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Development Sourcing Strategist    , President @ Manning Consultants LLC

I am the President of Manning Consultants LLC, a consulting firm that helps apparel, home textile, and furniture brands accelerate their sourcing and production processes. With over 15 years of experience in the industry, I have a proven track record of delivering products that meet the highest standards of performance, functionality, and sustainability.

My core competencies include product engineering, consumer textiles, supply chain and logistics management, quality control, and cost optimization. I have a strong technical expertise in these areas, as well as a global vendor network that enables me to source and produce products efficiently and ethically. My passion is to help my clients revitalize their product portfolio and accelerate their project timelines, while ensuring the best quality and value for their customers.

President

Vice President of Production and Sourcing
• Established the production and sourcing organization for the categories of indoor and outdoor modular
furniture, accessories, home electronics, custom upholstered covers and leather covers.
• Transformed the pervious supply chain from a single country base to a diversified supplier community in
South East Asia and Western Hemisphere. The shift was required to mitigate risk, lower SKU COGS and
SKU redundancy. Key SKUs were multi-sourced as back up for consistent inventory levels.
• Set up quarterly reviews of country ratio mix to view potential raw material cost flux, currency rate shifts and
geo-politic risk, for supplier selection and PO placement over time.
• Negotiated core SKU cost for average IMU lifts of 20% higher in a four year time period to enhance the
EBITDA.
• Negotiated to mitigate 75% of imposed China tariffs by tailoring and creating supplier agreements for rebates,
COG decrease and PO volume dollar commits.
• Identified fabric mills outside China in South East Asia and Western Hemisphere that are far more margin
rich without the 25% tariff.
• Evaluated and selected equipment, from domestic and European suppliers, for increasing uniformity,
efficiency and product margin, among partnerships for sewing assembly in the Western Hemisphere.
• Provided fabric mill projection that allowed suppliers to create consistent capacity flows to ensure that
inventory was filled to sales demand.
• Managed the relationships with the freight forwarders on the movement of containers, in coordination with
the logistics team and the suppliers.
• Equipped the product engineers, technical designers and VP of Design with new manufacturing processes and
materials to support product innovation.
• Developed a partnership with an eco-friendly global packaging supplier that ensured non-coated recycled
paper was used, there was color consistency to Brand standards, and recycled paper pulp molds were created
to pass FedEx drop test.

VP of Production and  Sourcing


•	Hired Design/Technical Designers, Production and Supply Chain teams to support the EMS Brand initiative of 65% private label footprint of soft and hard lines within retail format, from a pervious 40% assortment. 
•	Provided guidance for Senior Team members through the intricacies of private label supply chain, logistics and complexities and costs of the product development cycles. 
•	Participated in weekly garment fittings to evaluate and advise on fit, construction and labor simplification to create optimum cost savings   
•	Shared with the development teams my strong technical expertise of patternmaking, apparel/accessories product engineering from a Country of Origin experience
•	Contributed to a positive 40% increase in sales with the collaboration of the Marketing and Merchants departments. 
•	Created and implemented comprehensive global calendar, process and procedures for the vendor community and internal teams 
•	Lead an improvement of 20% within two years with an achieved current 91% in DC of goods received 
•	Initiated the preservation of the brand’s DNA heritage by archiving artwork, catalogues and physical artifacts of EMS history as the headquarters relocated from New Hampshire to Connecticut. 


Sr. Director of Production and Sourcing

Built a comprehensive sourcing and production strategy for the re-launch of the brand
Established a base of international and domestic vendors, chosen for low MOQ, quality and flexibility
Set the business protocol, policy, and wrote the vendor manual
Planned yearly and seasonal calendars for merchant, design and production
Aligned vendor allocation, logistics, and distribution center, to achieve 95% on-time delivery of goods to customers
Recruited and managed a team of technical designers, production assistants, and a domestic factory liaison
Travelled monthly to fabric mills, vendor trade shows and to factories for sourcing, direct communication on cost, review of bulk product quality, and coordination of sample development
Guided technical fittings for re-engineering of garment construction to improve cost and fit

Director of Sourcing and Production

A globally oriented sourcing professional with years of experience  sourcing/ product development and vendor management across Asia, Mexico/ Central America delivering consistent results through exceptional cost negotiation, team building and love of product.

Scope of responsibility covers Sourcing, Product development, Design, Quality, Logistics, and Manufacturing.

