Barbara Kuphal Email & Phone Number

United States

Established our technical design team by collaborated with HR to update the job description and PI (Personality Index) for the technical design position. Interviewed and hired 2 technical designers while working on new development, multi-sourcing, refits and custom style developments. Active member of the sustainability committee.• Instrumental in working with WFX technicians on system enhancements to improve our technical spec writing capabilities.• Analyzed and identified areas of opportunity within the technical design area, improving turn time from spec completion to fit approval from 4+ months to 2-3 months.• Spearheaded the POM and grade table update working closely with our team from EdwardsX in Vancouver.• Simplified our Time and Action calendar, decreased the amount of samples requested and improved the overall sample process.• Added an Optitex Converter that can be used in both Michigan and Vancouver, saving the company $2,000.• Updated our vendor manual to ensure all vendors follow the most updated guidelines.• Worked with the technical designers to establish our core fit standards and block patterns.• On boarded 2 new vendors to our matrix.

Greater Milwaukee Area

Managed both Women’s and Men’s products: Knit Tops, Woven Tops, Bottoms, Sweaters, Outerwear, Leather Jackets and Vests, and Accessories. Interviewed potential technical designers, passing along best candidates to management for final interview. Led TD team to formulate the best way to divide the workload as we added or reduced headcount to ensure business ran smoothly and nothing was missed. Active in corporate wide sustainability initiatives.• Created specifications, measured samples, led fit sessions and sent comments to vendors. • Developed block patterns to ensure a consistent fit and balance, resulting in a great customer experience and improved turn time in fit samples. • Responsible for updating grade tables, creating 200% more accuracy and efficiency when creating garment specifications.• Mentored coworkers in fit corrections and garment constructions.• Updated the Minimum Construction Standards, How to Measure Manual and Supplier Expectation Manual to ensure both internal employees and external vendors had the most accurate and up-to-date documents that follow the industry standards.• SME (Subject Matter Expert) in Flex PLM and Excel. • Led internal and external fit comparisons to ensure standard fits.• Instrumental in creating standard fits and grade rules. • Led a project to obtain body analysis information from Alvanon for Europe, Asia, and U.S. regions and compared those findings to Harley body measurements and grades.• Recruited fit models based on defined body measurements and posture. Scheduled and led fit sessions.• Established a how to manual for Optitex to help coworkers maneuver and work with patterns more efficiently.• Led approvals for printed and heat transfer labels to ensure consistency between suppliers.• Led weekly TD meetings.

Kalamazoo, Michigan Area

Trained and mentored technical designers. Was responsible for their growth and development resulting in more knowledgeable employees. Established multiple templates to improve spec creation, label placement, how to measure and vendor manual resulting in a 150% improvement in efficiency.• Spearheaded a fit project to update the fit of existing products based on our new body forms, grades and spec format ensuring a more consistent fit across all categories. • Responsible for creating specifications, fitting garments, approving color and developing fabric.• Led lunch and learn classes reviewing Yarn Manufacturing, Weaving, Garment & Sweater Manufacturing, etc.

Kohls' Corp, Menomonee Falls, Wi

• Negotiated costs, sourced and placed programs for the largest private labeled sweater brand within the company resulting in $450 million in retail business for 2016 and producing 10 million garments.• Leveraged yarn from mills across multiple vendors, saving the company $400,000 for Fall/Holiday 2016.• Responsible for on boarding new vendors and mills resulting in the growth of those companies. One mill had significant increases, moving from 0 to serving more than 8 private and exclusive brands over a four-year period.

Menomonee Fall, Wi

• Created specification packages, led fit sessions and reviewed construction to ensure first quality garments for Missy, Petite and Plus in knits, sweaters and wovens.• Researched and created multiple reports analyzing construction and fit of competitor garments in comparison to Kohl’s ensuring we met or exceeded industry standards resulting in great sales.• Participated in testing of WebPDM upgrades ensuring they were defect free, before rolling out to all technical designers, ensuring a smooth and efficient transition. • Represented Kohl’s at all ASTM committee meetings, ensuring industry standards were updated to reflect the body changes of today’s society, kept all Kohl’s technical designers updated to ensure relevance in the market. • Developed training material and led multiple training sessions for overseas agents and vendor Technical Designer’s to be Kohl’s certified in how to measure and how to evaluate fit, resulting in an 18% reduction in number of fit iterations prior to approval.

• Responsible for creating specification packages and approving fit. • Insured products would meet Lands' End's quality standards.• Developed styles with multiple sources to support business needs.• Planned and executed quality inspections.• Monitor the development on the samples.• Work with product managers and designers to ensure the overall body of the style is what everyone is expecting.• Also held other roles: Groups Assistant in Packing Dept, Packing Dept, Customer Service, Customer Sales.