Warehouse / Distribution Manager
Discussion
Does anyone have experience in this field?
we are considering looking for a warehouse manager.
We ship 500-1000 parcels a day picked from our own stock.
Sent by post / DHL / pallet
We are looking at the idea of someone who can free management time and run this part of our operation.
We currently employ 2-3 packers and we ideally are looking for a candidate with a background in mail order, looking after the packers, warehouse, stock control, packaging materials etc.
Based in Enfield.
Also any ideas or opinions amongst PH'ers about what we should be looking for.
we are considering looking for a warehouse manager.
We ship 500-1000 parcels a day picked from our own stock.
Sent by post / DHL / pallet
We are looking at the idea of someone who can free management time and run this part of our operation.
We currently employ 2-3 packers and we ideally are looking for a candidate with a background in mail order, looking after the packers, warehouse, stock control, packaging materials etc.
Based in Enfield.
Also any ideas or opinions amongst PH'ers about what we should be looking for.
The advertisement needs to be very carefully worded to reflect exactly what you are looking for. This might sound obvious but there are lots of people that will apply for a job as a Warehouse/Distribution Manager who have absolutely zero warehouse experience. They consider themselves to be suitable for the WDM role because they have been a shift manager in a regional distribution centre (RDC) for a supermarket or third party handling the distribution for a supermarket. In my experience they are totally unsuited to anything to do with warehousing with stock control/management responsibility.
Most RDCs hold no stock; they start the day with an empty warehouse, receive hundred of pallets and stillages during the day, but send them all out again by the end of the day.
Again, in my experience, what you are looking for is hard to find. We have gone through four in the last ten years with no success. The CVs and references were good but the delivery just wasn't there. One was ex M&S in London, two from RDCs and one ex-Army logistics.
It also seems that applicants think that warehousing and distribution management is unskilled and something that they can pick up as they go along. It may be completely different at your end of the country but in the West Country we have struggled to find the right person. All pre credit crunch and it may be different now of course.
Good luck!
Most RDCs hold no stock; they start the day with an empty warehouse, receive hundred of pallets and stillages during the day, but send them all out again by the end of the day.
Again, in my experience, what you are looking for is hard to find. We have gone through four in the last ten years with no success. The CVs and references were good but the delivery just wasn't there. One was ex M&S in London, two from RDCs and one ex-Army logistics.
It also seems that applicants think that warehousing and distribution management is unskilled and something that they can pick up as they go along. It may be completely different at your end of the country but in the West Country we have struggled to find the right person. All pre credit crunch and it may be different now of course.
Good luck!
I've just been made redundant from a Warehouse Management role and if it wasn't for me living in Leeds, I'd certainly be applying. You just need as said before to have a detailed and as honest as is reasonable description of the duties and responsibilities of the person you're looking for!
As stated by 530dTPhil, I think the advert really needs to read more clearly as to what the role involves. My background is in 3PL and more recently 4PL distribution and I think you need someone with all round stock, supervisory and transport knowledge. Unfortunately I've found that there are very few people with a skill set to cover all three.
From what you’ve described I think it’s worth considering reviewing how you do things & then hire a Supervisor, not a Manager.
If someone good takes a look at your operation and costs they can propose and implement improvements, negotiate new deals with your shippers/suppliers, and set some “standards” for your pick/pack rates & costs etc. This will give your new Supervisor some targets & guidelines to meet and allow you to measure what’s being done/spent without having to invest huge amounts of time. Then you hire a Supervisor for a lot less than you’d have to pay a Manager.
My background is in distribution and I cannot lie!! I’m inbetween jobs and a few weeks looking at your operation would suit me down to the ground. Drop me a line if you want to talk more – elliegee@ymail.com
If someone good takes a look at your operation and costs they can propose and implement improvements, negotiate new deals with your shippers/suppliers, and set some “standards” for your pick/pack rates & costs etc. This will give your new Supervisor some targets & guidelines to meet and allow you to measure what’s being done/spent without having to invest huge amounts of time. Then you hire a Supervisor for a lot less than you’d have to pay a Manager.
My background is in distribution and I cannot lie!! I’m inbetween jobs and a few weeks looking at your operation would suit me down to the ground. Drop me a line if you want to talk more – elliegee@ymail.com
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