SAP
Radhika Ramakrishnan
Head Of Merchandising & Supply Chain Management
Chennai
Summary
Strategic Merchandising & Supply Chain Leader experienced in apparel manufacturing and global sourcing. Achieved significant improvements in cost optimization and operational performance through cross-functional leadership and effective project management. Focused on leveraging skills in enterprise transformation and supplier ecosystem development to drive business growth and enhance customer satisfaction.
Overview
4
4
Languages
1
1
Certification
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Head – Supply Chain, Merchandising & Operations
Triumph International India Pvt. Ltd.
Chennai
05.2024 - Current
- Lead end-to-end merchandising operations, sourcing strategy, production planning, procurement, warehouse management, and EXIM operations for apparel business verticals.
- Drive customer order execution from product development to final shipment while ensuring OTIF performance above 95%.
- Partner with cross-functional teams, including merchandising, sourcing, planning, production, logistics, and finance, to achieve business KPIs.
- Developed agile sourcing strategies and supplier partnerships, reducing lead time by 20% while improving responsiveness to customer demand.
- Led local sourcing initiatives under the “India for India” project, developing domestic fabric and elastic supplier ecosystem to improve speed-to-market and cost efficiency.
- Managed supplier performance through scorecards and strategic reviews, reducing quality rejections by 15%.
- Improved operational visibility through integrated planning and merchandising dashboards enabling proactive decision-making.
Operations Manager – Sports AI & Data analytics
Stats Perform India pvt ltd.
Chennai
05.2022 - 05.2024
- Manage 200+ people in customer support & data analysts.
- Maintain on-time delivery of Games and meet the SLAs.
- Meet given KRAs and PDR goals.
- Mental wellness training for employees through mindfulness meditation practice
- Leadership and executive coaching to develop analysts to improve productivity and move up in career leadership.
- Optimum utilization of resources and achieve 95% of production efficiency.
- Certified in analytical data AI tools.
- Streamlined operational processes to enhance efficiency and reduce costs across multiple departments.
- Led cross-functional teams in implementing technology solutions to optimize workflow and data accuracy.
- Developed training programs to elevate team performance, ensuring adherence to company standards and policies.
- Analyzed operational metrics to identify trends and implement strategic initiatives for continuous improvement.
- Coordinated resource allocation, balancing workloads to maximize productivity while minimizing downtime.
- Established performance benchmarks that drove accountability and improved overall team output significantly.
- Fostered a culture of collaboration through regular team meetings, encouraging feedback and innovation in operations.
- Managed vendor relationships, negotiating contracts that aligned with organizational goals and reduced procurement costs.
- Supervised operations staff and kept employees compliant with company policies and procedures.
- Empowered employees to take ownership of their responsibilities, leading to increased accountability and improved performance outcomes.
- Conducted regular performance reviews, identifying areas for improvement and developing action plans to address them.
- Led hiring, onboarding and training of new hires to fulfill business requirements.
- Managed inventory and supply chain operations to achieve timely and accurate delivery of goods and services.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction by establishing clear communication channels and addressing concerns promptly.
- Developed and maintained relationships with external vendors and suppliers.
- Established positive and effective communication among unit staff and organization leadership, reducing miscommunications, and missed deadlines.
- Analyzed and reported on key performance metrics to senior management.
- Oversaw facility maintenance, ensuring optimal functionality of equipment and infrastructure at all times.
- Facilitated smooth collaboration between departments through clear communication channels.
- Managed budgets effectively, consistently delivering projects on-time and within financial constraints.
- Achieved higher employee retention rates by fostering a positive work environment and providing opportunities for professional growth.
- Identified and resolved unauthorized, unsafe, or ineffective practices.
- Developed and implemented strategies to maximize customer satisfaction.
- Handled staff training initiatives aimed at upskilling the workforce to meet dynamic industry demands.
- Developed strong relationships with vendors, resulting in better pricing and improved service quality.
