Job Purpose The Shipping Manager is responsible for leading end-to-end dispatch, warehouse, inventory, and transportation operations to ensure timely, cost-effective, and compliant delivery of finished goods. The role focuses on maintaining inventory accuracy, optimizing warehouse and transport efficiency, ensuring safety compliance, and leading a high-performing operations team.
Key Responsibilities
1. Dispatch & Shipping Operations
- Ensure timely dispatch of finished goods (FG) as per the approved dispatch plan with zero deviations.
- Achieve On-Time, In-Full (OTIF) deliveries through effective coordination with Production, Sales, Transporters, and C&F partners.
- Monitor dispatch schedules and proactively resolve operational bottlenecks to avoid shipment delays.
- Reconcile dispatches against production plans and sales orders to ensure smooth material flow.
2. Transportation Management
- Plan and optimize transportation routes to improve service levels while minimizing freight costs.
- Ensure timely availability of vehicles through effective transporter and C&F management.
- Monitor freight performance, transit timelines, vehicle utilization, and delivery efficiency.
- Resolve delivery issues, transit damages, shortages, and customer complaints promptly.
- Verify freight invoices and ensure billing accuracy as per approved contracts and agreed freight rates.
3. Inventory Management
- Maintain optimum inventory levels at plants and depots as per defined Days of Inventory (DOI).
- Ensure strict adherence to FIFO, zero expiry, and inventory control principles.
- Monitor inventory accuracy through periodic cycle counts and physical stock verification.
- Coordinate with Production, Planning, and Sales teams to prevent stock-outs and excess inventory.
4. Warehouse Operations
- Optimize warehouse layout and storage locations to improve space utilization and operational efficiency.
- Ensure efficient receipt, storage, picking, packing, and dispatch processes.
- Maintain housekeeping standards and ensure compliance with warehouse operating procedures.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance warehouse productivity and reduce operational costs.
5. Safety & Compliance
- Implement and maintain all safety standards across warehouse and dispatch operations.
- Ensure compliance with statutory regulations, transportation guidelines, loading norms, vehicle safety standards, and company policies.
- Conduct regular safety audits, toolbox talks, and preventive risk assessments.
- Drive a zero-accident culture within the warehouse and logistics operations.
6. Team Management
- Lead, develop, and supervise warehouse, dispatch, contract labour, and transportation teams.
- Plan manpower deployment based on seasonal demand, production plans, and business requirements.
- Manage organized and unorganized workforce to ensure optimum productivity.
- Conduct training, coaching, and performance reviews to build a high-performing operations team.
7. MIS & Performance Reporting
- Prepare and publish daily, weekly, and monthly MIS reports on dispatches, inventory, transportation, sales returns, freight costs, and productivity.
- Develop management dashboards and ensure timely reporting of operational KPIs.
- Analyze operational data to identify trends, improvement opportunities, and cost optimization initiatives.
8. Stakeholder Management
- Build strong relationships with Transporters, C&F Agents, Production, Planning, Procurement, Sales, and Commercial teams.
- Coordinate cross-functionally to ensure seamless execution of dispatch plans and customer deliveries.
Drive continuous improvements in service levels, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
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Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Customer Service
- On-Time, In-Full (OTIF)
- Perfect Order Rate
- Order Accuracy Rate
Transportation
- Freight Cost
- Capacity Utilization
- Vehicle Turnaround Time (TAT)
- Freight Damage & Claim Rate
- Freight Invoice Accuracy
Inventory & Warehouse
- Inventory Accuracy
- Inventory Turnover
- Days of Inventory (DOI)
- FIFO Compliance
- Fill Rate
- Warehouse Space Utilization
Safety & Compliance
- Safety Incident Rate
- Compliance Rate
- Audit Compliance Score
Productivity
- Dispatch Plan Adherence
- Labour Productivity
- Cost per Dispatch
Warehouse Throughput
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Experience
- Total experience: 10–15 years
- Proven experience in managing dispatch, warehouse, transportation, and inventory operations in a large manufacturing plant.
Experience in leading both organized and contract workforce.
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Qualification
- Graduate in any discipline.
Post-Graduation in Supply Chain, Operations, Logistics, or Business Management will be preferred.
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Required Skills & Competencies
Functional Skills
- Shipping & Dispatch Management
- Transportation & Fleet Management
- Warehouse Operations
- Inventory Management
- Supply Chain Planning
- Freight Cost Management
- Vendor & Transporter Management
- MIS Reporting & Dashboard Preparation
- Continuous Improvement
- Safety & Regulatory Compliance
Technical Skills
- Advanced Microsoft Excel (Excel 365 or above)
- MS Office Suite
- ERP/SAP knowledge preferred
- Data analysis and reporting
Behavioral Competencies
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Leadership and people management
- Analytical and problem-solving ability
- Decision-making under pressure
- Planning and organizing
- Stakeholder management
- Result orientation
- High attention to detail
