RAJ GABRIEL
Quality Manager
Bengaluru
Summary
Offering over 24 years of experience within an apparel environment (Buyer and Manufacturing side), with a proven track record in establishing world-class Quality Management & Quality Assurance systems and in promptly resolving service issues. Expertise in creating constancy of purpose for quality and productivity that forges a transcending organizational identity as being one that predictably achieves quality, aims at producing an output with zero defects, & and makes process adjustments in time to prevent making potential defects. Developing supplier assessment systems, identifying areas of quality failures & taking steps to rectify the system wide preventive and corrective actions to avoid the reoccurrences. Skilled in leading product design / development projects & ensuring compliance with quality standards for garment manufacturing & operations including export requirements. Proficient in identifying & eliminating areas of high cost and improved the profitability of a product by creating alternatives that perform the required function at a lower total cost. An effective communicator with excellent relationship management skills & strong analytical, problem-solving and organizational capabilities.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
1
1
Certificate
1
1
Language
Work History
Senior Quality Assurance
PVH Indian Pvt. Ltd. (Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klien)
10.2024 - Current
- Spearheaded the development and implementation of technical standards and specifications for garment production, ensuring compliance with quality, fit, and performance requirements.
- Collaborated closely with design, product development, and production teams to translate design concepts into technically feasible garments.
- Conducted fit sessions, analyzed garment fit, and provided detailed feedback to improve patterns and prototypes.
- Oversaw the creation and maintenance of technical packages, including construction details, measurements, and grading rules.
- Monitored and resolved fabric and garment-related issues such as shrinkage, skewing, and dimensional stability, ensuring adherence to brand standards.
- Led the approval process for sample garments, including fit, fabric, and trim approvals, to ensure alignment with customer expectations.
- Developed and enforced quality control protocols to minimize production errors and ensure consistency across bulk production.
- Provided technical guidance and training to cross-functional teams on garment construction, fit, and quality standards.
- Liaised with suppliers and manufacturers to address technical challenges and ensure on-time delivery of high-quality products. Stayed updated on industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices to drive continuous improvement in garment development processes.
Quality Product Integrity Manager
Levi Strauss & Co.
01.2010 - 10.2024
- Played a key role in improving product Integrity, Dev & quality by taking initiatives such as Fabric Testing, Lab Dip review/approve with Design team, Print, Emb, & wash quality, Managing Global Product in India DC, connect between consumer and internal team (Sourcing, PD, FE).
- Implemented several measures to identify deformities, malfunctions or other abnormalities such as risk analysis preproduction activity, created zero defect center across all the suppliers in parts / components / products.
- Reduced the rejection rate by 7% from 25% and incidence of defects by 5% through measures such as by strengthening, methods, shop floor inspection, and final inspection by migrating from AQL 2.5 to DHU
- Steered the implementation of quality initiatives such as reducing manpower, changed DHU reduction methods, reduction rework, that instilled basic quality philosophies of doing things right the first time, resulting in an 20 % reduction in company rework cost increased efficiency/productivity.
- Recognized as a strong & exceeding performer as well award winner for best vendor management, New Vendor Training Award etc.
- Able to set process and monitor for new kind of construction & wash like Commuter series, {DWR} Dry water repellent, Chinos and achieved good result ship 100% with best Quality Standards.
- Trained nominated QA and tech team as per Levi’s standard.
- Successfully implemented product risk analysis at development & Commercial Sample stage and ensured to close the loops product development team and vendor by at least 90%.
- Analyze technical feasibility of trims / wash / embroidery/ prints in their respective styles with 95% of flawless Execution Training and Monitoring the reporting QA Team on Final Audit performance online reporting etc.
Associate QAM cum product technician
Tri burg Sports Wear India Pvt. Ltd.
01.2005 - 01.2009
- Merit of reducing the rejections from 18% to 6% in span of 1 year of association with company through measures like creating awareness, handling the products and technical support & so on.
- Trained nominated QA and Asst. QA Managers to meet the brand requirements.
- Initiated DHU project at Fabric Mills, Sewing and Washing During Fabric Inspection 4.0 system, AQL 2.5 on sewing floor Inspection Implemented defects correlation exercises between Fabric Mill Quality team Vs Garment Manufacturing QC team to ensure alignment on the requirements as per the Buyer Std.
- Conduct Final Inspection at Fabric Mill based on the 4.0 system and Monitoring Inspection pass rate Mill vs my defects finding correlation exercise to improve the vendor skill level.
- Liaising with customers' auditors and ensuring the execution of corrective action and compliance with customers' specifications. Ensuring compliance with national and international standards and legislation.
- Ensuring tests and procedures are properly followed, carried out and evaluated and that fabric and product modifications are investigated if necessary.
- Internal testing lab monitoring. FPT and GPT. (FPT at Mill = yarn to finished fabric and GPT at Garment Manufacture test results follow up as per buyers STD.
