James L. Fowler
1164 Virginia Circle, Waterloo, SC 29384, U.S.A.  [Send email to request phone number] 93-8718

Profile
Apparel Industry leader with excellent capabilities in strategic thinking,
customer and vendor collaborations, and performance management. Successful in
instituting quality programs that deliver exceptional results through compliance
with product specifications, quality standards, and reporting requirements.
Experienced with vertically integrated apparel manufacturing, fabric/product
development, and distribution operations. Bilingual in English/Spanish with
excellent cross-cultural skills gained through travel worldwide and residence
offshore. 

Professional Experience 
ABERCROMBIE & FITCH, 2008 to 2009
Senior Quality Manager 
 *  Devise strategies to achieve quality standards for ladies  ' casualwear and
fleece apparel lines sold in 1,100 stores. 
 *  Guide execution of product designs as liaison between technical designers
and field resources consisting of agents and factories in Asia. Visit factories
to analyze quality performance and recommend solutions to quality issues through
reviews at all stages from product development through manufacturing operations
to finished goods. 
 *  Conduct factory evaluations of production capabilities, quality levels, and
social compliance; present findings through written reports and discussions with
sourcing team.
 *  Diagnose causes of quality problems through reviews of finished product;
train and certify distribution staff on evaluating finished product for
compliance with product specifications.
Accomplishments:
 *  Improved quality performance of factories in India, Indonesia, and Vietnam
by 15-20% through better communication of A&F brand message, fashion direction,
and marketing concept.
 *  Accelerated product development and improved production feasibility by
instituting process reviews and recommending changes to construction methods,
fabric specifications, and embellishment techniques.

WHITE KNIGHT ENGINEERED PRODUCTS, 2008
Consultant/Corporate Quality Assurance Manager
 *  Managed quality functions for manufacturer of cleanroom garments. Improved
processes at manufacturing sites in U.S. and El Salvador to enhance prototype
development and ensure compliance with quality specifications.
 *  Investigated quality concerns of customers by reviewing all processes
including textile production; finished product manufacturing; and product
handling, use, and washing by customers.

PERRY MANUFACTURING, 2000 to 2007
Director of Corporate Quality Assurance
 *  Directed quality assurance for casual/performance apparel manufacturer,
overseeing quality performance of fabric suppliers in Western Hemisphere and
garment production at company  's 4,000-employee, 12-building complex in El
Salvador.
 *  Communicated with accounts: Lands  ' End, J.C. Penney, Dillard  's, L.L.
Bean, Dick  's Sportswear, Adidas, Harley Davidson, Gap, and Fruit of the Loom.
Defined quality standards for products such as t-shirts, turtlenecks, skirts,
cover-ups, loungewear, and sportswear. Defined testing, auditing, and reporting
requirements. 
 *  Managed fabric development, incoming evaluations and inspections, and
laboratory testing; evaluations of production markers; in-line reviews of
spreading, cutting, die cutting, embroidery, fusing, and sewing operations; final
inspections of finished goods; and packing audits. Directed company quality
manager, laboratory manager, 7 plant quality managers, 12 quality supervisors,
and 120 quality inspectors. 
 *  Evaluated new styles and recommended possible changes with favorable impact
on cost and quality. Provided leadership to engineers and production teams
regarding methods of improving manufacturing performance. 
Accomplishments: 
 *  Improved quality processes to expand complexity and range of its
fabrications and product line, contributing to a 40% increase in production
volumes. 
 *  Increased pass rate of finished goods (Lands  ' End from 75% to 95+%; L.L.
Bean, 65% to 98-99%; Dillard  's, 98+%; J.C. Penney, 97%) and improved on-time
delivery. Named as    favored supplier    to J.C. Penney. 

Jim Fowler page 2
 *  Led the development of performance and specialty fabrics including a
stain-release fabrication as well as stretch, fleece, and corduroy fabrics,
working collaboratively with chemical suppliers, fabric mills, and customers. 
 *  Earned laboratory certifications from Lands  ' End, L.L. Bean, and J.C.
Penney for product development, fabric testing, and garment testing. Achieved
designation as certified vendor auditor for Lands  ' End and L.L. Bean.
 *  Instituted quality reporting and defect-tracking information with daily and
weekly results that enabled management team members to pinpoint and address
quality issues, reducing final audit rejections by 50%. 
 *  Established electronic color-evaluation system with spectrophotometer that
checked colors of fabric lots from suppliers worldwide including Hong Kong,
Taiwan, India, Brazil, United States, Guatemala, and Honduras. 

ANVIL KNITWEAR, 1998 to 2000
Quality Assurance Director - Offshore: Managed quality assurance functions for
company-owned and contractor facilities in Honduras, El Salvador, and Mexico with
a combined production volume of 120,000 dozens/week. Provided guidance to
contractors regarding methods of achieving production requirements. 
 *  Reduced second quality from 6-7% to less than 3% by implementing inspection
of components (cut parts) as well as retraining staff on quality classifications.


NAZARETH CENTURY, 1994 to 1998
Quality Assurance Director - Domestic and Offshore: Directed quality programs
for vertically integrated knitwear manufacturer producing 40,000 dozens/week at
domestic knitting, dyeing, finishing, cutting, packing, and distribution
facility; offshore sewing operation in Honduras; and contract facilities in South
America. 
 *  Achieved quality specifications of J.C. Penney, The Gap, Target, Bradlees,
Gymboree, and Wal-Mart.
 *  Evaluated contractor factories for quality, capabilities, and social
compliance; served as a liaison between plants and corporate office, resolving
issues relating to scheduling, delivery, and product development.
 *  Earned quality evaluation scores in the 90s and became certified to perform
audits for J.C. Penney. 
 *  Named to Target's "Approved for Purchase" vendor list.
 *  Contributed to product development that minimized interlock shrinkage and
achieved preferred vendor status.
 *  Established pack line audit procedures, reducing errors from 2.5% to .5% and
minimizing charge backs.
 *  Devised and implemented quality audit procedures for purchased fabric.

CHAMPION PRODUCTS / SPRING CITY KNITTING, 1989 to 1994
Process Improvement / Quality Assurance Manager / Garment Dye Manager: Directed
quality assurance for knitting, bleaching, dyeing, finishing, cutting, and
sewing; managed garment dyeing operations; and provided leadership to process
improvement managers for a $100+ million activewear manufacturer. 
 *  Provided training on statistical process and quality control (SPC, SQC);
implemented quality teams to address production, environmental, and quality
issues; contributed to the development of a SQC system for sewing. 
 *  Designed statistical audits to address fabric and cutting issues, which
reduced outgoing defect levels; instituted audits of dyestuffs and chemicals,
recovering $300,000 from vendors and improving quality.
 *  Developed operating specifications for bleaching and finishing; established
a joint shade approval for piece dyed goods in partnership with a major
customer.
 *  Led development of specialty dyeing process that met customer
specifications, used existing technologies, and met targeted costs; collaborated
on projects such production of 5 x 5 shrinkage fleece fabric without resin.

PRIOR
 *  PARAGON PLASTICS, INC., 1987 to 1988: Quality Control Manager
 *  MILLIKEN AND COMPANY, 1980 to 1987: Plant Quality Control Manager, Warp
Replacement Department Manager, Greige Inspection Department Manager
 *  M. LOWENSTEIN COMPANY, 1972 to 1980: Final Inspection Department Manager,
Quality Control Supervisor, Laboratory Testing Technician

Education / Professional Associations
B.S., Business, LIMESTONE COLLEGE, Gaffney, SC
AATCC; American Society of Quality Control; Textile Quality Association.