Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Warehouse Production Manager

🎯 Role Definition

The Warehouse Production Manager is responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating all day-to-day activities in the warehouse production environment to meet customer service, cost, quality, and safety targets. This role oversees order fulfillment, shipping/receiving, inventory control, labor planning, process improvement, and cross-functional coordination with supply chain, procurement, and quality teams. The ideal candidate combines hands-on leadership with metrics-driven decision making, proficiency with WMS/ERP systems, and demonstrated success implementing Lean/continuous improvement initiatives.

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📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Warehouse Supervisor
Production Supervisor
Material Handling Team Lead
Logistics Coordinator

Advancement To:

Senior Operations Manager
Director of Warehouse Operations
Plant Manager
Head of Distribution / Fulfillment

Lateral Moves:

Logistics Manager
Inventory Control Manager
Supply Chain Planning Manager
Continuous Improvement Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Lead day-to-day warehouse production and fulfillment operations, including inbound receiving, put-away, picking, packing, staging, and outbound shipping to achieve on-time delivery and accuracy targets.
Develop, monitor, and report key performance indicators (KPIs) such as throughput, order cycle time, on-time shipments, picks per hour, inventory accuracy, and dock-to-stock cycle time; use data to drive operational improvements.
Create and manage daily/weekly production schedules and labor plans to balance service levels, productivity, and labor cost—adjust staffing and shift patterns during peak periods and promotions.
Oversee inventory control programs including cycle counts, reconciliation, root-cause analysis for variances, and implementation of corrective actions to maintain 98%+ inventory accuracy.
Implement and enforce safety programs, OSHA standards, and quality procedures; lead regular safety audits, incident investigations, and corrective action plans to reduce lost-time incidents.
Manage warehouse management system (WMS) and ERP transactional processes, including RF scanning workflows, bin management, slotting, and transaction cycle optimization.
Supervise, coach, and develop frontline supervisors and hourly staff through performance management, training plans, daily briefings, and career development pathways to build a high-performing operations team.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Kaizen, and Six Sigma tools to reduce waste, increase throughput, lower costs, and improve overall equipment and process effectiveness.
Own fulfillment cost control including labor productivity, overtime management, equipment utilization, and budget adherence; recommend capital expenditures to improve capacity and efficiency.
Coordinate cross-functional activities with procurement, production planning, customer service, and transportation to prioritize orders, manage exceptions, and ensure accurate deliveries.
Manage outbound transportation scheduling and carrier performance in coordination with logistics to optimize freight costs and delivery service levels.
Ensure compliance with product handling, hazardous materials, and storage regulations; manage requirements for temperature-controlled, high-value, or regulated products.
Lead onboarding, hands-on training, and certification programs for warehouse equipment (forklifts, reach trucks), RF devices, and safe material handling practices.
Develop standard operating procedures (SOPs), work instructions, and visual controls for all production and fulfillment processes to ensure consistent execution and quality.
Plan and execute peak season readiness and special project implementations (e.g., new product launches, facility reorganizations, systems migrations) while minimizing disruption to daily operations.
Drive demand-driven labor forecasting using historical volumes, sales projections, and promotional calendars to ensure capacity planning aligns with business needs.
Manage vendor relationships for contract labor, equipment maintenance, and third-party service providers to ensure SLAs, uptime, and quality are met.
Conduct regular performance reviews, set measurable goals, and maintain a culture of accountability and continuous feedback to improve team engagement and retention.
Implement and manage returns processing (reverse logistics), disposition workflows, and refurbishment processes to minimize losses and recover value.
Maintain visual management boards, daily stand-ups, and briefing cadences to communicate performance, priorities, and safety messages across shifts.
Ensure accurate and timely documentation for audits, customer scorecards, and regulatory inspections; prepare corrective action plans and follow-through on audit findings.
Collaborate with IT and systems teams to specify requirements, test, and roll out WMS or ERP enhancements and mobile device configurations.
Oversee equipment maintenance strategies and collaborate with facilities to ensure racking, conveyors, and material handling equipment are safe and operational.
Manage SKU slotting and space optimization projects to reduce travel time and increase order picking efficiency across fast, medium, and slow movers.
Lead cross-training programs so staff can flex across functions (picking, packing, receiving) to maintain resiliency and meet variable demand.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc operational data requests and provide exploratory analysis to business partners using warehouse KPIs and transaction data.
Contribute to the organization's warehouse strategy and roadmap by identifying capacity constraints and proposing scalable solutions.
Collaborate with business units to translate operational needs into systems or process requirements and participate in testing and user-acceptance.
Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies when partnering with IT or digital teams on WMS/automation projects.
Assist procurement and capital planning with requirements and ROI analysis for new automation (conveyors, sortation, robotics).
Mentor and coach continuous improvement leaders and project teams on problem solving, root cause analysis, and pilot execution.
Represent the warehouse in cross-functional leadership forums to align production priorities with sales, customer service, and finance.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) administration and optimization (e.g., Manhattan, Blue Yonder/JDA, HighJump, Oracle WMS, SAP EWM).
ERP system experience (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite) for inventory and order transaction reconciliation.
Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, macros) and experience with data visualization tools (Power BI, Tableau) for KPI dashboards.
Knowledge of Lean manufacturing, Kaizen, and Six Sigma methodologies to lead process improvement initiatives.
Strong inventory control techniques: cycle counting, ABC analysis, slotting optimization, FIFO/FEFO management.
Experience with distribution automation and material handling equipment (conveyors, sortation, AS/RS, pick-to-light, voice pick).
Familiarity with RF barcode scanning, mobile devices, and warehouse transaction flows.
Compliance and safety management: OSHA regulations, DOT, hazmat handling, and safety audit execution.
Labor planning and workforce management tools for scheduling, productivity tracking, and overtime control.
Shipping and transportation coordination experience, including LTL, TL, parcel, and carrier KPI management.
Budget management and P&L awareness for operational cost control and CAPEX justification.
Project management skills for rollout of new systems, facility layouts, or automation solutions.

Soft Skills

Strong leadership presence with ability to coach, motivate, and develop frontline supervisors and hourly teams.
Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with a data-driven mindset.
Clear communicator who can translate operational metrics into business insights for stakeholders.
Change management capability: lead teams through process changes and system implementations.
High sense of ownership, accountability, and results orientation with a focus on continuous improvement.
Strong organizational skills and ability to prioritize in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
Conflict resolution and negotiation skills to work with internal stakeholders, vendors, and carriers.
Customer-focused mindset to align warehouse performance with external and internal customer expectations.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED required; equivalent combination of education and related warehouse/operations experience accepted.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Business Administration, or related field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Supply Chain Management
Logistics and Transportation
Industrial / Manufacturing Engineering
Business Administration / Operations Management
Occupational Safety & Health

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 5–10 years of progressive warehouse, distribution, or production operations experience with at least 2–4 years in a supervisory or management role.

Preferred: 7+ years of distribution or warehouse management experience, with demonstrated success implementing WMS/ERP systems, leading continuous improvement initiatives, managing budgets, and sustaining high levels of inventory accuracy and on-time delivery.