LO Costing Specialist at Columbia Sportswear Company

Hồ Chí Minh, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Columbia Sportswear Company Logo
Not SpecifiedCompensation
Mid-level (3 to 4 years)Experience Level
Full TimeJob Type
UnknownVisa
Apparel, Sportswear, ManufacturingIndustries

Requirements

  • Ability to train functional teams in root cause analysis, problem-solving techniques, cost benchmarking, and standardization of costing processes
  • Expertise in studying, improving, and standardizing LO costing processes through collaboration with functional managers
  • Knowledge to act as LO point person for initiating sustainable process improvements for manufacturing efficiencies and competitive costs
  • Proficiency in cost engineering, including standardizing costing methodology aligned with global processes
  • Skills in developing and identifying defined processes and tools for efficient LO costing
  • Capability to drive compliance and improvement of global costing policies and procedures within LO and suppliers
  • Experience in creating seasonal benchmarks on standard costs for product creation teams and LO merchandisers
  • Ability to reduce components negotiated with factories and develop tools/automation shifting costing from negotiation to validation
  • Proficiency in creating tools (e.g., BA) to reduce overall costing workload at LO
  • Understanding of economic trends, FOB cost impacts, factory cost structures, and support for price negotiations and sourcing strategy
  • Ability to support product creation teams and LO merchandisers in achieving brand margin targets
  • Experience working with global costing team on projects, providing regional feedback for sourcing strategies, policies, and tools
  • Skills in validating factory information on labor costs, SAMs, and usages; maintaining productivity databases for fact-based negotiations
  • Knowledge of process improvements at factories aligned with Columbia processes, including long-term carry-over programs
  • Ability to establish metrics for factory performance on cost, quality, delivery, and compliance
  • Expertise in commercializing new innovations, evaluating process complexity, feasibility, machinery limitations, labor content, and quality
  • Capability to support product and quality engineering teams for robust product development and efficient manufacturing
  • Experience in continuous improvement projects with regional and global costing teams
  • Negotiation skills for best costs on carry-over and high-volume styles

Responsibilities

  • Train functional teams to acquire skills in root cause analysis, problem-solving, cost benchmarking, and costing process standardization
  • Study, improve, and standardize LO costing processes through collaboration with LO functional managers
  • Serve as LO point person for initiating sustainable process improvements resulting in manufacturing efficiencies and competitive costs
  • Standardize costing methodology in LO and deliver efficient processes aligned with global standards using defined processes and tools
  • Drive compliance and improvement of global costing policies and procedures within LO and regional suppliers
  • Create and publish seasonal benchmarks on standard costs for product creation teams and LO merchandisers
  • Reduce number of components negotiated with factories; develop tools and automation to shift costing from negotiation to validation
  • Create tools (e.g., BA) to reduce overall LO costing workload
  • Communicate economic trends and expected FOB cost impacts prior to development season
  • Understand factory cost structures to support price negotiations, sourcing strategy, and brand margin targets
  • Work with global costing team on projects, providing regional feedback for sourcing strategies, policies, and tools
  • Assist in validating factory information on labor costs, SAMs, and usages; maintain database of productivity for previous seasons to aid negotiations
  • Drive process improvements at key supplier factories aligned with Columbia processes; manage long-term carry-over programs for lowest cost and improved quality
  • Establish metrics for factory performance impacting cost, quality, delivery, and compliance
  • Actively involve in commercializing new innovations by evaluating process complexity, feasibility, machinery, labor, and quality; support product and quality engineering teams
  • Collaborate with regional and global costing teams on continuous improvement projects for supply chain operational excellence
  • Negotiate best costs for carry-over and high-volume styles, supporting commercialization teams or directly with key vendors

Skills

Cost Engineering
Root Cause Analysis
Cost Benchmarking
Process Standardization
Price Negotiation
Sourcing Strategy
Business Analysis
Automation Tools
Problem Solving

Columbia Sportswear Company

Designs and sells outdoor apparel and gear

About Columbia Sportswear Company

Columbia Sportswear Company designs and sells a variety of outdoor clothing and gear, including jackets, shirts, pants, shorts, footwear, and accessories like hats and backpacks. Their products are aimed at outdoor enthusiasts, hikers, campers, and active individuals of all ages. Columbia's products are known for their quality and durability, setting them apart from competitors in the outdoor apparel market. The company operates through a direct-to-consumer model, selling via their website, retail stores, and partnerships with other retailers, which helps them reach a wide audience. Their goal is to provide high-quality outdoor gear that enhances the experience of those who enjoy outdoor activities.

Portland, OregonHeadquarters
1938Year Founded
$40KTotal Funding
IPOCompany Stage
Consumer GoodsIndustries
1,001-5,000Employees

Benefits

Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Life Insurance
Disability Insurance
Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account
Unlimited Paid Time Off
401(k) Company Match
401(k) Retirement Plan
Wellness Program
Employee Discounts
Mental Health Support

Risks

The new Cherry Hill Mall store may face challenges in a competitive retail environment.
The Vader Collection may not resonate with Columbia's core customer base.
Strategic shifts by new marketing leadership could impact brand loyalty.

Differentiation

Columbia Sportswear offers innovative outdoor apparel with a strong brand reputation.
The company employs a multi-channel sales strategy for broad market reach.
Columbia's collaborations, like the Star Wars collection, attract niche markets.

Upsides

The rise of outdoor activities post-pandemic boosts demand for Columbia's products.
Collaborations with franchises like Star Wars enhance brand visibility and appeal.
Direct-to-consumer sales and social media marketing reach younger demographics effectively.

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