Quality Control / Quality Assurance Lead

Quality Assurance & Control Lead (Intimate Apparel & Apparel)

Location: Remote / Open to Thailan, Philippines, Indonesia and China

Employment Type: Full-Time

About the Role

We are seeking a Quality Assurance & Control Lead to evaluate and rebuild our global QC framework. Currently, external quality control represents a significant spend with unproven impact. This role begins with an honest, data-driven assessment and evolves into full ownership of a prevention-first quality model.

The ideal candidate will confidently eliminate redundant activities, pinpoint where defect risks originate, and establish clear standards across every stage of supply chain production—from Tier-2 suppliers through factory assembly.

Key Responsibilities

1. Assessment & Cost Optimization

• Audit third-party QC coverage, spend, and data to eliminate non-value-add inspections and blind spots.
• Quantify the total cost of quality (fees, rework, returns) to support restructuring, re-tendering, or bringing QC in-house.

2. Standards, Testing & Upstream Control

• Establish Acceptable Quality Limit (AQL) levels, defect tiers, decision rights, and specialized intimate-apparel standards (underwire, seams, cup symmetry).
• Shift controls upstream through mill-level fabric inspection, trim testing, performance checks, and chemical compliance (RSL).

3. Factory Partnership & Governance

• Collaborate with vendor partners in Asia to resolve execution gaps, track vendor scorecards, and enforce Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) plans.
• Hold third-party inspection agencies to strict Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and partner with internal Production teams to resolve root causes.

4. Reporting & Feedback Loop

• Build and deliver executive dashboards tracking defect trends, pass rates, rework costs, and overall quality spend.
• Feed quality findings directly back to Product Development and Production to prevent repeat issues in future seasonal production runs.

Qualifications & Requirements

Must-Have Qualifications

• Experience: 7–10+ years in quality control or quality assurance within intimate apparel, apparel, soft goods, or consumer products.
• Leadership: Proven track record of owning quality standards, process development, and end-to-end framework execution.
• Global Network: Hands-on experience working directly with international factories and managing third-party inspection service providers.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

• Regional sourcing experience across China, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
• Direct experience insourcing/restructuring a QC function or re-tendering third-party inspection contracts.
• Formal quality certifications (e.g., Six Sigma, ISO 9001).
• Deep technical knowledge of RSL requirements, OEKO-TEX standards, and restricted substance testing.
• Specific, specialized expertise setting quality standards for intimate apparel.

Tech Stack & Tools

• Quality Systems: Inspection and QMS platforms (e.g., QIMA), PLM, and ERP systems.
• Analytics & Data: Excel, Google Sheets, BI tooling for defect analysis, and third-party lab reporting portals.