Product categories include Apparel, Home textiles, and fashion accessories.
please contact 

timothy.manning1@gmail.com

Sourcing Manager – Textiles – Top of Bed / Pillow / Window / Flooring / Bath
Developed and implemented seasonal and annual sourcing strategies for an expanding retail specialty brand
Increased IMU margin by 6% through cost negotiations, raw material commitments and narrowing vendor allocation
Maintained a consistent record of exceeding department goals of reducing cost and product return rates through product reengineering and multi-sourcing
Applied knowledge of manufacturing processes and textile finishing to leverage cost negotiation to best market condition
Reviewed product testing reports and settled, by negotiation with vendors, all product quality claims and fabric liability issues
Traveled internationally to identify new and innovative factory sources, communicate sourcing strategy and for direct cost negotiations
Shared my knowledge of factory production environments with underestimated vendors to improve capabilities, efficiency, product quality and lower cost
Mediated through recommendation, the design team’s aesthetic and the merchants’ cost parameters to achieve brand goals
Created and managed the sourcing calendar, deadlines, processes and procedures to successfully ensure on time production delivery
Managed a team of direct reports performing product quality and color approval, costing and line list data entry and SKU set up

Sourcing Manager

Coach – New York, New York | 2011 to 2011- Freelance
Fabric Research and Development Manager – Textiles – Full Price Handbag
Managed seasonal newness in fabric and trim development for design and fabric teams.
Ensured fabric development achieved Coach sourcing and pricing strategy while offering trend, new advance techniques for the brands aesthetics.
Worked through testing and technical development to commercialize fabric to bulk approval stage.
Partnered with overseas fabric teams/mills to ensure all priorities, cost perimeters and quality requirements were satisfied. 
Coordinated with cross-functional teams to maintain milestone calendar dates, PLM information access along with managing local printing and NJ lab testing procedure.

Fabric Reach and Development Manager

Denim Manager North America – Men’s / Boys’ - Woven / Denim
Negotiated with vendor base to achieve divisional financial strategy per quarter
Developed sourcing strategy and category calendar to manage product flow from inception to production delivery
Advised the design and technical departments with manufacturing expertise to problem solve and develop product in a cost effective manner
Analyzed data to produce seasonal and annual hindsight and forecasting
Conducted seasonal wash trips to vendors’ facilities to review product and negotiate on sight
Traveled internationally and domestically to determine vendors’ strengths and capacities to meet production needs
Created reports and presentations for Senior VP and Merchants

Woven / Denim
Negotiated to achieve buyer's desired quality, delivery and pricing objectives for bottom line impact, at a volume of $230 million
Directed a team responsible for vendor management, cost and PO confirmation
Confirmed order placement through sourcing channels of Boys and Girls woven department
Managed costing process to achieve mark-up goals
Provided creative problems solving to ensure equitable solutions for buyers and suppliers
Worked with team to analyze and proactively respond to trade negotiations, testing protocol, production integrity, cycle timeline and garment specifications
Traveled domestically and internationally to evaluate denim/woven vendors
Partnered with global sourcing teams on strategic planning and vendor matrix of canvas, nylon and denim fabric products
Created summary reports for ongoing sourcing analysis

Woven Sourcing Manager

Developed technical spec packages via Web/PDM system
Communicated fit comments to vendors/factories for approvals and corrections
Approved fit, trims and construction
Established garment standards, specifications and construction
Conducted fit sessions, coordinated multi-sourced products and developed and graded patterns
Contributed technical knowledge to the development of denim wash at vendors' facilities in conjunction with the design studio
Traveled internationally to resolve development and sourcing issues
Approved bulk shade band

Technical Coordinator

Sourced vendors, approved samples, developed grading and garment specifications
Supplied technical support in fabrics, fit and garment construction
Implemented and developed company policies and procedures
Managed first-through production pattern makers for junior denim products

Product Development / Production - Junior Denim

Approved garment quality and insured timeliness of deliveries
Developed prototype specification packages for offshore manufacturing
Developed product for special accounts, including Victoria Secret, Express, and Lane Bryant
Scheduled and coordinated with sales staff for execution of desired product within defined cost structure
Supervised staff of patternmakers, sample makers, cutters, and assistants

Responsible for research and development for junior denim-based sportswear manufacturer
Audited and evaluated vendor production facilities
Tested and analyzed fabric quality for use in production and fabric allocation
Approved garment quality and ensured timeliness of delivery
Compiled orders for cutting tickets
Supervised first-through production patternmakers, sample makers and cutters
Supplied exclusive product development for specialty accounts

Product Development Manager / Production - Junior Woven / Denim

Product Development / Pattern Maker / Design - Junior Knits / Woven / Denim
Developed graphics, shopped markets and conducted trim, print and pattern work research
Presented graphic designs and approved final styling
Developed quality specifications for production
Developed first-through production patterns
Inspected and audited bulk production
Supervised art department and coordinated graphics for fabric printing
Supervised patternmakers, sample makers and cutters
Responsible for exclusive product development for specialty accounts

production

Timothy Manning is a Development Sourcing Strategist , President Manning Consultants LLC at Manning Consultants LLC in New York, New York.

Timothy Manning

Timothy Manning

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Education history

Los Angeles Trade Technical College

The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandizing