Shipping Manager

Logistics And Distribution Manager

Overall responsibility for managing finished goods inventory and warehousing, in-bound and out-bound logistics operations and directing traffic to ensure optimal inventory and product distribution efficiencies are met in alignment with our internal and external customer's expectations. This position manages the Shipping staff.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities:

• Analyze product, customer, routes, carrier and location to ensure optimal distribution cost and delivery is provided.
• Coordinate and consolidate customer and converting subcontractor shipments to optimize cost and on-time delivery of products.
• Reviews Complete Sales Backlog by Due Date Report to determine daily shipping schedule. Directs and coordinates shipping personnel, contract drivers, and dock loading and unloading schedules and appointments.
• Resolves transportation, logistics and distribution issues. Revises and reprioritizes schedules throughout the day based on changes in productions scheduling or other deviation activities that occur.
• Communicates delivery schedules with internal customers including Customer Service, Sales, Scheduling and Tooling.
• Coordinates freight credits with Sales Manager and Accounting staff.
• Create, coordinate, and maintain shipping paperwork (Purchase Orders, Bills of Lading, Factory Work Order, Delivery Ticket, Packing List, etc.) including archiving records. Audit shipping paper work to ensure paperwork is complete and accurate, ensuring terms are correct. Distributes paperwork to accounting and purchasing staff.
• Oversees staging of finished product inventory including off-site storage. Performs warehouse and off-site inventory cycle counts.
• Optimize freight policies to ensure optimal shipping terms, including reviewing contracts.
• Interpret and understand transportation laws, rules and regulations regarding domestic and international shipping.
• Coordinates and purchases shipping supplies including pallets.
• Attends and participates in the daily Production Meeting.
• Develop and implement process improvements to improve customer service levels and reduce supply chain costs.
• Oversee shipping staff scheduling, staffing, discipline, conflict resolution, training and development.
• Gets freight quotes and coordinates over the road / out of state deliveries.
• Trains and is involved in the hiring process of all new shipping employees.
• Backup shipping staff as needed.

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain or Logistics strongly preferred.
• 10+ years of Logistics and Distribution management experience.
• Experience in the Corrugated industry strongly preferred.
• Certified ability to safety drive a forklift strongly preferred.
• Related inventory or distribution certificates strongly preferred (i.e. APICS certification including CPIM or CLTD etc.).

Skills/Abilities/Knowledge:

• Knowledge of corrugated board types, converting production processes, quality control, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
• Understanding transportation fundamentals, including principles and methods for moving goods by trucks, including the relative costs and benefits.
• Analyzing transportation and distribution requirements, while understanding key tradeoffs, to assist in planning and deployment of network.
• Strong conceptual knowledge and strategies related to production demand, supply chain management, strategic pricing, logistics, and procurement.
• Knowledge of shipping/receiving and inventory management and warehouse organization.
• Utilizing transportation technology to manage and control visibility and communication between internal and external customers.
• Understanding customs clearing and documentation requirements for each shipment as dictated by each country and transportation mode used.
• Understanding of required documentation needed to ensure shipments arrive safely, securely, without damage, and on time at their final designation.
• Knowledge and understanding of business process flow from requisition to order to ship to receive to invoice.
• Ability to gain strong knowledge of company goods and services and internal customer requirements.
• Thorough working knowledge of shipping and purchasing policies, processes and procedures.
• Supplier Performance - Ability to manage drivers and carrier's performance improvement objectives around pricing, delivery and quality expectations.
• Problem Solving – Synthesizes complex or diverse information; Collects, researches, and analyses data; Applies supply and demand principles to meet internal customer satisfaction; Ability to plan and allocate resources to consistently meet DeLine deadlines; Ability to quickly grasp and resolve the complexities of disparate traffic, distribution, warehousing, or inventory issues.
• Mathematics - Practice applied mathematics in collecting and interpreting quantitative data. Ability to apply mathematical operations to such tasks as calculating lead times, break-even points, reorder points, inventory turns, variance and capability analysis; Ability to apply financial and cost accounting in calculating discounts, credits and debits.
• Language – Ability to read, analyze, and interpret business contracts, technical manuals and specifications or governmental regulations. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations to all levels of the organization. Must be fluent in English language.
• Computer - To perform this job successfully, an individual is required type at least 40 w.p.m. with a high degree of accuracy using desktop or laptop computer.
• Interpersonal Skill – Must possess a high degree of interpersonal skills; Demonstrated ability to work effectively within the organization and collaborate with internal and external clients to understand business processes and determine requirements; Demonstrated diplomacy and tact are a must with a focus toward both internal and external customer satisfaction.
• Adaptability – Ability to think critically; To be flexible and adaptable while responding to the changing business environment and demands as well as anticipates and influence changes; Ability to recognize balance between competing needs and resources.
• Conflict Resolution – Must be able to resolve workplace conflict effectively and objectively.
• Sense of Urgency – Must be able to work in a schedule driven and fast paced environment.
• Instructing – Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching.
• Operation and Control – Controlling shipping department operations.
• Operation Monitoring – Auditing and monitoring production and shipments to make sure paperwork and product loads are accurate and schedules are met.
• Equipment Maintenance – Oversee the routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed (i.e. dock, forklift, shrink wrapper equipment, etc.)
• Quality Control Analysis – Conducting audit and inspection of finished goods and loads to ensure shipping and distribution policies and procedures are followed.
• Use tools/technology such as: Tape measurer, sit down forklift truck, box cutter, scanner, Harry Rhodes software.