what is a warehouse supervisor?
As a warehouse supervisor, you oversee and coordinate all warehouse activities. Your duties include ordering warehouse supplies and assigning duties and responsibilities to warehouse workers. With your expertise in organizing and coordinating warehouse operations, you can oversee the movement of items throughout the warehouse and the people working there.
Your responsibility is to provide customer satisfaction, which you achieve by ensuring the timely delivery of the company's products. As a warehouse supervisor, you contribute to customer service by overseeing the receiving, storage and delivery of items. You ensure customer orders are well packaged and arrive at the intended destination in good condition.
As the senior team leader in the warehouse, you make sure items are stored in good condition and that systems are well organized. You direct employees on the equipment and inventory procedures. You also regularly review warehousing processes to improve efficiency. Other duties of a warehouse supervisor include hiring and managing warehouse employees.
As a warehouse supervisor, you require exceptional organizational and time management skills. Time management skills help you prioritize tasks based on urgency and plan efficient work schedules to manage daily operations.
Would working as a warehouse supervisor suit your organizational and time management skills? Then read on to find out what competencies and qualifications you need to thrive in the role of a warehouse supervisor.
warehouse supervisor jobswarehouse supervisor jobs
According to Job Bank, the average salary of a warehouse supervisor in Canada is $52,650 per year. When you are new to the role, you start with a lower annual salary of $45,825 due to minimal experience and educational qualifications. When you gain additional qualifications and improve your skills, you have the potential to earn over $91,318 yearly.
how to increase your salary as a warehouse supervisor
As a warehouse supervisor, your earnings depend on experience and educational qualifications. When you have only entry-level experience, you start with a salary on the low end of the pay scale. Your earnings gradually increase as you gain valuable experience and build on your qualifications. While most companies focus on experience, having forklift and other heavy equipment operator licenses improves your earning potential. Having additional certifications in warehouse and distribution management also boosts your earnings.
The complexity of your duties can also influence your earnings. For instance, when you are in charge of a small retail store, you oversee fewer workers and perform simple duties that are less complex compared to a large factory. Hence, working for a large manufacturing company with unlimited resources improves your salary prospects. When you work in a big warehouse and supervise teams of warehouse workers, you frequently deal with bulk shipping and complex delivery orders, so you can negotiate a higher wage.
types of warehouse supervisors
Warehouse supervisors can work in retail stores or manufacturing warehouses:
- Manufacturing warehouse supervisor: you are in charge of receiving raw materials and distributing them to the production facilities. You also keep track of the products before they are distributed to retail stores and customers.
- Retail warehouse supervisor: in a retail environment, you are in charge of the storage facilities. You ensure the company has sufficient inventory to fulfill customer orders. As a warehouse supervisor, you also organize the storage space to ensure goods are stored at the correct temperatures.
working as a warehouse supervisor
If you enjoy working in warehouse environments, consider becoming a warehouse supervisor. Here are the typical duties, responsibilities and work schedules of warehouse supervisors.
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what does a warehouse supervisor do?
Common duties of a warehouse supervisor are:
- Maintaining inventory: as a warehouse supervisor, you ensure raw materials are available for manufacturing and that products are available for customers. You supervise inventory-taking exercises and regularly review inventory levels to ensure products are ordered on time to avoid shortages and delays. You work with the production and procurement departments to ensure items are always delivered on time for optimal operation.
- Assigning tasks to warehouse workers: as a warehouse supervisor, you have comprehensive knowledge of warehouse operations and can instruct and guide employees. Since you understand the capabilities of your team members, you assign appropriate tasks to workers. You ensure the workload is equally distributed to ensure efficient operations.
- Overseeing the receiving of products: when products or raw materials are delivered to the warehouse, you oversee the reception process. Your job is to account for incoming items and check the records for the delivery. As a warehouse supervisor, you ensure accurate reports are maintained. After receiving the goods, you assign the storage locations for incoming goods.
- Planning warehousing activities: as a warehouse supervisor, you manage all activities in the warehouse. That means you forecast the future requirements of warehouse space. For instance, when the holiday season is approaching, you manage the inventory space and ensure that in-demand items are stocked.
- Updating the warehouse management software: as a warehouse supervisor, you manage daily activities with warehouse management software. The software helps you plan and execute operations, as well as manage warehouse space, delegate resources, and order and ship items.
- Preparing reports: as a warehouse supervisor, you keep track of the stock levels and generate reports to update the warehouse manager. The reports are used to track progress and improvements in warehouse operations. You are expected to compile the reports and make presentations to the company's leaders.
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work environment of a warehouse supervisor
As a warehouse supervisor, you work in retail or warehouse environments. In retail stores, you work in the back office or a storage facility, monitoring the movement of goods. You spend most of the day in the warehouse office or supervising workers in the storage facility. Since you work in a warehouse environment, you wear protective clothing like gumboots and gloves, especially when moving items or operating machinery.
