Knitting Manager

Manage the knitting and post knitting production modules.

Manage the day-to-day knitting production modules, track employee performance, plan and execution of production schedules, achieve projected production efficiencies, on time orders delivery, ensure product quality and development and approvals of samples.

Additional Responsibilities:

Oversee the entire knitting production from planning of production work orders to shipping to customers

Accountable for weekly/daily production and capacity planning

Apply Lean Manufacturing Tools to ensure established KPIs (efficiency, AQL, on time deliveries, material consumption, etc.) are being met

Work with Lean Process Engineers to develop and maintain Continuous Process Improvements in all areas

Capable of troubleshooting production and personnel issues

Responsible for cross-training personnel across all jobs

Ensure that the Company Environmental Health & Safety programs are fully implemented and followed by the personnel

Coordinate with the production team, factory staff, sales team, account management team on operations and production planning and delivery

Ensure and track production orders all the way through from scheduled, knit, washed, steamed, labeled, packaged, and shipped

Organize staffing shifts and oversee staggered production hours

Oversee the screening and training of new factory workers (finishers, sewers, fulfillment etc.)

Collaborate on QC standards - establish and execute quality control processes in machine knitting and post knit production

Maintain yarn to ensure storage safety, track quantities and rotate cones for production

Analyze production data to identify and resolve any production issues

Optimize production for efficiency and cost savings

Prepare production reports

Regularly inspect knit products and finished products to determine whether they meet established quality standards

Make adjustments to knitting machines as needed and/or coordinate with the team to make knit program updates to ensure successful knitting

Motivate factory workers to continually achieve factory targets

Keep factory clean and organized

Requirements:

Experience overseeing sampling and production across a minimum of 8 machines

Understand knitwear sampling, grading and production process of whole garment and fully fashioned production

Strong verbal communication skills and organizational skills

Team player

Willingness to work flexible hours based on factory shift coverage

Experience implementing, overseeing, and enforcing Quality Control and Safety Standards

Minimum of 3 years of proven experience and understanding running computerized flat bed knitting and post knitting manufacturing of apparel garments

Good operational knowledge of Shima Seiki or Stoll knitting machines, industrial sewing, steaming, linking, washing, and drying

BS degree or equivalent in experience

Strong leadership skills

Project management skills

Time management skills

Cross functional - capable of working across other departments

Good communication, listening, and peoples skills

Ability to think critically and to make wise decisions

Technology competence in Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook

Promote personal hygiene by monitoring all production areas clean and organized

Ensure company safety rules, directions, and procedures are being followed.

Preferred Requirements:

Lean Manufacturing background or knowledge of applications

Experience with whole garment, fully-fashioned, flatbed, and circular knitting machines

Experience running Shima Whole garment machines - needle changes, removing carriage, removing stuck garments etc. (Mach2X and Mach2XS preferred)

Experience with Stoll Knitting machines, in addition to Shima Seiki Whole garment machines

Experience with SWG Shima machines

Experience with light programming of Shima Seiki Whole garment (Mach2X and Mach2XS) or Stoll machines

Understanding of linking process and equipment used