What does a distribution technician do?
A distribution technician has a variety of duties and responsibilities, including collecting and delivering materials, receiving documents, packages, and messages, and transporting them safely to their destination. Other tasks that you will likely perform include managing the inventory and completing data entry, preparing documentation and reports, and coordinating logistics for the shipment of products. Additional duties include providing quality service to customers and distributors, resolving inventory discrepancies, and collecting and updating customer information. You may also be tasked to conduct field and laboratory testing of construction materials.
Distribution technician responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real distribution technician resumes:
- Manage all aspects of verifying incoming items and outgoing customer material release orders (MRO )
- Manage and monitor KPI's, departmental metrics and ensure all checks and balances are in place.
- Purchase raw materials in order to support manufacturing per MRP requirements.
- Ensure office are neat, orderly and secure to meet FDA standards.
- Utilize troubleshooting and problem-solving skills resolving conflicts/issues in item master and BOM data.
- Load and unload trailers using RF scanner to ensure order/weight distribution accurate to customer order.
- Work diligently within MRP on a daily basis to meet changes in forecast and inventory.
- Pack, fill, and ship orders in accordance with FDA and Bio-medical regulate procedures and guidelines.
- Mark pairs of shoes or cartons using price tickets, pallet identification stickers and RF scan guns.
- Exchange returned merchandise for patients quickly and efficiently.
- Have a professional and caring demeanor when interacting with patients
- Test ethylene oxide sterilizers and vacuum cleaners as required.
- Maintain proper functioning of sterilizers, ultrasonic cleaner and instrument decontamination washers.
- Update warehouse items to include reorganizing, updating shelving units, restructuring pallets with categorizing supplies and equipment.
- Obtain previous inventory from WMS and provide information to the coordinators upon approval of your PE.
Distribution technician skills and personality traits
We calculated that 12% of Distribution Technicians are proficient in Patients, Computer System, and Data Entry. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Customer-service skills, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of Distribution Technicians that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patients, 12%
Transport patients for procedures performed by the Respiratory Therapists.
- Computer System, 8%
Operated computer systems needed to process deliveries.
- Data Entry, 7%
Performed computer data entry into an inventory system.
- Medical Equipment, 5%
Sterilized medical equipment, evaluated, documented and reported inventory of equipment.
- Customer Service, 4%
Performed customer service functions such as taking and filling orders to be shipped domestically and internationally.
- Basic Math, 4%
Job Requirements Able to lift 50 pounds Basic math and language skills Sound administrative and communication skills Ability to manage time successfully
"patients," "computer system," and "data entry" are among the most common skills that distribution technicians use at work. You can find even more distribution technician responsibilities below, including:
Communication skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a distribution technician to have is communication skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "production, planning, and expediting clerks are frequently in contact with suppliers, vendors, and production managers and need to communicate the firm’s scheduling needs effectively." Distribution technicians often use communication skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "work with different units in order to ensure good communications and become cost effective. "
Customer-service skills. Many distribution technician duties rely on customer-service skills. "stock clerks sometimes interact with customers in retail stores and may have to get the item the customer is looking for from the storeroom.," so a distribution technician will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways distribution technician responsibilities rely on customer-service skills: "responsibilities-scanned product physically-processed orders-unloaded trailers-put away product-forklift certified-pulled customers orders-inspected product-consolidated-data entry"
Detail oriented. Another skill that relates to the job responsibilities of distribution technicians is detail oriented. This skill is critical to many everyday distribution technician duties, as "material and product inspecting clerks check items for defects, some of which are small and difficult to spot." This example from a resume shows how this skill is used: "maintained accurate/detailed records - using the production control, rf and scanning system. "
Math skills. A big part of what distribution technicians do relies on "math skills." You can see how essential it is to distribution technician responsibilities because "some material recording clerks use math to calculate shipping costs or take measurements." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical distribution technician tasks: "fax , math skills ,reading writing .communication customer service"
The three companies that hire the most distribution technicians are:
- Blood Heroes58 distribution technicians jobs
- Prime Healthcare42 distribution technicians jobs
- Tenet Healthcare40 distribution technicians jobs
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Distribution technician vs. Warehouse clerk
A warehouse clerk is an employee responsible for the process of ordered goods while keeping the warehouse well-organized and clean. Warehouse clerks accept company products' deliveries, inspect them for any damages, and store them accordingly in the warehouse. Companies require their warehouse clerks to have many skills, such as an operating forklift or other machinery to transport large and heavy goods. Warehouse clerks must also possess abilities like knowledge in Warehouse Management Software programs and detailed-oriented capable of noticing small errors in orders.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a distribution technician are more likely to require skills like "medical equipment," "inventory control," "cleanliness," and "blood products." On the other hand, a job as a warehouse clerk requires skills like "work ethic," "strong work ethic," "pallets," and "hand tools." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Warehouse clerks tend to make the most money working in the transportation industry, where they earn an average salary of $32,595. In contrast, distribution technicians make the biggest average salary, $36,651, in the utilities industry.The education levels that warehouse clerks earn slightly differ from distribution technicians. In particular, warehouse clerks are 1.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a distribution technician. Additionally, they're 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Distribution technician vs. Inventory control specialist
Inventory control specialist ensures company inventory is accurate in all levels to increase the company's profitability. The specialist should maintain stable stocks and should manage the procurement of inventories. He/She or she is responsible for managing the flow of inventory in and out together with the shipment, package, and the storage activities then record them accurately for audits and reporting to the management. Specialists are often employed by various industries. They usually work in warehouses or in local retail locations.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real distribution technician resumes. While distribution technician responsibilities can utilize skills like "patients," "data entry," "medical equipment," and "basic math," inventory control specialists use skills like "inventory control procedures," "work ethic," "sales floor," and "safety standards."
On average, inventory control specialists earn a higher salary than distribution technicians. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, inventory control specialists earn the most pay in the technology industry with an average salary of $36,114. Whereas distribution technicians have higher pay in the utilities industry, with an average salary of $36,651.In general, inventory control specialists achieve similar levels of education than distribution technicians. They're 0.9% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Distribution technician vs. Warehouse coordinator
A warehouse coordinator is responsible for monitoring the supply and distribution operations of a warehouse, loading and unloading merchandise from the delivery trucks, and storing items appropriately on the facility. Warehouse coordinators assist in packing and labeling items, pulling out products from delivery, and ensuring the correct quantity and quality of the items before release. They also inspect the efficiency and performance of warehouse tools and equipment, especially on schedule for regular maintenance, and call for repairs as needed.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a distribution technician is likely to be skilled in "patients," "cleanliness," "blood products," and "computer programs," while a typical warehouse coordinator is skilled in "warehouse functions," "warehouse operations," "wms," and "warehouse equipment."
Warehouse coordinators make a very good living in the health care industry with an average annual salary of $36,509. On the other hand, distribution technicians are paid the highest salary in the utilities industry, with average annual pay of $36,651.Most warehouse coordinators achieve a similar degree level compared to distribution technicians. For example, they're 0.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Distribution technician vs. Materials specialist
A materials specialist is responsible for researching efficient and high-quality materials for production and manufacturing processes, following the designs and specifications of the engineering team and design analysts. Materials specialists identify cost-reduction materials by coordinating with trusted suppliers and vendors and determine the suitability of these items in the supply chain. They conduct data and statistical analysis to develop strategic techniques that would minimize the company's expenditures and cost. A materials specialist must have excellent communication and organizational skills, especially in writing expense reports and discuss findings to the senior management.
Types of distribution technician
Updated January 8, 2025