- Directed initiatives to improve work environment, company culture or overall business strategy.
- Spearheaded process improvements, resulting in increased productivity and reduced operational costs.
- Increased profit by streamlining operations.
- Championed safety protocols to maintain a secure working environment, reducing workplace accidents significantly.
- Analyzed data trends to identify potential bottlenecks in operations workflow, implementing strategies to mitigate risks accordingly.
- Implemented quality control systems to boost overall product consistency and reliability.
- Led successful change initiatives, ensuring seamless transitions during organizational restructuring efforts.
- Reduced turnaround time for project completion through effective resource allocation and team management.
- Negotiated contracts with vendors and suppliers to obtain best pricing and terms.
- Implemented sustainability initiatives, reducing environmental impact.
- Assisted in recruiting, hiring and training of team members.
- Trained and guided team members to maintain high productivity and performance metrics.
- Interacted well with customers to build connections and nurture relationships.
- Tracked employee attendance and punctuality, addressing repeat problems quickly to prevent long-term habits.
- Handled problematic customers and clients to assist lower-level employees and maintain excellent customer service.
- Scheduled employees for shifts, taking into account customer traffic and employee strengths.
- Observed each employee's individual strengths and initiated mentoring program to improve areas of weakness.
- Reported issues to higher management with great detail.
- Managed purchasing, sales, marketing and customer account operations efficiently.
- Recruited, hired, and trained initial personnel, working to establish key internal functions and outline scope of positions for new organization.
- Cultivated and strengthened lasting client relationships using strong issue resolution and dynamic communication skills.
- Monitored daily cash discrepancies, inventory shrinkage and drive-off.
- Negotiated price and service with customers and vendors to decrease expenses and increase profit.
- Implemented business strategies, increasing revenue, and effectively targeting new markets.
- Reduced operational risks while organizing data to forecast performance trends.
- Identified and qualified customer needs and negotiated and closed profitable projects with high success rate.
- Tracked trends and suggested enhancements to both challenge and refine company's product offerings.
- Reduced financial inconsistencies while assessing and verifying billing invoices and expense reports.
- Implemented innovative programs to increase employee loyalty and reduce turnover.
- Supervised creation of exciting merchandise displays to catch attention of store customers.
- Updated and resolved incidents and managed accessorial charges objectively while maximizing profit.
- Reduced budgetary expenditures by effectively negotiating contracts for more advantageous terms.
- Launched staff engagement, gender diversity and cultural programs in addition to robust reporting tool that increased operational quality.
- Raised property accuracy and accountability by creating new automated tracking method.
Assistant Manager – Merchandising Operations & Supply Chain
MAS Linea Fashions India Pvt Ltd
Chennai
04.2018 - 05.2022
- Managed end-to-end merchandising operations for global intimate wear customers.
- Led sourcing, raw material planning, order management, and production coordination for multiple international accounts.
- Managed customer communication, order execution, T&A adherence, and shipment planning ensuring 95%+ OTIF.
- Partnered with overseas suppliers and internal teams for seamless product commercialization and on-time launches.
- Successfully onboarded new customer programs including Thinx assortment planning and execution.
- Drove cost optimization initiatives through sourcing strategy, freight optimization, and inventory control.
- Worked closely with design, development, sourcing, and manufacturing teams to align product and delivery expectations
- Ensured on-time delivery performance for suppliers and customers, consistently exceeding 95%.
- Conducted assortment planning for Thinx, ensuring effective execution aligned with customer needs.
- Enhanced communication between departmental staff and senior management, leading to clearer project timelines and effective issue resolution.
- Monitor on-time order shipments/fulfillments, update order status reports based on client needs.
- Provide Supplier Integration & Partnerships (3 Indian & 25 overseas), evaluate supply chain risks, implement ideal mitigation strategies, and ensure 100% raw material inventory accuracy.
- Maintain 100% integration hit rate for new products by ensuring on-time material availability and aligning material flow with the Internal production plan.
