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Distribution manager skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

7 min read

Quoted experts

Xu Zhang Ph.D.,

Nina Woodard

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical distribution manager skills. We ranked the top skills for distribution managers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 13.6% of distribution manager resumes contained customer service as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a distribution manager needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 distribution manager skills for your resume and career

1. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how distribution managers use customer service:

Maintained high customer service standards and excellent customer satisfaction levels by executing on time deliveries and clear and timely communication.
Ensured operations met customer service expectations, safety objectives, cost targets, inventory management, and quality objectives.

2. Logistics

Logistics is a complete organization and implementation of a problem. Logistics are often considered in a complex business operation, as some works need detailed plannings. Logistics are also used in military action.

Here's how distribution managers use logistics:

Evaluated performance of all national and international suppliers, distributors, and 3rd-party logistics providers to ensure top quality and efficiency.
Analyzed logistics proposals from third party providers for cost/service benefits, determine risk to business and made recommendations to senior management.

3. 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 managers use continuous improvement:

Represented department in daily war room meetings to report on productivity barriers, performance metrics and status of continuous improvement initiatives.
Participated in Continuous Improvement Process for 3PL including service improvement and cost reduction opportunities through implementation of Lean Six Sigma principles.

4. OSHA

Here's how distribution managers use osha:

Assisted OSHA as a mentor for similar sized business wishing to improve safety programs to meet regulatory requirements
Ensured operational safety in compliance with corporate and OSHA audits

5. Operational Procedures

The operational procedure means the prescriptive documents that describe processes involving several partners. The involved techniques get utilized in defining the related work.

Here's how distribution managers use operational procedures:

Established operational procedures for the verification of incoming and outgoing shipments, handling and disposition of materials and maintaining current inventory.
Developed operational procedures for activities, including verification of incoming and outgoing shipments, and keeping warehouse inventory current.

6. Distribution Operations

Distribution operation is the operation carried out to oversee the movement of finished goods from the manufacturer of a product or supplier to the end-user.

Here's how distribution managers use distribution operations:

Reported to Director, Distribution Operations, project managed implementation of critical sample allocation system, streamlining and improving end-to-end process.
Maintained receiving and distribution operations by initiating, coordinating, and enforcing program, operational, personnel policies and procedures.

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7. Inventory Control

Here's how distribution managers use inventory control:

Major duties and responsibilities include: Inventory Control Asset Management Communication with domestic and international offices Preparing and processing international documentation.
Redesigned warehouse by implementing a cycle count program for raw materials and finished goods, improving productivity and inventory control.

8. Safety Training

The guidance and skills taught to workers and employees of a company to carry out their duties safely and efficiently are referred to as safety training. The purpose of safety training is to inform workers about the potential and risks associated with this kind of work and to teach them ways to avoid such risks.

Here's how distribution managers use safety training:

Demonstrated instructional leadership by conducting process improvement, safety training and Department of Transportation compliance training for Packaging & Distribution personnel.
Conducted discipline, operational security, safety training, performance evaluations, reprimands, hiring and termination.

9. ISO

Here's how distribution managers use iso:

Assumed responsibility as 'management representative' to develop procedures manual required for ISO 9001 certification.
Created and maintained all ISO documentation and company Quality Policy and Manual for business operations.

10. Shipping Receiving

Here's how distribution managers use shipping receiving:

Prepared and processed required documents such as pic sheets, bill of lading and related shipping receiving documents.
Directed all areas of order pulling, stocking, truck loading, shipping receiving, printing and production.

11. Customer Satisfaction

Here's how distribution managers use customer satisfaction:

Project leader of consolidation team to consolidate two facilities for profit improvements and cost reductions for better efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Directed consumer based communications to ensure customer satisfaction created efficient routing directories and supervised a route distribution team of 41 employees.

12. Process Improvement

Here's how distribution managers use process improvement:

LEAN certified, initiated and participated in several process improvement initiatives both internal to Materials Management and with external departments.
Spearheaded the implementation of process improvements, cost reductions, and internal controls that significantly improved department performance.

13. WMS

A WMS, warehouse management system, is an application software solution tool utilized to coordinate, control, automate and manage a company's warehouse operations and processes. WMS optimizes the supply chain process by maximizing warehouse efficiency, thereby eliminating errors.

Here's how distribution managers use wms:

Helped establish WMS warehouse merchandise locator system and expanded this system to delivery and customer pickup functions.
Managed successful integration of new WMS system including voice pick technology and engineered labor standards.

14. 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 managers use warehouse operations:

Developed and implemented standardized practices for order processing and fulfillment, staff scheduling, inventory, warehouse operations, and shipping/receiving.
Manage all warehouse operations with the goal of maximizing productivity and order fill while minimizing operating costs and inefficiencies.

15. Distribution Facility

Here's how distribution managers use distribution facility:

Complete management, administrative & distribution responsibility for a 150,000 square foot international pet food distribution facility with 50 employees.
Opened and ran an off-site, dedicated distribution facility when the inventory exceeded the storage capability of corporate headquarters.

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What skills help Distribution Managers find jobs?

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

What skills stand out on distribution manager resumes?

Xu Zhang Ph.D.

Chair, Farmingdale State College

I believe the most important attributes employers seek on a resume remain the same-problem solving skills, team work skills, analytical/quantitative skills, verbal and written communication skills. However, given the pandemic or any other unexpected shock to work environment, how to quickly and efficiently adapt to new work modes can be a very valuable attribute standing out on resume.

What distribution manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Nina Woodard

Senior Career Development Specialist, Belmont University

For entertainment, digital marketing and content creation skills are critical. Even if a role isn't specifically connected to digital marketing, social media is almost always involved in most entry-level roles. We strongly encourage students and recent graduates to learn basic graphic design platforms, video editing and audio editing. Learning how to maximize impact on social media platforms such as YouTube, Instagram or TikTok is also a worthy investment of time. There's a wide range of self-paced training resources online, many available for free or at reduced costs for students.

What type of skills will young distribution managers need?

Craig Nathanson Ph.D.

Adjunct Lecturer, Sonoma State University

I see the essential human skills gaining importance to build a new post-covid work life. These include creativity, leading and working in teams, writing, speaking, being self-aware, and lowering bias and networking; career branding as critical areas for graduates to focus on now.

Do you want to know more?

List of distribution manager skills to add to your resume

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

Customer Service
Logistics
Continuous Improvement
OSHA
Operational Procedures
Distribution Operations
Inventory Control
Safety Training
ISO
Shipping Receiving
Customer Satisfaction
Process Improvement
WMS
Warehouse Operations
Distribution Facility
Direct Reports
Distribution Centers

Human Resources
Management System
KPIs
Sigma
Performance Reviews
Customer Orders
Payroll
CDL
FDA
Inventory Management
On-Time Delivery
Cost Savings
Cycle Counts
Warehouse Inventory
RF
Inventory Accuracy
ERP

Cost Reduction
Disciplinary Actions
LTL
Customer Complaints
Kaizen
Distribution Network
Order Processing
Distribution Functions
Outbound Shipments
Retail Store
Performance Evaluations
Order Fulfillment
Customer Relations
MRP
Physical Inventory
Third-Party Logistics

Updated January 8, 2025

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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