MANUEL FRANCISCO FURLAN CIFUENTES
Guatemala
Summary
Experienced professional with a strong leadership background, ready to drive team success and exceed goals. Demonstrated expertise in promoting collaboration, developing strategic plans, and resolving complex problems. Noted for exceptional communication skills, adaptability, and dependability. Capable of creating a productive and positive work environment while effectively adjusting to changing demands.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Team Leader / Merchandiser / Manager assistant
SHIN WON GUATEMALA (SWGT)
08.2024 - Current
- Accounts under my supervision H&M, Lululemon.
- Close follow up of the development, production process and shipping of each order. Shared information among all the factory teams involved
- Ensured had all the approved items and supplies ready start producing based on the weekly WIP plan.
- Close communication with Internal and External Corean Sales and Production Team in charge of the account.
- Developed team members'' skills through targeted coaching sessions, resulting in improved individual performance.
- Collaborated with other department leaders to establish shared goals and ensure alignment across teams.
- Enhanced team productivity by implementing efficient work processes and regularly reviewing performance metrics.
- Established open and professional relationships with team members to achieve quick resolutions for various issues.
- Managed conflict resolution among team members, fostering a positive and collaborative work environment.
- Empowered team members by delegating responsibilities according to individual strengths and areas of expertise.
- Maintained an inclusive and diverse team culture, promoting respect and understanding among all members.
- Set performance expectations for the team, monitoring progress towards goals and providing constructive feedback as needed.
- Evaluated team member performance against established objectives during regular reviews, offering praise for achievements or identifying areas requiring further development.
- Mentored junior staff members, helping them develop their leadership potential and advance in their careers.
- Increased customer satisfaction ratings by closely monitoring service quality standards and addressing any issues promptly.
- Provided ongoing support to direct reports, addressing concerns or questions promptly so they could remain focused on their tasks.
- Promoted culture of continuous improvement by encouraging feedback from all organizational levels and implementing actionable changes.
- Increased customer satisfaction with prompt and accurate issue resolution, leading dedicated customer service team.
- Motivated team members to surpass their targets, recognizing and rewarding their achievements.
- Built and maintained strong client relationships, leading to repeat business and referrals.
Team Leader / Merchandiser
Apparel KCI
12.2023 - 05.2024
- In this company I was hired and designated to create, build and manage a new Team created specifically to handle the new accounts the company was preparing to develop and produce goods for them
- At KCI I was having a direct contact with the NYC salesman and with the owner to process and look for new opportunities for the company
- The accounts under my management were: AMAZON'S ESSENTIALS, COUNTRY DEEP, GIII Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein and Outerstuff
Merchandiser / General Manager Assistant / Factory Production Planning
HaeMil Knit, S.A
02.2016 - 12.2023
- In my role as Merchandiser + Factory Planner oversaw the whole production process, starting from order receipt until goods were shipped and delivered to our US clients
- Also ran the whole pre-production, next season developments and Team management
- The Owner / Manager shared some administrative responsibilities with me when Haemil Knit started its own sewing line in 2018
- At that time even though the factory their personnel with their own roles to manage and control the production and the operative personnel I was in charge to supervise the whole operation including the personnel, this by specific instructions of the owner
- By 2020, we had enough production to feed our own sewing lines and feed another 2 additional lines in outsourced factories to fulfil our client's needs
- We managed to organize Haemil's sewing lines as modules to operate different styles at the same time, maximizing and maintining the productivity minimizing the time loss when changing styles
- The External factories were used to produce basic styles, in this matter we kept the more complex, and expensive style in our factory to have a better follow up, time manage and reduce the risk of any potential chargeback
- The brand managed and produced in that time were: OUTERSTUFF/OLD NAVY, THREADS 4 THOUGTH, IZZY & LIV, NORDSTROM, FANATICS, 47 BRANDS
- In 2017 we needed to grow our QC department to control the external production,the company started with 2 QC's and ended with 1 Screen Print QC and 3 Factory QC's
- All of them under my supervision
- We also had the to present our final production to 3rd party inspectors, this as per client request
- We received an inspector from Intertek, Bureau Veritas, SGS and Quima
- Having always good results
- Need to mark that I was the one in charge of preparing all the QC files, documentation and assure the goods to be ready for the inspection
- In 2022 the company was sold to JLAND KOREA, a Corean Based Company, during the transition and selling process, the new owners checked the profiles of all administrative personnel and kept some of them, I kept my role as merchandiser and manager assistant the rest of 2022 and 2023
- With the new administration we produced garments for AMAZON'S ESSENTIALS, and IZZY & LIV
Merchandiser
KL Primetex Guatemala, S.A.
