The document provides a summary and career history of Azhar Farook, a Sri Lankan merchandise planner with over 15 years of experience in apparel sourcing and manufacturing across Asia and Africa. Currently he is the Head of Planning at Epyllion Group in Bangladesh, where he leads planning and production activities. Previously he has held planning and production management roles in Sri Lanka, the UK, India, and Bangladesh for various apparel companies.

1. Azhar Farook
No B 119, Rockhill, Hapugastalawa, Sri Lanka
T: +8801730725957; E: azharfarook@hotmail.com
W: http://bd.linkedin.com/pub/azhar-farook/30/3b5/809
Summary
Merchandise planner with 15+ years’ cross-industry experience in apparel sourcing and manufacturing across Asia
and Africa. Results-oriented, energetic, and meticulous with a proven history of success in apparel and accessories
product development, global capacity management, global sourcing, production management, and strategic
vendor alliances. Adept at managing multipleinitiatives simultaneouslyand working with diverse international
teams to maintain high performance standards producing quality results. Strong negotiation and problem-solving
skills with a keen ability to build relationships with internal and external stakeholder at all levels.
Education
MBA ( Masters of Business administration )
University of Wales institute Cardiff UK
BSc in Management Science
University of Peradeniya - Sri Lanka
2015
1995 - 1998
G.C.E Advanced Level
Zahira College – Mawanella, Sri Lanka
1990 - 1992
G.C.E Ordinary Level
Al Minaj Central College - Hapugastalawa, Sri Lanka
1979 - 1989
Career History

2. Head Of Planning , Epyllion Group
227/A Tejgaon-Gulshan Link Road, Dhaka-1208, Bangladesh
 Leading the end-to-end planning and production activities of the Planning
Department of the largest supplier worldwide for C&A and the largest supplier in
Bangladesh for Marks & Spencer’s, from capacity sourcing till shipment to achieve
monthly sales targets with responsibility for 12 Million USD per Month
 Preparing annual sales budgets and managing allocations in collaboration with all
internal departments including merchandising, marketing, finance, HR/CSR,
operations, and commercial, reporting directly to the Chairperson
 Developing seasonal merchandise planning strategy in line with customer need
 Analyzing business KPIs and financial projections to maximize business
performance and mitigating risks, conducting surveys to prepare strategic plans
 Working closely with international buyer teams on range planning
 Conducting weekly intra-department and inter-department meetings to monitor
output, troubleshooting, sales and production targets and progress of orders
 In-charge of recruitment, performance appraisals, succession planning and technical
training of team, conducting one-to-one meetings for increments and promotions
 Conducting team building activities to boost staff motivation and improving
performance in line with organizational objectives
 Supervising and monitoring the production line of fabric and accessories including
labels, carton, poly among others via weekly factory visits
 Coordinating new factory timelines with relevant architects and engineers
 Understanding both customer needs and strategic business requirements to prepare
for long term scenario planning, capacity expansion and improved coordination
with customers
 Coordinating closely with GM Operations to ensure timelines of schedules for each
intermediate stage in the overall process and prepare weekly and monthlyplans
based on the marketing forecast and current requirements
 Ensuring prudent management of stores and inventory
November 2011 - Present

3.  Bringing about efficiency improvements by identifying bottlenecks and ensuring
elimination of the same
 Highlighting deviations and making corrections to future production plans based
on the differences between planned and actual production in the previous plan
period (daily – weekly – monthly)
 Ensuring SMV collection from IE and put into the Fast React planning software;
guiding MIS team to update the data in the FR software if required
 Sending T & A for all orders to relevant departments (i.e., supply chain, textiles,
merchant, factory heads)
Achievements
 Personal efforts have been cited as the driving force behind a 106% growth in sales
from 2011 to 2014
 Recruited by Epyllion Group to implement Fast React – leading industry planning
software, having 12 years successful implementation experience
 Driving force behind Epyllion Group’s award for Best User of Fast Track
worldwide in 2013 and named for good performance in the 2013 newsletter
circulated internationally
Manager - Planning, Quantum Clothing (UK) Ltd.
India Operation
 Heading a team of 5 in Production planning, responsible for the operation of 1,200
sewing machines
 Overseeing the entire production lifecycles from order placement to shipment
 Suggesting methods for improving the order-to-dispatch supply chain efficiency
and reduce gaps and delays, identifying and eliminating bottlenecks
 Writing the planning SOP for the organization
 Following up the entire order process with critical path or time and action calendars
 Making the yearly budget in coordination with top management in the UK
 Managing buyers visits from leading brands including Marks & Spencer’s, Tesco,
and Next
Planning Manager, Quantum Clothing (UK) Ltd.
Bangladesh Operation
 Heading the Planning Department with responsibility for the smooth operation of
1,000 machines to achieve a monthly sales target of USD 3 million
 Supervising the end-to-end product lifecycle of fabric and accessories in
coordination with Merchandising and Plant Management units
 Writing the planning SOP for the organisation
 Implementing and establishing systems to quantify sales and marketing activities
 Responsible for daily operations and smooth running of the plant
 Heading weekly planning/production meetings on a weekly basis with diverse
teams
 Scheduling all production activities in compliance with standards and specifications
to meet all delivery deadlines, ensuring prudent management of stores and
inventory
 Developing quality plans and procedures to maintain storages and preserve
materials, documentation and monthly procurement status reports
 Ensuring traceability through proper documentation and record keeping
throughout production process, repair modification and use of items and products
 Monitoring non-conformance and modifying procedures for continual
improvement, suggesting methods for improving the order-to-dispatch supply
chain efficiency to reduce gaps and delays
 Conducting in the weekly/monthly organizational meetings
Jan 2011 – Nov 2011
Mar 2008 – May 2010

