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Distribution and logistics manager skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
6 min read
Quoted expert
Adrian Tan
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical distribution and logistics manager skills. We ranked the top skills for distribution and logistics managers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 14.2% of distribution and logistics manager resumes contained supply chain as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a distribution and logistics manager needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 distribution and logistics manager skills for your resume and career

1. Supply Chain

A supply chain is a network or a sequence by which finished products of a company are distributed to retailers and then supplied to the end-users. The distribution of products and services from the production line to the final buyers is carried out in a series of steps including; manufacturing, transportation, and their distribution. The whole supply chain consists of different entities including; manufacturers, transportation, warehouses, suppliers, and retailers. The entities ensure that the products retain their originality while also minimizing the cost of delivery.

Here's how distribution and logistics managers use supply chain:
  • Developed improvements to order fulfillment and reduced customer complaints and organized supply chain solutions that lowered costs and enhanced service.
  • Restructured and improved infrastructure in operations, supply chain, and warehouse functions to support anticipated company growth.

2. Continuous Improvement

Continuous improvement is an ongoing process of improvement of products, services, and processes with the help of innovative ideas. It is an organized approach that helps an organization to find its weaknesses and improve them.

Here's how distribution and logistics managers use continuous improvement:
  • Promoted and maintained an environment of continuous improvement and implemented action plans as appropriate.
  • Focus on key Industrial Engineering concepts such as Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvements and Operations Research.

3. Safety Procedures

Safety procedures are a set of standardized procedures, that ensures minimal to no risk to people, resources, and the work environment. A company follows the step-by-step safety procedures as it they not only keep the customers and the employees safe, but also help in avoiding legal claims.

Here's how distribution and logistics managers use safety procedures:
  • Prepare and manage safety procedures in accordance with OSHA, and DOT guidelines.
  • Maintained 100% compliance with all safety procedures.

4. Safety Program

Safety programs are a series of measures to protect employees from any mishaps and make the work environment safer. Safety programs include checklists, guidelines, and direct procedures that a specific area or department must follow. Safety programs take care of office space safety, maintenance and repairs, and identification of frauds as well.

Here's how distribution and logistics managers use safety program:
  • Implemented Safety program reducing Performance Modifier from 1.8 to .8 reflecting an annualized savings of $80K annually.
  • Implemented all safety programs including DOT, OSHA, and compliance related to accident and injury investigation.

5. Management System

A management system is a set of policies, processes, and procedures taken by an organization or a business to ensure it can fulfill its tasks and achieve its objectives. A management system makes sure that the company excels financially and improves the user experience. The management system also takes care of the worker's and employees' needs and manages their workload and oversees their performance. Apart from interior matters of the company, a management system also deals with exterior matters like legislations, tax matters, and law issues.

Here's how distribution and logistics managers use management system:
  • Team leader of implementation program for two warehouse management systems.
  • Implemented Warehouse Management System from development to launch.

6. Inventory Control

Here's how distribution and logistics managers use inventory control:
  • Developed and enhanced procedures relating to customer returns, inventory control, space utilization and time management for warehouse personnel.
  • Talented Logistics & Distribution Manager tasked with maintaining inventory control and exceeding productivity goals.

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7. Shipping Receiving

Here's how distribution and logistics managers use shipping receiving:
  • Supervised one shipping receiving employee.
  • Conducted performance evaluations for shipping receiving staff.

8. ERP

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is computer software used by major corporations and organizations for conducting their management and accounting tasks efficiently. ERP systems bind different business processes with each other allowing smoother flow of data between them resulting in swift project assessment and completion.

Here's how distribution and logistics managers use erp:
  • Led cross-functional team in the selection of ERP system, training users and developing procedures to integrate the computerized system.
  • Selected and successfully implemented full ERP system platform from which all business processes are run.

9. Warehouse Operations

Warehouse operations include all those actions associated with the goods, from the point of receiving them to safely storing them in the warehouse. From attaching barcodes on packages to coordinating with teams, all fall under the category of warehouse operations.

Here's how distribution and logistics managers use warehouse operations:
  • Facilitate warehouse operations to ensure cost, productivity, quality control, and lean initiatives are met.
  • Managed warehouse operations as well as vendor relationships for $8 million custom products franchise headquarters.

10. Lean Manufacturing

Here's how distribution and logistics managers use lean manufacturing:
  • Tracked inbound information for lean manufacturing practices.
  • Improved efficiency by implementing Six Sigma and Lean Manufacturing techniques.