06.2014 - 01.2016
- At KLP I was the merchandiser in charge of the Lucky Brand Women's Retail and Outlet Division, running the whole development for new and present seasons, special fabrics, special washing, embellishment techniques, sample room and screen print WIP
- Running order production WIP for US customers and order follow up with customers and internal parties to ensure customer satisfaction and on-time delivery
- Also, oversaw the development area, and needed to design evaluate and integrate a plan to manage the whole sampling processes to ensure quality, customer satisfaction and on time delivery of the samples
Merchandiser
TEE REX SOURCING, S.A.
03.2013 - 06.2014
- In this company managed 4 different US Customers, starting with all developments (fabrics, wash techniques, screen print techniques), placing orders to designated factory, overseeing development and production in the different stages, daily WIP follow up
- Constant communication with US customers and local factories to assure on time delivery and customer satisfaction
- Also, as Agency Merchandiser, needed to source Trims and fabric, costing process, client and factory cost approval until delivery in factory to ensure order delivery
Account Coordinator
Sewon Beltlan, S.A.
08.2012 - 03.2013
- Kept close control of the Fabric & Trim Warehouse, sourced from the local Matrix Factory, also oversaw development and production follow up
- Assistance and Support for all the BV QA Audits to ensure approval and delivery of the goods in the agreed time frame
- Direct communication and constant report to the Factory General Manager and Matrix Factory Merchandiser
Preproduction Merchandiser
CSA Guatemala, S.A.
09.2011 - 07.2012
- In this company I was the American Eagle Outfitters Preproduction Merchandiser, oversaw all the development of current seasons and new seasons in addition of the sampling for new orders
- Frame and follow up internal WIP
- Direct communication with US customers
Account Coordinator
Tee Rex Sourcing Guatemala, S.A.
01.2011 - 08.2011
- As Account coordinator, oversaw all developments (fabrics, wash techniques, screen print techniques), placing orders to the designated factory, supervising development and production in the different stages, daily WIP follow up
- Constant communication with US customers and local factories to assure on time delivery and customer satisfaction
- Also, as Account Coordinator, needed to source Trims and fabric, from costing process, client and factory cost approval until delivery in factory to ensure order delivery
Account Coordinator - CAD / Marker Department
KORAM, S.A.
09.2003 - 12.2008
- The accounts under my supervision were GAP/ON, Urban Outfitters and Kohl's
- I was in charge of inputting all client PO's and generating the cutting markers files in the specific CAD Software (Gerber)
- Assign priority to each one of them according to the Factory WIP and coordinate with the marker makers personnel and cutting orders generators to comply with the cutting room needed date
- In the department I shared this task with another 3 coordinators, who oversaw other accounts, so we needed to be in close communication and collaborate with each other, so the complete department comply with the company needs
- Since we were the first of the production chain, we were trained to read the client PO's, check if there was any mistake on them
- With this we worked like a filter between the Cutting Room and the Account managers
- Also, we learned how to read a spec, how to measure, how to create a marker, how to audit markers, etc…
Education
2 Years of Computer Science Engineering -
Universidad San Carlos de Guatemala
2 Years of Computer Science Engineering -
Universidad Mariano Galvez de Guatemala
Skills
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Problem-solving
- Attention to detail
- Team motivation
- Team supervision
- People management
- Staff training
- Work Planning and Prioritization
- Documentation and reporting
- Work planning
- Complex Problem-solving
- Analytical thinking
- Overseeing daily activities
- Conflict resolution
Work References
- Dennis Aguilar, Team #2 Team Leader, Apparel KCI, 3095 - 6513
- Lorena Calderón, Account Manager, Shin Won, 5512 0522
- Marta Carrera, Trims Manager, Haemil Knit, 5493 7755
- Caleb Aldana, General Manager / Owner, KENAT Print, 4042 0052
- Wianka Navarro, KNITOPIA, S.A, 3062 4935
- Juan Carlos Lopez, 30223053
- Oswaldo Roldan, 4591 4372
Languages
English
Full Professional
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Team Leader / Merchandiser / Manager assistant
SHIN WON GUATEMALA (SWGT)
08.2024 - Current
Team Leader / Merchandiser
Apparel KCI
12.2023 - 05.2024
Merchandiser / General Manager Assistant / Factory Production Planning
HaeMil Knit, S.A
02.2016 - 12.2023
Merchandiser
KL Primetex Guatemala, S.A.
06.2014 - 01.2016
Merchandiser
TEE REX SOURCING, S.A.
03.2013 - 06.2014
Account Coordinator
Sewon Beltlan, S.A.
08.2012 - 03.2013
Preproduction Merchandiser
CSA Guatemala, S.A.
09.2011 - 07.2012
Account Coordinator
Tee Rex Sourcing Guatemala, S.A.
01.2011 - 08.2011
Account Coordinator - CAD / Marker Department
KORAM, S.A.
09.2003 - 12.2008
2 Years of Computer Science Engineering -
Universidad Mariano Galvez de Guatemala
2 Years of Computer Science Engineering -
Universidad San Carlos de Guatemala
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