- Outperform sales budget and share sales projections with the leadership team and maintain zero customer calls to date.
- Improved the efficiency of air freight import and raw materials dock-to-dock delivery to reduce inventory levels.
- Generate and present reports to the Senior Management as required, assist the management in driving set KPIs and provide Material & Inventory reports with Stakeholders.
- Coordinated material status review and cutting instruction meetings to address supplier delays and ensure material availability for production demands.
- Streamlined resource allocation and facilitated purchase order budget planning to ensure just-in-time material supply and effective T&A management.
- Implement crucial procedures to ensure responsiveness to demand by researching the latest manufacturing trends.
- Provide SAP, Excel, communication, and interpersonal skills training to support the continuous professional development of the team.
Head of Operations – Productions & Supply chain
Advanced Clothing Concepts
Coimbatore
05.2017 - 03.2018
- Streamlined supply chain operations, enhancing efficiency and reducing lead times.
- Led cross-functional teams to implement process improvements, boosting productivity across departments.
- Oversaw budgeting processes, aligning resources with organizational goals for maximum impact.
- Collaborated with vendors to enhance product quality and reduce costs through negotiation strategies.
- Collaborated with executive leadership on strategic planning initiatives to drive business growth.
- Streamlined operational processes by identifying inefficiencies and implementing best practices.
- Ensured compliance with industry regulations and company policies, mitigating potential risks.
- Increased customer satisfaction by actively addressing concerns and ensuring timely resolutions.
- Automated manual processes using technology solutions, increasing accuracy and efficiency within operations.
- Oversaw supply chain management, ensuring timely delivery of products and services to customers.
- Facilitated change management efforts, guiding teams through periods of transition and growth.
- Managed vendor relationships, negotiating contracts for maximum value and efficiency.
- Implemented risk assessment procedures to minimize potential disruptions across all areas of operation.
- Evaluated emerging market trends to inform strategic decisions affecting the organization''s future direction.
- Optimized inventory levels by implementing demand forecasting tools and techniques.
- Developed and maintained robust business continuity plans, ensuring operational resilience in face of unforeseen challenges.
- Achieved significant cost reductions by renegotiating supplier contracts and optimizing inventory management practices.
- Coordinated with marketing and sales departments to align operational capabilities with strategic growth initiatives.
- Implemented robust risk management frameworks, minimizing operational disruptions and safeguarding company assets.
- Empowered team leaders with autonomy in decision-making, fostering dynamic and responsive operational environment.
- Handled problematic customers and clients to assist lower-level employees and maintain excellent customer service.
Senior Executive – Merchandising
MAS Intimate Fashions
Chennai
02.2008 - 02.2017
- Led cross-functional teams to enhance product development and brand positioning.
- Implemented strategic initiatives to optimize supply chain efficiency and reduce costs.
- Directed marketing strategies that increased brand awareness and customer engagement.
- Mentored junior staff, fostering professional growth and enhancing team performance.
- Analyzed market trends to inform business decisions and drive competitive advantage.
- Developed comprehensive training programs for staff, improving operational effectiveness.
- Established key performance indicators to monitor progress and refine strategic objectives.
- Collaborated with stakeholders to align business goals with corporate vision and mission.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction by streamlining communication channels and improving response times.
- Developed innovative solutions to complex problems, resulting in improved organizational performance.
- Reviewed employee concerns and new opportunities to drive business strategies.
- Located bottlenecks to streamline existing processes.
Executive – Merchandising
Beaumont Buying office
Tiruppur
04.2004 - 01.2008
Education
MBA - Merchandising Management
Periyar University
Salem, India01-2008
Business Excellence For COO - Business Excellence
Indian Institute of Management
Ranchi, India 04.2001 -
B.Sc - Costume Design and Fashion
Bharathiyar University
Coimbatore, India01-2004
Skills
Supply chain planning
Merchandising operations
Order fulfillment
T&A management
Vendor development
Fabric & Trim Sourcing
Margin optimization
Product development
Account management
Cross-Functional Leadership
Analytical thinking
Critical thinking
Decision-making
Accomplishments
- Reduced sourcing and supply chain lead times by 20%
- Improved OTIF delivery performance to 95%+
- Delivered annual cost savings exceeding USD 300K through sourcing and logistics optimization
- Led supplier localization initiatives improving speed-to-market
- Managed large cross-functional teams across merchandising and operations
- Successfully handled global supplier and customer coordination
- Production planning to meet SLAs and agreed delivery timelines.
