Production Manager

About Form Department

Form Department is a female-led agency focused on design-forward product development and manufacturing in custom apparel, accessories, and packaging. Partnering with innovative brands, the company brings sophisticated, ethically-made products from concept to completion, prioritizing sustainable practices and meticulous attention at every stage.

Role Overview

We are looking for an experienced, highly organized, and problem-solving Production Manager to oversee production for multiple client projects simultaneously. This position is fully on-site in Los Angeles and operates Monday through Friday. Depending on qualifications, candidates can be considered for full-time or part-time roles.

The Production Manager will manage the entire production process from handoff after development through the final product delivery. Responsibilities include maintaining efficiency, meeting deadlines, controlling budgets, and upholding Form Department's quality standards. The role involves managing vendor and factory partnerships, scheduling, coordinating across teams, and preemptively resolving production challenges in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage multiple apparel and accessory production cycles concurrently.
• Maintain and monitor production schedules, ensuring all milestones, approvals, and shipping deadlines are met.
• Ensure smooth transitions from Product Development to production teams.
• Establish and nurture relationships with local and international factories, suppliers, and partners.
• Communicate regularly with factories to update on production status, address technical queries, and manage timelines and issue resolution.
• Track work-in-progress and provide consistent internal production updates.
• Review Bills of Materials, product specifications, and technical packages prior to initiating production.
• Confirm receipt and approval of fabrics, trims, labels, packaging, and other production materials before manufacturing begins.
• Coordinate internal production approvals before releasing orders to factories.
• Manage Top of Production (TOP) approvals, verifying products match approved samples and specs.
• Proactively identify any risks such as delays, quality concerns, or cost changes during production and address them promptly.
• Lead resolution of production problems from initial factory notification to final corrective measures.
• Review samples, factory photos, and finished products to verify quality standards.
• Organize quality control inspections ensuring products meet company expectations before shipment.
• Work with logistics and fulfillment for coordinating deliveries and outbound shipments.
• Conduct on-site visits to vendors, factories, and warehouses to oversee production, perform quality checks, resolve manufacturing issues, and strengthen partnerships.
• Manage movement of samples, materials, trims, labels, packaging, and finished goods locally to maintain schedule adherence.
• Maintain accurate production records including trackers, purchase orders, and vendor documents.
• Monitor production costs, forecast potential budget variances, and report impacts to leadership.
• Develop and update Standard Operating Procedures to enhance production efficiency, consistency, and scalability.
• Suggest process optimizations to improve timelines, communication with factories, and overall production outcomes.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years experience in apparel production, manufacturing, sourcing, or related production management roles.
• Solid knowledge of garment construction, manufacturing processes, quality assurance, and production workflows.
• Proven experience working with both domestic and international factories and vendors.
• Ability to manage several production schedules and priorities at the same time efficiently.
• Strong project management, organizational, and multitasking skills.
• Excellent negotiation, decision-making, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Meticulous attention to detail and strong accountability.
• Familiarity with production tracking tools, spreadsheets, ERP platforms, or project management software.
• Competence in inspecting garments for construction, workmanship, fit, and quality.
• Deep understanding of apparel materials including trims, labeling, packaging, and production procedures.
• Ability to perform well under pressure while maintaining high accuracy.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and dependable personal vehicle to make frequent local visits to vendors, factories, and warehouses throughout Los Angeles.