Education programmes of job
Business Administration Business Administration MBA
Quantitative Methods MSc
Nature of work
A warehouse manager must have a clear understanding of the company’s policies and vision and how the warehouse contributes to these.In large storage operations, warehouse managers have a strategic role –planning, coordinating, and handling general management issues, including the day-to-day supervision of staff and team leaders. Whereas in a small operation, they deal with more practical, ‘hands-on’ work. Their responsibilities mainly include:
liaising with customers, suppliers and transport companies;
managing the receipt, order assembly and dispatch of goods;
utilizing space and equipment efficiently and ensuring quality, budgetary and environmental targets are met;
coordinating the use of computerized systems;
responding to customers by email/phone;
planning future capacity requirements;
organizing the recruitment and training of staff, as well as monitoring staff performance;
encouraging teamwork to meet productivity targets;
producing regular reports/statistics daily, weekly and monthly;
visiting customers to monitor the quality of services;
maintaining standards of health, safety, hygiene and security (e.g. ensuring that food is stored safely);
overseeing the maintenance of vehicles and equipment.
Environment of work
If warehouse managers want to apply for this position, they should ready to handle work pressure. they will be working long hours that include early starts and late finishes. Not only that, they will also need to give up a lot of their weekends and they may work in shifts. It may occasionally be necessary to travel during the working day.But do not worry because this huge pressure is temporary –once they become a senior manager, they will often work a more conventional week. Working long hours will only be when necessary. They should expect to have heavier working hours in high seasons (e.g. Christmas).
Their work will be divided between the shop floor or warehouse and the office, though this depends on the size of the operation.
Interim management is sometimes possible, though relevant experience is necessary and logistics consultancies are unlikely to take on new graduates in this role. Another option is to work as a freelance consultant, but warehouse managers should gain enough experience in the first place.
In this particular profession, men outnumber women although the number of women applicants is rising.
Professional life
The key for the advancement at work is gaining more and more relevant experience in a range of settings (and operations of different sizes). Besides, it is essential to develop the key personal skills and qualities relevant to this area of work. Vocational and professional qualifications will help warehouse managers in their career development. Career progression will generally be through existing line-management structures.They should also know that their willingness to relocate usually increases their opportunities for progression. When warehouse manager become an experienced manager, he can choose to move into other management posts throughout the wider logistics/supply chain management sector. Senior positions involve business development and overseeing the efficient management of the organization's other resources. He needs to constantly develop relevant qualifications and experience in order to be able to use supply chain management skills in related sectors, such as retail or manufacturing.
Getting the job
In order to get this position, candidate should choose to study one of the following majors which are closely related to this career : Transport, Distribution or Logistics;
Supply Chain Management;
Business, Management or Economics;
Retail Management;
Operational Research;
Business Information Systems;
Business with Languages.
Although a postgraduate qualification is not needed prior to entry, a Master’s in logistics and supply chain management may help give him the edge with some employers, especially if the course provides placement opportunities.
Skills
Along with the educational qualifications and experience, warehouse managers need to develop certain skills that will help them be successful in their job. For example, they need to have excellent oral and written skills, as well as planning, organizing and analytical skills. They must be good at dealing with numbers and have good understanding of finance and knowledge of the legal requirements of operating a warehouse. Since their job as a manager includes leading and motivating others, they should definitely have people management skills, as well as the ability to delegate work and explain ideas. Teamworking ability is a must because they will inspire, motivate and lead a team of people. They should always show enthusiasm, initiative and decisiveness. They should also show evidence of their ability to work on a tactical and strategic level and possess problem-solving skills. Last but not least, they must have technical and IT skills, particularly database management and spreadsheets.Of course, their job is very stressful, so they need to be able to work under pressure and to tight deadlines.
Knowledge of foreign languages is becoming increasingly useful throughout the industry.
Sources and references
If you need any further information on what is included in this file, you can visit the following websites: www.warehousemanagementsystemsguide.com
Arab Standard Classification of Occupations, 2008, Ed. Arab Labor Organization.
Summary
The job of warehouse managers is a vital part of the supply chain process. They oversee the efficient receipt, storage, value adding servicing and dispatch of a wide range of goods including food, clothing, healthcare products and household items.To achieve this, they must manage people, processes and systems. They ensure productivity targets are met, oversee the maintenance of warehouse and labor management systems, and operate automated storage and retrieval systems.