8 - Warehouse Administration

Warehousing
and
Distribution Channels
WAREHOUSE ADMINISTRATION

Management Levels in
Warehousing & Distribution
• Vice President – Operations/SC/Logistics
• Director of Operations/SC/Logistics
• Distribution Managers
• Warehouse Executives
• Warehouse Supervisors
• Floor Personnel

For other LSCM-related positions, keep updated with MOM annual reports on careers in demand. Here is the current one
http://www.mom.gov.sg/Documents/Skills%20Training%20and%20Development/Labour%20Market%20Highlights%202011-12.pdf

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Mission Statement
•Ensure there is one
•Must be clear and understood by ALL
levels of staff
•Must be supported by ALL levels of staff
•Should be achievable
•Quantify performances

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Organisational Culture in
Warehousing
• Must be ‘customer-focused’ and outwards looking
• All levels of staff MUST be technology-oriented
• Standards, measurement and benchmarking must be
embraced
• Be open to change
• Management MUST be team-oriented
• Quality communications must be maintained at ALL www.alfa.org

levels.

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Management Skills in
Warehousing and Distribution
• Typical distribution manager/senior
warehouse manager
– Ability to negotiate
– Basic finance
– Business acumen
– People-management skills
– Ability to motivate and lead large mass
through communication and engagement

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Management Skills in Warehousing

and Distribution
• Common key words in descriptions

Responsive Cost-Efficient Leadership

Continuous Capable in Strong

Improvement Delivery Relationships

Project
Safeguarding
Management
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Management Skills in Warehousing

and Distribution
ACCURACY

COST CLEANLINESS
CONTROL

Six Basic
Tenets

EFFICIENCY SAFETY

SECURITY

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Warehouse Trade-offs
• Trade-offs management
– Increased throughput vs decrease in labour costs
– Storage density vs fast pallet extraction
– Manual vs automated operations
– Increased pick rates vs accuracy
– Inventory holding costs vs cost of stockouts

www.itimes.com
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Warehouse Trade-offs
• Warehouse manager challenges
Reduce Costs Increase Productivity, Optimize Space, Staff & Equipment

Achieve the ‘Perfect Order’ Improve Productivity, increase accuracy, improve handling & invest in systems

Shorter Order Lead Times Improve Processes & Increase Productivity

Deliveries Through Multiple Channels & Improve order picking productivity & Embrace Technology
Increase in smaller more frequent orders

Demand Fluctuations Flexible Working Hours & Improve Forecasting

Proliferation in SKUs Increase/Improve Usage of Part-To-Picker Systems eg Carousels, Flow Racks

Labour Costs and Availability Focus on Staff Retention eg Work Conditions, Flexible Hours, Training

Environmental Issues and Costs Improve energy and waste management

Quality of Data and Speed of Transfer Introduce Warehouse Management Information Systems & Real-time data transfer

Adapted from Richards, G (2012) Warehouse Management, Chapter 2, Figure 2.2. p33

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People Management in Warehousing and Linchpin-the most important (people is important)

Distribution
• Linchpin of warehouse – PEOPLE
• Challenges
– Identifying the right person for the job
– Retention and Attraction “The transport, postal and warehousing
workforce has one of the oldest age
profiles, with nearly half of workers (48 per
– Aging population cent) aged 45 years or older compared to
38 per cent for all industries.”
(Industry snapshot from ‘Future Focus, the
– Training 2013 National Workforce Development
Strategy’ )
– Health & Safety
– Employment contract negotiations

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People Management in Warehousing Health and Safety mainly covers the factory and warehouses
and Distribution
• Challenges (cont’d)
– Compliance with regulations
• Employment
• Health and Safety legislations

www.savingyourbusinessmoney.com

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People Management in Warehousing and How many people need to recruit

Distribution
• Skills expected of warehouse supervisors
– Higher education
– High-level supervisory skills
– Training & Interpersonal skills
– Abreast with supplier & customer
procedures
– Lead by example

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People Management in Warehousing and Problem-solving skills - need to make decision and
Distribution command the employees

The inbound team will affect the outbound team

Effective communication skills
Ability to delegate effectively
Motivational skills
Problem-solving skills
Flexibility in management
Well-versed with company policies and
procedures
Ability to train effectively
Customer-oriented
Teamwork skills
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Work in groups
Build relationships
Cope under pressure
Negotiation skills
Ability to cooperate
Coordination & allocation of tasks
Influencing skills
Ability to compromise when necessary
Ability to make decisions

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Recruitment

Prepare
Analyze job Cost of this Prepare job required
requirement job description people skills
for this job

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Induction Training Warehouse Orientation -familiar the enviroment

• Concept is to make the new employee a

member of the family
• Full details of the company structure & their role
in the company
• Complete explanation of departmental structure
& operation
• Full on-the-job training

www.chess.uk.com
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Personal Development
• job skills
• multi-skilled
• communication skills
• team participation
• problem solving
• product knowledge
• supervision skills
• education

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Occupational Health & Safety -

OHS (1)

Prevention/Protection practices
/policies include,
• security structure
• fire prevention systems & training
• First Aid training & equipment
• ergonomically designed work
stations

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Occupational Health & Safety - OHS (2)

• adequate lighting
• work safety
– training
– adequate & visible work safety www.nerthusgroup.com

posters
– protective apparels, head gear and shoes
• Click here for more information about OHS
matters in AUS http://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/

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http://www.agcsa.com.au/enewsletter/230911
http://www.motifake.com/ohs-work-work-stupid-funny-trolley-hearing-demotivational-
posters-82589.html

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Examples of OHS strategies

http://work-place-safety.net/tag/employment
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Examples of OHS strategies

http://nicolask.wordpress.com/2011/09/01/the-workplace-safety-and-health-wsh-act-will-cover-all-workplaces-from-sept-2011/
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Examples of OHS strategies

http://ehs-singapore.blogspot.com.au/2010/04/extension-of-workplace-safety-and.html

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Examples of OHS Reminders in

Warehouses

http://www.seton.net.au/office-products/safety-compliance/safety-posters/various-safety-posters/ohands-posters-think-first-then-act-safely-
a17689.html
http://www.seton.net.au/warehouse-products/manual-handling/safety-posters.html

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http://www.ntuc.org.sg/wps/portal/up2/home

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Examples of OHS strategies

http://www.changemakers.com/citizenmedia/entries/workplace-safety-and-health-management-system

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http://gigomole.blogspot.com.au/2012/05/workplace-safety-and-health-act-safety.html

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Q&A?

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