Quality Assurance II, Apparel

 

This is a key Quality Assurance role on one of the strongest QA teams in the Performance Running Footwear & Apparel industry.  Our ideal candidate possesses a thorough understanding of apparel manufacturing to apply skills, observation, and experience to support the Brooks Global Quality Standard. As a QA II, Apparel, you are responsible for both quality assurance and quality control of processes, work in progress, and final apparel products at Brooks Tier 1 factories to ensure compliance Brooks finished goods Quality and Production standards.  Leadership, communication, and attention to detail are must-have skills.  You will report to the Manager, Quality Assurance and assist and work in conjunction with Certified Factory Auditors.

 

·       Oversees the production processes and compliance to Brooks quality requirements:

·       Conducts In-Line-Inspection to ensure that the production and quality are monitored and identify any issues at early stages to enable corrections prior to final inspection.

·       Identify and align with Brooks QA leader, factory QA leader, and necessary factory personnel on critical to quality manufacturing checkpoints for all styles

·       Demonstrate correct processes through on the job training and illustrate benefits of maintaining proper process controls

·       Confirm proper machine maintenance and record keeping of factory equipment

·       Conducts Final Inspections to make sure that the goods will be shipped out with correct appearance and construction based on Brroks Quality Standard. 

·       Drives resolution of quality issues by working together with appropriate Brooks cross-functional and factory teams using root cause analysis.  Opens corrective actions using Brooks PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) system to facilitate root cause analysis and problem solving.  Escalates issues up, down and across the organization for alignment up to HQ if needed.  Able to manger complex corrective action implementations with outside vendors and benchmarking best practices across multiple vendors.

 

·       Assist in development of audit plans, audit schedules:

·       Works with factory to set up pre-production meeting schedule and ensures these take place

·       Works with factory to arrange in-line and final inspection schedule and assisting audit                           responsibility – Brooks QA or Certified Factory Auditor (“CFA”) team.

·       Proactively identifies the process or situation in production that is either causing poor quality output or is at risk to drive poor performance.   Facilitates factory issue prevention through use of Brooks PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) system to drive implementation of poke yoke methods and prevent poor quality output.

·       Supports the factory audit team and CFA members in maintaining audit reports; regularly reviews audit reports with Vendor Quality Management to align with performance and set Corrective and Preventative Action plans as needed

·       Continuous training and coaching of the CFAs including correlation of audits or their work.  Ensures they are able to align with Brooks Quality Standards and inspection requirement.

·       Engage directly in the training of CFA’s on how to emulate the Brooks QA Auditor role

·       Utilize CFAs as resources in QC duties, workshop auditing, quality initiatives, IC inspections, and verification of shipping documentation.  Test, evaluate, and provide feedback to QA Manager and factory management on CFA’s performance

·       Serve as the main communication link between Brooks and factory management staff for assigned areas of responsibility

·       Provides support to Brooks Merchandiser to confirm weekly status based is accurate

·       Assist factory lab with required testing expectations, including equipment gap analysis and facilitating discussion to clarify test requirements and/or lab test methods

·       Key in data into required reports and ensure it is submitted on time to the Taiwan office; typically a monthly requirement but may be requested sooner

 

·       5+ years of relevant experience in production/QA experience

·       Must be a certified quality auditor. Two (2) or more years of internal auditing experience is desirable.

·       Experience with team leadership desired

·       Strong understanding of garment construction, garment measuring, quality control/assurance

·       Excellent verbal and written communication skills, demonstrating effective listening through concise, clear verbal and written communication.

·       Fluent in English and local language (writing and speaking) - ability to communicate clearly with other teams.  Fluency in spoken and written Chinese is preferred.

·       Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Power Point, Smartsheet

·       Excellent interpersonal skills that inspire and build trust resulting in effective working relationships across the company. Proactive, assertive, and detail oriented with the ability to multi-task

·       Keen attention to detail in planning, organization and execution of tasks, while still seeing the big picture and understanding how all the pieces fit together and affect one another

·       Ability to anticipate how a decision made can affect our customers, our partners, our products or other departments’ operations and/or morale; “connecting the dots.”

·       Think through problems and recognize when to ask for help.  Look at multiple solutions to a problem before taking action. Use personal experience to avoid mistakes. Be open to ideas and input from others

·       Demonstration of innovation and initiative – always looking at improving our products and processes while also displaying a willingness to dive into the details and help wherever necessary.

·       Passionate participation in Brooks’ sports activities a plus, overridden by the ability to understand and empathize with the runner in order to develop loyal, engaging relationships with our customers and the Brooks community.

·       Willing to Travel both Domestically and Internationally. 

·       Embraces and lives the Brooks values!