Warehouse managers are an integral part of the entire supply chain process. They are responsible for the entire warehouse ranging from receipt, storage, and dispatch of goods of a particular factory. These products are varied and range from clothing, food, manufacturing, medicine, healthcare, and household products. The manager has to follow a certain process, system, and manage people effectively for the smooth running of the warehouse. They manage the computerized administration and retrieval systems. The security, safety, and the health of the entire warehouse is on him. In certain very large organizations, the managers are even responsible for recruiting, training, and the general discipline of the staff.
The day to day activities and the responsibilities of the manager depend entirely on the size of the warehouse. A small company with a small warehouse will require the manager to do hands on work, while the warehouse manager of big factories and companies will perform more strategic role related to administration, planning, management issues, and day to day supervision of staff and team leaders.
Monitoring the progress and development of the staff along with training, motivation, and encouragement has to be overlooked by the warehouse manager. The crucial part of the job requires the manager to communicate with other departments, maintaining the certain basic stock level, ensuring delivery quality, and fulfilling the environment budget. Fulfilling the requirements of the operations headquarters, interacting with customers, planning the capacity for the future, producing regular reports and maintaining the equipment, machinery, and the warehouse are few other jobs that a warehouse manager needs to undertake.
A high school degree in any discipline will certainly help to manage a small or slightly bigger warehouse with ease. A short term course in computers will help to maintain data and make reports. To manage a big warehouse, recruiters prefer degree holders or diploma holders in subjects such as business management, economics, logistics, operational research, retail management, business information system, and business with languages. A foundation degree in transport and logistics helps to settle at work much quicker. Masters courses in logistics and supply chain help later on in their career.
Managing interpersonal relationship with great communication abilities is almost like a pre-requisite of the job. The warehouse manager has to constantly deal with the executives of various departments, customers, and the in house warehouse staff. The ability to motivate and effectively delegate jobs make the job much more successful. You should be good with numbers, technical skills, taking initiatives, and have problem solving abilities.
On the job training is usually given to new recruits. Others may get training related to making reports, managing the stocks, issues related to safety and discipline, or updating the system regularly. Larger warehouses have graduate training schemes as well that one should apply for in time as there is tough competition. These trainings are usually for a couple of years with exposure to each department and each geographical location of the company too.
Prior experience is not a pre-requisite at the entry level but a few months of experience of working in a team or a warehouse will certainly help. For entry at the middle level or higher level, previous experience will do wonders not only to get a job but also to settle in the new job more conveniently. Working in a similar industry will also help to a great extent.
There are ample job opportunities at various levels in small or big warehouses. The major employers are the retailers, wholesale companies, armed forces, freight forwarders, and central and regional government departments. There are many logistics service providers too who have huge job options.
The salary at the entry level starts at about fifteen to seventeen thousand dollars that may go up to fifty five thousand dollars at senior levels and in bigger warehouses. The salaries are also dependent on the sector. Apart from the basic salary, there are many perks available too such as pension, car facilities, life insurance, and private health insurance.
If you love to work in a team, interact with many people at various levels, have great administrative skills and passion to work hard and meet targets. A job in the logistics industry, maybe as a warehouse manager could be meant for you.
