PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
SOURCING & MANUFACTURING

Program Duration: 14 weeks x 20 Hours a week
Your Instructors: Julie Berg, and Hien-Nhi Nguyen

Prices: Domestic $6,995.00

Prices: International $8,450.00

Start Dates: January, May, September

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT SOURCING & MANUFACTURING

Where creative vision meets commercial execution.

The Product Development, Sourcing & Manufacturing Certificate is a comprehensive 280 hour professional program designed for students who want to develop strong technical and business skills in product development, production management, and global sourcing. This program focuses on transforming creative concepts into commercially viable, production ready products.

Product development bridges design, manufacturing, and market strategy. This certificate prepares students to understand supply chain systems, vendor communication, costing structures, textile sourcing, and technical documentation required in professional apparel production environments.

Students graduate with a professional portfolio that includes technical specification packages, bill of materials sheets, production calendars, costing documents, and four manufactured products developed through domestic and overseas production processes.


PROGRAM DETAILS

The Product Development, Sourcing & Manufacturing Certificate provides in depth training in production workflow, textile science, vendor management, costing analysis, and technical documentation.

Throughout the program, students develop strategic thinking and production level precision. You will learn how to create technical specification sheets, develop bills of materials, estimate yields, calculate costing, manage vendor ecosystems, and coordinate production timelines.

This program emphasizes hands on development. Students build tech packs, source materials, communicate with manufacturers, manage quality control processes, and oversee sample production while learning professional supply chain standards and terminology.

Areas of focus include:

  • Technical specification package development

  •  Bill of Materials creation and yield estimation

  •  Production planning and calendar development

  •  Textile science and material sourcing

  •  Cost sheet formulation and pricing strategy

  •  Vendor communication and supply chain management

  •  Domestic and overseas manufacturing workflows

  •  Development of four manufactured items through factory collaboration

By the end of the program, students are able to analyze production systems, manage sourcing strategies, and develop products that meet industry commercial standards.


Program Structure & Hours

Duration: 14 Weeks
Total Program Hours: 280 Hours
Weekly Schedule: 20 Hours Per Week
Delivery Method: In class and Live Online Hybrid

Students participate in lectures, sourcing workshops, technical labs, costing exercises, vendor simulations, and final project presentations.

PROGRAM JOURNEY

  • Students begin by understanding how design, pattern cutting, production, and sourcing teams collaborate to bring products to market. You will explore the role of the product developer and how creative direction aligns with manufacturing feasibility and pricing structures.

    Terminology of production, vendor communication, and supply chain flow is emphasized to build strong professional communication skills.

  • Accurate documentation is essential in product development. Students learn how to build professional tech packs including specification sheets, measurement charts, construction details, and material lists.

    This module explores how documentation ensures consistency between design intent and production output.

  • Students gain in depth knowledge of fibers, yarn classifications, fabric performance, and finishing processes. You will evaluate materials for durability, cost efficiency, and production compatibility.

    This module strengthens the relationship between material selection and manufacturing practicality.

  • Students explore domestic and overseas sourcing strategies. You will learn how to identify suppliers, manage factory allocation, calculate lead times, confirm lab dips, and coordinate sampling processes.

    Quality control standards and vendor communication practices are emphasized to ensure production accuracy.

  • In the final stage of the program, students develop four manufactured items, including domestic and overseas production projects. Each product demonstrates technical documentation accuracy, sourcing strategy, costing analysis, and production coordination.

    Students present their final products and documentation to peers and instructors, developing professional presentation and evaluation skills.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to:

✔ Develop professional technical specification packages
✔ Create and manage bills of materials
✔ Estimate yields and calculate costing sheets
✔ Analyze textile performance and material suitability
✔ Coordinate domestic and overseas sourcing
✔ Manage vendor communication and production timelines
✔ Oversee quality control processes
✔ Develop and present commercially viable products

Graduates leave the program with production confidence, commercial awareness, and a portfolio demonstrating their ability to execute professional product development strategies.


CAREER PATHS

Graduates of the Product Development, Sourcing & Manufacturing Certificate are prepared for technical and business focused roles within the apparel industry.

Career opportunities may include:

  • Product Developer

  •  Production Manager

  •  Technical Designer

  •  Quality Control Analyst

  •  Sourcing Project Manager

  •  International Operations Manager

This certificate prepares students to work within production teams, sourcing departments, manufacturing facilities, and global supply chain environments.


TUITION & GRANTS

Domestic Tuition: $6,995.00

International Tuition: $8,450.00

Application Fee (Domestic): $250

Application Fee (International): $500

Books & Materials Excluded

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

To apply, you must meet the following criteria:

  • High school graduation or mature student status 19+

  •  Admissions interview in person or via Zoom or Skype

  •  Application Essay minimum 250 words outlining your passion and career goals

  •  English proficiency, if applicable
    CLBPT minimum 6
    Duolingo 85 to 90 accepted in certain circumstances

MEET YOUR INSTRUCTORS

Julie Berg

Julie Berg brings 25 years of forward-thinking fashion design and energy-fuelled marketing talent to the table. A product development specialist for both retail and private labels, she’s crafted contemporary designer sportswear and accessories collections for small-sized independent retailers and big brands alike. Working since the early ’90s with Vancouver’s Neto Leather label, she’s been a creative resource for Canadian retailers Harry Rosen, Bod & Christensen, and Leone, and for US majors such as Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Boston Proper. Travelling across North America and Europe to industry trade shows, Julie has worked with fashion buyers and agencies to assist in marketing positioning and distribution, and with textile mills and tanneries for product development. As a business entrepreneur, she launched her own eco-sportswear label, Know Wear, whose tourism-targeted client list boasted Princess Cruise Lines, BC Ferries and Royal BC Museum, and reached targeted sales projections of $1M in the third year of operation. For the last six years, Julie has served as a full-time professor at prestigious Vancouver art colleges, instructing in both the design and marketing disciplines, ensuring excellent outcomes for the next generation of industry innovators.


Hien-Nhi Nguyen

Graduated from Kingston University London in the UK with a Bachelor in Fashion Design, Hien-Nhi (Nee) specializes in crafting menswear and womenswear across casual, outerwear, and athleisure categories. She began her career as an intern with London womenswear brand Eudon Choi and German luxury brand ESCADA in 2016, before gaining international experience with fashion suppliers such as Itochu Prominent (USA) and Ess Tee Global Traders (Hong Kong). In 2021, she collaborated with a Finnish start-up to develop performance wear using recycled coffee grounds, a project that reinforced her commitment to sustainable innovation. She also worked as a designer at Pearl Global Industries, developing outerwear, tops, and dresses for global brands including Calvin Klein, Polo Ralph Lauren, Aritzia, and Zara. Now based in Vancouver, Hien-Nhi shares her expertise and passion as a fashion design instructor, helping the next generation of designers imagine and realize the possibilities of fashion.

LOOK FOR A WAY TO APPLY?

Applying is straightforward and designed to be personal.


The application is our first opportunity to get to know you. Once you submit the form, an Admissions will reach out to you.

This conversation allows us to share meaningful insights about the program, the industry, career pathways, job opportunities, and available tuition grants or financial aid options. Just as importantly, it gives us the chance to learn about you: your goals, what you hope to achieve through your training, and any questions or concerns we can support you with.

Please note that no enrolment deposit is required until you have been formally accepted into the program. We invite you to submit your application here below

Frequently Asked Questions

You have questions, we have answers.
If you can’t find what you’re looking for in our FAQ section below, use our online submission form.

 This program has been approved by the registrar of the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB) of the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills.
The Cut Design Academy is designated with PTIB