Assistant Manager, QA/QC

About Us
Centric Brands is a leading lifestyle brand collective that designs sources, markets and sells high quality products in multiple segments, including women's, men's and kid's apparel, accessories, entertainment, and beauty. Centric Brands is focused on our customers and our brands that will drive the company's future growth. We are defined by innovation as we seize new opportunities and thrive in an environment informed by creativity and thinking that is both analytical and outside the box. Centric Brands reflects a team built on respect, for others and for the hard work it takes to achieve our goals and build our bright future together.

Specific Responsibilities Would Include
Overall Responsibilities
Through various inspection activities to ensure the consistent production quality, enough order quantity and on time delivery.

• Costco-Specific Quality Assurance Oversight
• Lead QA process for all Costco production orders (Knit, Woven, Sweater, Accessories as applicable).
• Ensure compliance with Costco QA protocols, SOPs, and packaging guidelines.
• Review Pre-Production (PP) samples, Top of Production (TOP) samples, and shipment approvals per Costco requirements.
• Conduct Line Review Meeting, PPM, Inline, midline, and final inspections using Costco's AQL standards (often stricter than regular AQL).
• Validate fabric performance (shrinkage, colorfastness, durability, pilling, seam strength, crocking, skewness).
• Ensure trims, embellishments, and packaging comply with Costco-approved materials and safety standards.
• Packaging & Carton Compliance (Critical for Costco)

• Oversee compliance with Costco Packaging Guidelines:

• Carton strength and quality (ECT/Bursting tests).

• Drop test requirements.

• Correct labeling, palletization, and shrink-wrapping.

• Validate barcode placement, carton stickers, hangtags, and polybag suffocation warnings.

• Check pack-out configuration, folding, hanger usage, and inner pack ratios per Costco directives.
• Conduct carton loading audits to ensure warehouse and transportation compliance.
• Testing & Compliance
• Coordinate all third-party testing required by Costco (flammability, chemical compliance, colorfastness, mechanical tests).
• Monitor needle control and metal detection programs for product safety.
• Conduct risk assessments on high-visibility programs to prevent recalls or rejections.
• Maintain documentation of all testing reports, certifications, and approvals.
• Vendor & Factory Management
• Act as the primary QA liaison between Centric Brands and Costco vendor base.
• Guide factories on Costco-specific QA and packaging requirements before bulk production.
• Monitor pilot runs and provides approval for bulk cutting only after compliance validation.
• Lead Root Cause Analysis (RCA) for failed inspections or packaging non-compliance.
• Implement Corrective Action Plans (CAPs) and monitor follow-up closures at factory level.
• Train factory QA/QC teams in Costco's compliance & inspection expectations.
• Reporting & Communication
• Issue daily and weekly QA reports highlighting Costco program status, risks, and approvals.
• Escalate critical issues (shipment delays, failed lab tests, packaging breakdowns) to QA Manager and Costco compliance team immediately.
• Maintain Costco QA documentation and dashboards for factory performance.
• Support management reviews by preparing summaries on vendor compliance, inspection pass rates, and packaging integrity.
• Continuous Improvement & Leadership
• Develop and implement factory training modules for Costco QA standards.
• Establish preventive quality systems to minimize inspection failures and shipment delays.
• Benchmark best practices from other Centric divisions to strengthen Costco program QA.
• Mentor junior QA staff and inspectors in handling Costco-specific requirements.
• Drive continuous improvement culture by tracking defect trends, vendor ratings, and process enhancements.

Our Best Fit Candidate Would Have
Additional Requirements

• 10-15 years' working experience (specialized Costco) in QA/QC field (Factory and Reputed Uk Based Buying House)
• Know the inspection process (AQL standard) and requirement very well.
• Good knowledge of all kinds of handbag, including construction, fabrication, trim & hardware, print techniques, and safety requirement.
• Good knowledge of handbag manufacturing process in factory.
• Good knowledge of handbag quality control systems in factory.
• Bachelor's degree holder or Tech college diploma.
• Good in written English to understand the documents in English and issue report.
• Basic computer skills and handle Microsoft Office, Excel, Outlook easily.

Competency Requirements
( if applicable)
Behavioral Competencies:

• Initiative.
• Ownership.
• Communication.
• Collaboration
• Conflict Management and Problem Solving

Language Proficiency:
Fluent in English

Specific Working Conditions
Frequency of Travel: As required.