8 Facts About Warehouse Associates

All products when they are manufactured have to be stored at some point during production.  Storage of products is vital to any business, as this allows them to build up a surplus of items ready to be shipped out at any time.

More importantly, warehouses act as the places where items can be received and sent out.

The first person to see a product when it enters the building and the last to see it when it leaves are Warehouse Associates. They are crucial to food production and always work at a fast pace.

1. Warehouse Associates receive and process materials

A warehouse associate:

receives and processes materials promptly and accurately at warehouse facilities. They may work in the receiving or shipping departments or even both, depending on the size of a facility. No matter what, they abide by good manufacturing practices and safe work procedures. Associates are detail-oriented and always check that orders are properly packed and wrapped for shipment. They pick and pack orders for delivery or transfer all while ensuring that deliveries are completed on time.

This job often requires an individual to operate and be a licensed to use a forklift, pump truck or an electric pallet jack safely and efficiently. Using a forklift, they stage products in the warehouse and on a dock to ensure that only quality products are accessible. Furthermore, this position may also require an individual to physically move packages onto pallets.

2. Warehouse Associates require no post-secondary education

Typically, no post-secondary education is typically required for to become a warehouse associate. It is not uncommon for many food manufacturing facilities to only require warehouse associates to have a high school diploma or GED. Individuals in this field typically begin in lower-level warehouse positions and progress to higher-level roles, such as warehouse managers.

The role of a warehouse associate is a great entry point for those looking to progress to more senior positions within the food industry.

3. Warehouse Associates assist with inventory control

When you walk into a warehouse, you will come across rows upon rows of items. Each section within this network of rows has a designated “space” that can be filled or left unfilled. For example, you might have 40 cases of a product within a particular space.
Shipping and receiving are responsible for documenting all actions related to the movement of inventory. Tracking can be accomplished through written documents or electronic tracking using scanners. Moving an item without anyone knowing could result in big trouble when the facility needs to rush out an item. People could search for it forever!

4. Warehouse Associates move around a lot

When associates receive supplies at a manufacturing plant, they typically come on pallets. Normally, they are well-organized and appropriately stacked, but this doesn’t always happen. In some cases, the supplies need to be removed and fixed. This task can get quite physical.
Warehouse associates must be strong enough to move bags from one place to another. Not to mention, this is a job where they are constantly on their feet, even when not operating a forklift.

5. Warehouse Associates need to be able to use forklifts

A tote of sugar can weigh up to 2,000 lbs, a weight that cannot be easily moved with just a pump truck. Instead, you need a powerful piece of equipment like a forklift. However, operating a forklift isn’t something everyone can do; it requires certification. For this reason, most warehouse associates are required to have a forklift certification which allows them to safely move heavy items within a manufacturing plant.

6. Warehouse Associates talk with truck drivers

Working in the receiving department of a manufacturing plant requires warehouse associates to be comfortable interacting with truck drivers. Receiving is another term used to describe the portion of a manufacturing plant that receives supplies from trucks and warehouses.

When trucks carrying ingredients arrive at the manufacturing plant, they are directed to the dock, and warehouse associates remove the items from the trucks. During this time, these professionals instruct truck drivers on which dock to unload their trucks. If a shipment arrives in disarray (e.g., product boxes are open), it needs to be rejected – something that not everyone is comfortable doing. Sometimes drivers put up a fuss because this is extra work that they don’t want to deal with.

7. Warehouse Associates keep inventory of items

Regardless of where associates work in the warehouse, they must perform some counting at some point. In the shipping area, warehouse associates verify that the items in front of them match the items on the purchasing order.
When receiving items, warehouse associates count skids to ensure that they are not short-shipped. If there aren’t enough items coming into the plant, this could mean that products aren’t being manufactured that day!

8. Warehouse associates are detail-oriented, organized and fast-paced

As with any occupation, there are certain sets of skills which will aid you better than others. For a Warehouse Associate, these skills include:

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment – Food production facilities are fast-paced environments and that goes for the warehouse as well! These professionals need to be comfortable moving products quickly in and out all with a high level of accuracy.
• Detail-Oriented – There are two major portions of a warehouse: receiving and shipping. In receiving, warehouse associates use a keen eye for detail to make sure quality ingredients enter the warehouse. They are the first line of defence for food safety, which includes looking for contaminated trucks or open boxes.  The products received should match the paperwork. In shipping, warehouse associates ensure that the company’s product exits the facility, adhering to company standards.  
• Organization skills – When moving products around a manufacturing facility, warehouse associates must stay organized and systematic with their actions. Staying organized helps to ensure that they can accurately account for every item at all times. Their ability to stay organized not only enhances workflow efficiency but also minimizes the risk of errors, allowing them to respond swiftly when they are needed.