization best practices, and compliance with Hamrick's standards.
• Monitor recurring yield issues and partner with internal teams and suppliers to correct root causes.
• Serve as the primary contact for factory troubleshooting across fit, construction, fabric handling, cutting, and yield issues.
• Lead root-cause problem solving directly with factories and internal partners; drive corrective and preventative actions (CAPA) and confirm effectiveness.
• Build strong working relationships with cross-border teams to resolve issues quickly and prevent repeated defects.
• Collaborate daily with Product Development, Design, Sourcing, and Production to ensure products are developed and produced to spec.
• Provide objective, customer-focused technical guidance--supporting and constructively challenging decisions to ensure final garments fit and perform for our customers.
• Maintain strong documentation and communication standards so decisions are clear across time zones and languages.

Qualifications

• 10+ years (or equivalent) in apparel quality, technical development, fit, or production---ideally with direct factory interface.
• Proven experience managing fit sample approvals and bulk/top-of-production approvals.
• Experience working with overseas factories and cross-cultural teams.
• Proficiency in measurement/spec evaluation and technical documentation.
• Apparel-related degree is a plus (but not required with strong experience).

Required Experience

• Expert knowledge of garment construction and workmanship standards.
• Strong understanding of fabric types and behavior, including shading/lot variation, shrinkage, stretch, recovery, and bias.
• Advanced knowledge of spreading and cutting, including cutting constraints and cutting in place.
• Demonstrated understanding of yield/marker efficiency and how fabric direction, matching, and construction choices impact utilization and cost.
• Ability to assess and recommend cost-effective techniques that preserve quality and customer experience.
• Exceptional attention to detail: measurements, proportional balance, symmetry/matching, and finish quality.
• Strong written and visual communication skills (clear notes, photos, markups, technical callouts) across multilingual, international teams (Bangladesh, Vietnam, and China).
• Practical problem-solving capability---able to diagnose issues and align factories and internal teams on fixes.
• Strong customer focus understands how fit, comfort, and appearance drive sell ability and brand trust.
• Ability to balance technical perfection with commercial realities while protecting core quality standards.

Perks

• Competitive wages
• Flexible schedules
• Closed on Sundays
• Unique team culture
• 'Promote from within' philosophy
• Comprehensive benefit package
• Employee discount