Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Textile Production Assistant

🎯 Role Definition

The Textile Production Assistant is a cornerstone of the product creation lifecycle, acting as the central hub for communication and execution between design, merchandising, technical teams, and external manufacturing partners. This role provides essential support to the production team, ensuring that all products are developed, sourced, and manufactured on schedule, within budget, and to the highest quality standards. More than just an administrative function, this position requires a proactive, detail-oriented individual who can anticipate challenges, solve problems, and maintain the seamless flow of information and materials from initial concept to finished goods delivery. You are the operational engine that brings our textile and apparel visions to life.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Textile/Fashion Design or Merchandising Graduate
Production or Design Internship
Showroom Assistant or Retail Merchandiser with an interest in product development

Advancement To:

Associate Production Manager
Product Developer
Textile Production Coordinator

Lateral Moves:

Sourcing Assistant
Quality Control Specialist
Materials Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Manage the daily communication and follow-up with overseas and domestic factories, mills, and suppliers regarding all phases of the production cycle.
Create, manage, and meticulously maintain production tracking charts, work-in-progress (WIP) reports, and time-and-action (T&A) calendars to ensure all key deadlines are met.
Issue and update purchase orders (POs) in the ERP/PLM system, verifying all details such as costs, quantities, and delivery dates are accurate.
Coordinate the entire sample management process, from initial proto-sample requests to final production samples, including tracking, logging, and organizing physical samples for review meetings.
Assist in the sourcing and development of new raw materials, including fabrics, trims, and hardware, by requesting and organizing material headers and swatch cards.
Prepare and send out comprehensive development packages to vendors, ensuring all technical specifications, bill of materials (BOM), and artwork are included and clearly understood.
Review and comment on lab dips, strike-offs, and other material submits, communicating approvals or rejections to suppliers under the guidance of the Production Manager.
Diligently track all inbound and outbound shipments, including sample packages and bulk production orders, to anticipate and mitigate potential delays.
Support the cost engineering process by entering and maintaining costing data, analyzing margin requirements, and assisting in cost negotiations.
Collaborate with the Quality Control team to understand quality standards, review top-of-production (TOP) samples, and communicate any quality issues back to the factory.
Maintain a highly organized physical and digital library of all production-related materials, including approved samples, color standards, and technical packs.
Facilitate the flow of information between cross-functional teams, including Design, Technical Design, and Merchandising, to ensure alignment throughout the product lifecycle.
Assist in preparing for key milestone meetings by organizing samples, preparing necessary documents, and taking detailed notes on action items.
Monitor vendor performance against key performance indicators (KPIs) such as on-time delivery, quality compliance, and communication effectiveness.
Help resolve production-related issues by investigating discrepancies, proposing solutions, and escalating complex problems to senior team members when necessary.

Secondary Functions

Support the compliance team by gathering necessary factory audits, certifications (e.g., Oeko-Tex, GOTS), and documentation from the supply chain.
Assist the logistics and customs departments by providing necessary shipping documents, such as commercial invoices and packing lists, for import clearance.
Participate in fit sessions to gain a deeper understanding of garment construction and the technical aspects of the product.
Conduct market research on new manufacturing techniques, sustainable materials, and innovative production processes to contribute to team knowledge.
Help manage the procurement and inventory of secondary materials such as labels, hangtags, and packaging, ensuring they are available at the factory on time.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Microsoft Office Suite: Advanced proficiency in Excel is a must, including VLOOKUPs, pivot tables, and complex formulas for tracking and analysis.
PLM/ERP Systems: Hands-on experience with product lifecycle management (PLM) or enterprise resource planning (ERP) software (e.g., Centric, BlueCherry, SAP).
Textile Knowledge: A solid understanding of fabric types, constructions, printing techniques, and dye processes.
Garment Construction: Foundational knowledge of how garments are assembled, including basic stitch types and seam finishes.
Supply Chain Acumen: Familiarity with the end-to-end apparel/textile supply chain, from raw material sourcing to logistics.
Costing Principles: Basic understanding of how to read a cost sheet and the components that make up a product's final cost.
Adobe Illustrator: Ability to make basic updates to technical sketches or artwork is highly desirable.

Soft Skills

Exceptional Organization: The ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and a high volume of information with meticulous attention to detail.
Proactive Communication: Clear, concise, and professional written and verbal communication skills for daily interaction with global partners.
Problem-Solving: A resourceful and analytical mindset to identify issues, troubleshoot challenges, and propose effective solutions.
Adaptability: Thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment where priorities can shift quickly.
Collaboration & Teamwork: A positive, team-player attitude with a strong ability to build relationships with cross-functional partners.
Sense of Urgency: The drive to manage time effectively and push processes forward to meet tight deadlines.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

An Associate's or Bachelor's degree.

Preferred Education:

A Bachelor's degree in a relevant field is strongly preferred.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Textile Science or Management
Fashion Merchandising & Product Development
Supply Chain Management & Logistics
Business Administration

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

1-3 years of relevant experience in a production, product development, or manufacturing environment. This can include substantive internships.

Preferred:

Direct experience within an apparel, home textiles, or accessories brand.
Experience working directly with overseas factories and mills.