- Mental Welfare and leaders training for employees.
- Saving costs by optimum utilization of resources.
- Designed production plan sheet to track finished goods data, identify downtime, saving $90000 yearly, and enabling on-time delivery for MAS Linea Fashions India Pvt Ltd.
- Initiated the "India for India" project in collaboration with the country head to develop local suppliers (Fabric and elastic) at MAS Linea Fashions India Pvt Ltd.
- Successful Raw material life cycle management: Maximize material utilization, saving
- $96000 yearly, surplus fabric/elastic repurposed for other orders or training at MAS.
- Facilitate material procurement through sea instead of air, saving $60,000 in freight charges per year MAS Linea Fashions India Pvt Ltd.
- Spearheaded the implementation of ERP to facilitate order visibility, reduce production distribution errors, and deployed bar-coding scanning software to track orders and Detect sales volumes at Advanced Clothing Concepts.
- Regularized on-time stock posting based on cycle counts, physical, and system stock tally, keeping data ready for audit, saving $102924 yearly at Advanced Clothing Concepts.
- Establish a warehouse management system to identify material location to ensure Zero downtime at Advanced Clothing Concepts.
- Pioneered local product procurement, saving $113049 in shipping costs each month at MAS Linea Fashions India Pvt Ltd.
- Implement a web Portal for all overseas suppliers, created PO visibility, dated POs, and Generated GRN in 5 minutes, MAS Linea Fashions India Pvt Ltd.
- Coordinate the implementation of an in-house supplier facility at the factory premises to achieve just-in-time delivery and more effective inventory tracking at MAS Linea Fashions India Pvt Ltd.
- Instrumental in implementing the Visual Supplier Scorecard system, automating the process at MAS Linea Fashions India Pvt Ltd.
- Traveled to Hong Kong and Sri Lanka for supplier visits to enhance supplier integration.
- 1. Led cross-functional teams of 200+ across merchandising, sourcing, warehouse, planning, analytics, and operations.
- 2. Successfully managed supplier ecosystems across India and overseas markets.
- 3. Delivered multi-million rupee cost optimization through sourcing localization, freight optimization, and inventory management.
- 4. Built high-performance teams through coaching, leadership development, and process transformation.
- 5. Strong experience managing customer escalations, delivery recovery plans, and stakeholder alignment.
Software
Power BI
E-commerce Platforms
Certification
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt | NLP & ICF certified trainer | Diploma in Supply Chain Management (Symbiosis)| Pursuing Business Excellence for COO – IIM Ranchi.
Timeline
Head – Supply Chain, Merchandising & Operations
Triumph International India Pvt. Ltd.
05.2024 - Current
Operations Manager – Sports AI & Data analytics
Stats Perform India pvt ltd.
05.2022 - 05.2024
Assistant Manager – Merchandising Operations & Supply Chain
MAS Linea Fashions India Pvt Ltd
04.2018 - 05.2022
Head of Operations – Productions & Supply chain
Advanced Clothing Concepts
05.2017 - 03.2018
Senior Executive – Merchandising
MAS Intimate Fashions
02.2008 - 02.2017
Executive – Merchandising
Beaumont Buying office
04.2004 - 01.2008
Business Excellence For COO - Business Excellence
Indian Institute of Management
04.2001 -
MBA - Merchandising Management
Periyar University
B.Sc - Costume Design and Fashion
Bharathiyar University
Section name
LEADERSHIP IMPACT