11. ISO

Here's how distribution and logistics managers use iso:
  • Headed the ISO 9000 Certification Team and Internal Assessment Team.
  • Managed 4 ISO 9002 warehouses with over 800,000 square feet and 50,000 part numbers for a major customer, Lucent Technologies.

12. Inventory Management

Here's how distribution and logistics managers use inventory management:
  • Strengthen the company's competitive advantage and financial performance through continually improving logistics operations execution and inventory management.
  • Managed an excellent Inventory Management.

13. Cost Savings

Here's how distribution and logistics managers use cost savings:
  • Identified and implemented cost savings techniques by collaborating across departments to develop discount methods and analyze profitability results.
  • Initiated cost savings in warehousing customer inventory.

14. On-Time Delivery

On-Time Delivery, or OTD, is a metric that measures the rate at which finished goods and deliveries are completed on time. This rate is measured by the overall number of units shipped within a specified time frame agreed upon by the consumer and supplier. On-Time Delivery allows suppliers' compliance with delivery deadlines, and hence their consistency, to be assessed using a continuous and collaborative development approach.

Here's how distribution and logistics managers use on-time delivery:
  • Managed Distribution warehouse personnel ensuring accurate order fulfillment and on-time delivery.
  • Partnered with production and sales teams to achieve customer fill rate of 100% and on-time delivery of 99.5%.

15. KPI

Here's how distribution and logistics managers use kpi:
  • Created metrics, managed KPI s, policies and procedures.
  • Present information to upper management members based on established KPI data.
top-skills

What skills help Distribution And Logistics Managers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What type of skills will young distribution and logistics managers need?

Adrian TanAdrian Tan LinkedIn profile

Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator, Pennsylvania State University - New Kensington

The feedback from business leaders is that they wish to see a balanced mix of different skills in new graduates. An unexpected skill mentioned is the ability to use spreadsheets such as Excel. Companies do not expect to have to train new employees to use spreadsheets, though it turned out that spreadsheets are widely used (at varying levels of complexity) at all levels in organizations. An assumption here is that if a graduate already has good spreadsheet skills, then the graduate should also have the ability to quickly pick up on other more complex business IT skills required by the organization.
Businesses also need to know if their new employees can effectively interact with internal or external audiences. In this regard, excellent presentation skills are the minimum expectation from businesses. Presentation skills (both formal and informal) include the ability to read people, to communicate, and to covey information appropriately to the different types of audiences they may encounter - and these may sometimes include bored, skeptical, adversarial or even hostile audiences.
Every organization also requires graduates to show that they are good team-players. In addition to that, it is a big advantage if graduates can also demonstrate sound leadership skills in the context of teamwork. This is because new employees with leadership potential are viewed as those who are willing to go the extra mile, able to function with minimum supervision, can roll with the punches to jump back into the fray, and trusted to welcome (instead of to avoid) new assignments or challenges. Leadership skills are also seen as closely aligned with the possession of a corporate entrepreneurial mindset in that such employees are more willing to challenge the status quo, come up with out-of-the-box ideas, and help lead transformation efforts that can guide the organization in the future.
Do you want to know more?
Read more about what experts have to say about distribution and logistics manager

List of distribution and logistics manager skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a distribution and logistics manager resume and required skills for a distribution and logistics manager to have include:

  • Supply Chain
  • Continuous Improvement
  • Safety Procedures
  • Safety Program
  • Management System
  • Inventory Control
  • Shipping Receiving
  • ERP
  • Warehouse Operations
  • Lean Manufacturing
  • ISO
  • Inventory Management
  • Cost Savings
  • On-Time Delivery
  • KPI
  • Direct Reports
  • FDA
  • Cycle Counts
  • WMS
  • Distribution Centers
  • Inventory Accuracy
  • Sigma
  • Cost Reduction
  • Third-Party Logistics
  • LTL
  • Freight Costs
  • Process Improvement
  • Delivery Route
  • Physical Inventory
  • Logistics Operations
  • Customer Demand
  • Forwarders
  • MRP
  • Distribution Facilities
  • Fleet Management
  • Hazardous Materials
  • Logistics Processes
  • Distribution Operations
  • Customer Orders
  • Quality Standards
  • Staff Resources
  • Transportation Costs
  • Order Cycle
  • Goods Inventory
  • Freight Rates
  • Fifo
  • AS400

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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