- Training to QA team and Nominated QA at Mill and Garment Manufacturing unit.
- Monitoring Factory performance in terms of Process, Inspection pass rate month on month. Follow up on external Lab Testing FPT & GPT reports.
- Coordinating with Merchant, R&D and production team day to day basis.
- Reduced the rejection rate by 8 % from 45% and incidence of defects by 2 % through measures such as by strengthening, methods, shop floor inspection, and final inspection by migrating from AQL 2.5 to AQL 1.0.
- Steered the implementation of quality initiatives such as reducing manpower, changed HT application methods, waste reduction, that instilled basic quality philosophies of doing things right at the first time, resulting in a 30 % reduction in company rework cost.
- Conducting factory and mill technical audit and process audit. Evaluating vendor or manufacturing facilities capabilities.
Quality Assurance Manager
ATRACO {Dubai} & Ashton Apparels Pvt Ltd {Kenya}
01.2001 - 01.2004
- Establishing & implementing procedures & work instructions, process sheets, quality plans, control cards & plan, check lists, testing requirements, and so on.
- Monitoring the progress of research, design & development projects to match manufacturing facility & deliver products as per planned cost, quality, productivity & SOP requirements, controlling non-conforming products by taking actions to eliminate the detected non-conformity.
- Performing quality audits and managing internal & external audits.
- Establishing & maintaining the quality manual, procedures, work instructions, training records, the scope, QMS, quality records, documents control, management review, quality policy, quality objectives and QMS planning.
- Monitoring AQL inspection reports, working closely with factory’s to ensure that productions are conducted; ensuring all the garments are manufactured according to relevant health and safety regulations in compliance with set standards.
- Administering Merchandising, Production Planning, Quality, Man, Machine & Time Management and achieving on time delivery Analytically resolving critical quality problems at supplier’s end by doing methodical root cause analysis taking adequate measures to ensure compliance with quality standards, also implementing foolproof quality assurance methods to ensure defect-free supplies.
- Advising disposal actions on customer complaints, guiding the service franchise, analyzing complaints, evolving corrective & preventive actions for ensuring quick resolution and non-recurrence of complaints in future.
- Coordinating with product development, & costing team and following up on compliance to quality parameters.
Sample Quality Executive to Asst. Pattern Master
Manipal Apparel Bangalore
10.1998 - 05.2001
Quality Assurance
ITOCHU CORPORATION (PROMINENT APPARELS LTD.)
01.2000 - 01.2001
- Production friendly, technical issues solving, fabric inspection using 4.0-point system and maintaining reports.
- Frequently Mills visit been followed for fabric inspection (Arvind, KG Denim and LNJ).
- Follow up evaluate all types of samples like Lab Dip, Color Matching, proto, Salesman Sample pre-production, top-up sample.
- Follow up size set, pilot run comments from cut to Final inspection.
- Conducting Pre-Production meeting.
- Correction and approvals STD setting on Fabric defects, basic patterns, wash standards and packing.
- Brand / Label Managed: LEVIS, ANN TAYLOR, PVH, ARROW, IZOD, CHAPS, NAUTICA, CALVIN KLEIN, ARMANI EXCHANG, OLD NAVY, BANANA REPUBLIC, MATALAN, ESPIRT, and PEPE
Education
Bachelor of Commerce -
01-2007
Skills
Garment QA / productivity
Production follow ups/Quality Audit
Supplier Management
Process Improvement
Garment Manufacturing Operations/production efficiency
Product Development
Material Management
Reporting & Documentation
Sampling, Production, & Dispatch
Manpower Management
Team Leader
Communicator
Pro-Active
Thinker
Collaborative
Negotiator
Proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel, & PowerPoint) and Internet Applications
Certification
Basic Six Sigma / Lean Management process gone thru in Levi’s {class room training, Bangalore}
Timeline
Senior Quality Assurance
PVH Indian Pvt. Ltd. (Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klien)
10.2024 - Current
Quality Product Integrity Manager
Levi Strauss & Co.
01.2010 - 10.2024
Associate QAM cum product technician
Tri burg Sports Wear India Pvt. Ltd.
01.2005 - 01.2009
Quality Assurance Manager
ATRACO {Dubai} & Ashton Apparels Pvt Ltd {Kenya}
01.2001 - 01.2004
Quality Assurance
ITOCHU CORPORATION (PROMINENT APPARELS LTD.)
01.2000 - 01.2001
Sample Quality Executive to Asst. Pattern Master
Manipal Apparel Bangalore
10.1998 - 05.2001
Bachelor of Commerce -
Languages Known
English, Hindi, Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, & Malayalam
Personal Details
- Address: No.7, 1st Main Road, Prakruthi Lay Out, Hennur, HBR 5th Phase, Kalyan Nagar Post, Bengaluru-560043