Fabric Technologist

Training

• Next fabric performance criteria.
• Next Restrictive Substance Standard requirements.
• Next Product safety
• Next colour requirements
• Next Submission criteria

Pre production

• Review trend presentations, source ideas from magazines, dye and chemical suppliers, yarn suppliers for technical innovation.

Bulk approval

• Submission correct for handle, appearance performance and colour

Mill Evaluations (Mill Laundry and Print Plant)

• Regular reviews of exisitng mills and new mills, completing accurate profiles detailing product type, machinery types, supplier limlitaions, compliance, environmental compliance, chemical complaince and safety

Customer Complaints

• Through investigation of customer complaints. Learning from issues to prevent reoccurrence.

Monitors Banned and Restricted Substances

• Through training, control and testing controls the banded & restricted substances during raw material production

Liaison

• Work with regional technical manager, regional fabric technologist and the raw material suppliers, speedy & accurate communication. Accountabilities

Accountabilities

• A fabric technologist is responsible for developing fabric and ensuring that they are maintained to minimum commercial standards of the customer with the fabric supplier.
• Liaison with technical manager and buyers, to make sure that chosen fabrics meet the needs of Next in terms of quality & performance.
• To provide technical support to fabric suppliers to ensure smooth execution of bulk orders
• In partnership with technical manager and mill development teams evaluate new fabrics working with mills, dyers, printers and laundries to engineer products to meet required specification.
• Assess whether the fabrics and finishes requested are within the capabilities of machinery, costings and the capabilities of a fabric supplier.
• Oversees a proactive pre-production process with suppliers to evaluate each stage of – fabric production, dyeing, printing finishing – for potential problems before ironing them out.
• Active follow up from risk analysis meetings with internal team’s suppliers to evaluate each stage of fabric production – for potential problems before ironing them out.
• Train the supply base: Mills, laundries, printers and garment vendor in the correct submission procedures, minimum fabric performance standards, RSS requirements and legislative requirements.
• Work with the fabric supplier to ensure timely and accurate bulk submissions to the regional buying office.
• Ensuring fabric quality in physical performance areas such as strength, durability, stability, colourfastness and chemical resistance is achieved to an agreed customer standard.
• Advising none-technical colleagues on technical aspects of the business.
• Controlling fabric delivered to garment vendors is of a consistent pre-agreed quality standard, in terms of performance, colour fastness, appearance, colour continuity and pre agreed fault rate
• Completes mill, laundry and print plant evaluations
• To respond to customer complaints within an agreed time frame.
• Works with regional Quality Manager and QA team to set agreed shade bands and wash standards in region.
• Responsible for regional base submission and approval within the agree time frame of the critical path
• Responsible for regional bulk fabric hanger approval and testing approval
• Direct communication with NUK technical teams

Key Responsibilities Areas  [KRA]

KRA #1 Fabric Development.

KRA #2 Bulk Fabric - approves bulk hangers, inspection reports and test reports prior to delivery. Agrees exceptions, making clear and documented decisions when advising to ship, NSL Regional off and fabric supplier. Approves colour continuity cards, agrees shade band widths.                                                                                                                                                    

KRA #3 Pre-Production Carries out mill evaluation with new suppliers. For new fabrics ensure that fabric pre-productions tolerances have been documented and agreed prior to production  

KRA #4 Ensures product safety through RSS, REACH and Legal labeling requirements                                                                                                                                                    

KRA #5 Customer Complaints - responds to customer complaints within 24 hours of the receipt of the complaint.

Knowledge / Skills / Experience required  

• Diploma or Certificate in a Technical Textile Qualification or a minimum of five year’s work experience in a similar capacity
• Good communication skills; fluent in English
• Attention to detail
• Accuracy
• Problem solving
• Computer literate (Microsoft Office and Microsoft Outlook)