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who are your colleagues?
Depending on the industry you work in, you are likely to work with forklift operators, warehouse associates and shipper receivers. You also interact with other warehouse workers, such as picker packers, order pickers and general labourers. When planning the operations of the warehouse, you work with warehouse managers and logistics coordinators.
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warehouse supervisor work schedule
As a warehouse supervisor, your work schedule depends on the employer. In some retail stores or in warehouses that operate 24/7, you work in shifts. That means you could be the day shift or night shift supervisor. In other companies, you work the traditional office hours. However, to offload trucks and keep up with the delivery schedule, you occasionally start your day earlier than usual. Sometimes, you also work evenings or weekends to ensure items are packed and delivered on time.
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career opportunities as a warehouse supervisor
Working as a warehouse supervisor helps you learn new skills and build your warehousing experience. The experience you gain in the role improves your career prospects and prepares you for senior supply chain management and logistics positions. For example, you can become a warehouse manager or progress to other roles like logistics coordinator or retail manager.
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advantages of finding a job as a warehouse supervisor through randstad
Working with Randstad offers you a range of benefits:
- Always a contact person you can fall back on and ask for help from
- Many training opportunities
- A range of jobs in your area
warehouse supervisor skills and education
The requirements for becoming a warehouse supervisor include:
- Post-secondary education: a bachelor’s degree is not mandatory for becoming a warehouse supervisor, but you should pursue a diploma in procurement and supply chain management. A two- or three-year course in production or manufacturing also prepares you for the role.
- Experience: you require extensive experience to become a warehouse supervisor. You can start with entry-level jobs to learn how warehouses operate and gain valuable experience. Build your supervisory skills with professional certifications, such as the Supply Chain Warehousing Certificate by ASCM Canada. If your duties involve operating a forklift, you require a forklift licence.
competencies and characteristics of warehouse supervisors
Warehouse supervisors require the following skills and competencies:
- Communication skills: as a warehouse supervisor, you keep the team informed of issues arising at the warehouse. Your communication skills help you provide clear instructions, explain the work activities, and keep workers aligned with the objectives of the business.
- Leadership skills: as a warehouse supervisor, you require leadership skills to supervise activities in the warehouse. Your ability to lead helps you motivate your team and maintain a positive work environment. With good leadership, you inspire workers to achieve operational goals.
- Knowledge of machines: as a warehouse supervisor, you require basic knowledge of pallet jacks, forklifts and heavy equipment operation. You should know how to use warehouse machines to move items from the ground level to high shelves. Operating some of the machines requires certification and licences, as well as knowledge of warehouse safety standards.
- Time management: as a warehouse supervisor, you require good time management skills to manage tasks on time. Your ability to prioritize tasks based on urgency and duration can simplify the operations in a warehouse.
FAQs about warehouse supervisor jobs
Here, you will find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the profession of a warehouse supervisor.
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what are the duties of a warehouse supervisor?
As a warehouse supervisor, you oversee the operations of a warehouse. You supervise the activities in the warehouse, from managing inventory to assigning tasks to employees. Your duties include training, supervising and evaluating the performance of warehouse employees. You also maintain records of goods delivered and shipped.
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which skills are required to be a warehouse supervisor?
As a warehouse supervisor, you require organizational skills to run the affairs of the warehouse. Organizational skills help you store inventory properly and ensure the items are put in the correct places. Attention to detail and precision help you supervise other workers in the warehouse. To prevent damage during shipping, you ensure no mistakes are made during the packaging of items.
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what is the difference between a warehouse manager and a warehouse supervisor?
A warehouse manager is focused on the purpose and functions of the warehouse. They ensure the warehouse activities contribute to the larger organizational goals. A warehouse supervisor, on the other hand, focuses on the day-to-day operations of the warehouse. As a warehouse supervisor, you implement the decisions of the warehouse manager.
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how do you stay motivated as a warehouse supervisor?
Working in a warehouse environment can be stressful, and you should find ways to stay motivated. For instance, look for opportunities to automate processes to avoid repetitive tasks. It is also important to recognize the efforts of warehouse workers and reward them. When your warehouse employees are motivated, the activities run smoothly.
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is warehouse supervisor a good career?
Working as a warehouse worker is a promising career that offers a good salary and opportunities for growth. You can progress from a warehouse supervisor to a warehouse manager position. Improving your skills also prepares you for other roles in supply chain or logistics.
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how do I find a job as a warehouse supervisor?
Finding a job near you as a warehouse supervisor is easy. Search our job offers. Have you found what you're looking for? Then submit your application using the ‘Apply’ button top right on the page. No jobs available right now? Send us your resume and we'll pass it on to a recruiter who will contact you if an opportunity opens up for you.
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