4.  Submitting periodical reports including evaluation
 Forecasting and scheduling bi-weekly activities
 Ensuring the complete sales and delivery flow of leading buyer Marks & Spencer’s
 Planning the total production flow by scheduling and balancing the production
lines to ensure optimum capacity utilization
Planning Manager, Christy Holdings (Pvt) Ltd.
Sri Lanka
 Heading the Planning Department to lead all production activities in four plants
across Colombo and in Kurunagala, overseeing 1,200 machines
 Writing the planning SOP for the organisation
 Coordinating order intakes for production capacity allocation
 Responsible for daily operations and smooth running of the plant
 Heading weekly planning/production meetings on a weekly basis with multiple
units
 Forecasting and scheduling bi-weekly activities
 Developing quality plans and procedures to maintain storages and preserve
materials, documentation and monthly procurement status reports
 Ensuring traceability through proper documentation and record keeping
throughout production process, repair modification and use of items and products
Monitoring procurement, receipt and storage of all materials and maintaining close
communication with materials comptroller
Achievement:
 Personal contributions cited as a driving force behind the organization’s ranking
change from top 17 supplier in Sri Lanka to Top 2 Supplier, receiving the globally
recognized Gold Rating from buyers internationally
Assistant Planning Manager, Melbourne Washing Plant (Pvt) Ltd.
Sri Lanka
 In-charge of the washing plant production overseeing wet and dry processes of 20
washing and dying machines
 Ensured proper monitoring and co-coordination activities of the dry process such
as Lazering, Hand Sanding, PP spraying, etc.
Assistant Planning Manager, Growth Lanka (Pvt) Ltd.
Sri Lanka
 Responsible for the end-to-end planning and production activities from order
placement to shipment of 23 local and overseas factories as far widespread as
Madagascar and Vietnam, as the largest supplier for Gap in Sri Lanka
 In charge of scheduling buyers visits of leading brands such as Gap, Old Navy,
Nike, Columbia, PVH and Tesco across the group, and sub-contracted factories
 Conducting planning meetings to ensure smooth operations of the plants
 Introduced new Time & Action Calendars to the organisation
 Coordinating with Merchandising, Supply Chain and Quality control teams
amounting to over 200 stakeholders
Achievements:
 Promoted from Junior Executive to Assistant Planning Manager successively,
where personal efforts were cited as a driving force behind the sales growth from
USD 2.5 million in 2000 to USD 10 million in 2005
 Contributed to the organization’s selection by Columbia as producer of high SME
garment
June 2006 – Mar 2008
June 2005 – Mar 2006
May 2000 – May 2005

5. Production Controller, Martin Emprex Pvt. Ltd.
Sri Lanka
 Day to day planning with production teams in coordination with the General
Manager, regarding delivery and shipment schedules
 Following up with quality control, commercial and shipping units
 Leading weekly planning meetings with merchandisers
 Making plan for all embellishments based on line plan
Feb 1999 – May 2000
Professional Qualifications
College Executive Course in “Manufacturing” - Phoenix College, Rathmalana, Sri Lanka
Training
“Outward Bonding” – Thomas Group USA, Sri Lanka
This training course focused on risk analysis, reducing lead times, being a process champion and
improving quick decision making ability
Areas of
Experience
Production planning – Scheduling – Budget preparation – Sourcing – Costing - Price negotiation – Line creation -
Team building and management – Capacity building – Monitoring – Succession Planning
Skills Technical
 Expert knowledge of leading industry planning software “Fast React” - the most advanced and widely used
planning tool in the apparels and manufacturing industry having 12 years successful implementation expertise
 Advanced user of ERP base software “Style 21”
 Advanced user of MS Office Packages (Word, Excel, Power Point)
 Language fluency: English (Fluent); Tamil (Fluent); Sinhalese (Fluent); Bengali
Management
 Ability to build strong professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders at all levels of the
organisational spectrum
 Strong negotiation and problem solving skills
 Quick decision making ability mitigating risk factors
 Ability to take action proactively and think creatively
Personal
Information
Full Name: Mohammed Farook Mohammed Azhar
Gender: Male
Data of Birth: 5th September 1973
Nationality: Sri Lankan
Civil status: Married
Places travelled:
London – Paris – Edinburgh – Belfast – Dublin – Dubai – Singapore – Kuala Lampur – Chennai - Bangalore –
Kolkata – Kathmandu-Spain-Turky-Bangkok , New york, USA
References Mr..Mangala Athauda
Director – Bangladesh Operations
MAS Holding s
Dhaka,
Bangladesh
T: 0088 01841842609
Mr. Sharaz Farook
Group Merchandising Manager
Maliban Textiles Pvt. Ltd
Colombo – 9
Sri Lanka
T: 0094 777-799100