What does a material handling supervisor do?
Material handling supervisor responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real material handling supervisor resumes:
- Manage and organize LTL shipments and warehouse responsibilities.
- Key member of team to develop and execute initial ISO compliance.
- Complete orders use PC as well as confirmed receiving shipments via e-mail.
- Help develop all new training records and procedures for ISO certification and are part of several cost saving projects.
- Develop innovative approaches to ensure retail logistics support.
- Resolve conflicts involving retail logistics policy and procedures.
- Locate pallets of merchandise in different departments using stand up rider jack also loading an operating assemble line processing merchandise
- Establish process for preparing commercial invoices directly out of MRP system rather than preparing manually.
- Establish Tugger route system ensuring the accurate, just in time delivery of materials to point of usage.
- Plan and purchase raw materials for production and inventory as well as MRO supplies.
- Purchase electronic components for government contracts and raw materials as well as MRO procurement.
- Submit Kaizen to management and receive approval.
- Create Kaizen and present to upper management and receive approval.
- Facilitate accurate time recording and timely submission to payroll.
Material handling supervisor skills and personality traits
We calculated that 12% of Material Handling Supervisors are proficient in Safety Regulations, Commodities, and Materials Handling. They’re also known for soft skills such as Hand-eye coordination, Listening skills, and Physical stamina.
We break down the percentage of Material Handling Supervisors that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Safety Regulations, 12%
Maintain a safe and efficient work environment while ensuring all safety regulations are adhered to per company policy.
- Commodities, 9%
Led and executed projects related to different commodities such as copper and silver, expected savings of $435K.
- Materials Handling, 8%
Develop and administer Materials Handling department verification and skill assessment for both truckers and clerks.
- Commissary, 7%
Contracted for highly specialized commissary items for Coleman Complex.
- Material Handlers, 7%
Managed material handlers who supported varied World Class manufacturing from chemical process to military amplifier assembly.
- Inventory Control, 6%
Initiated employee accountability regimentation and inventory control spot-checking with state-of-the-art computer tracking, bar coding and scanning procedures.
Common skills that a material handling supervisor uses to do their job include "safety regulations," "commodities," and "materials handling." You can find details on the most important material handling supervisor responsibilities below.
Hand-eye coordination. The most essential soft skill for a material handling supervisor to carry out their responsibilities is hand-eye coordination. This skill is important for the role because "most hand laborers and material movers use their arms and hands to manipulate objects or move objects into specific positions." Additionally, a material handling supervisor resume shows how their duties depend on hand-eye coordination: "included coordination of purchase order process, research and resolution of non-conforming orders, including non-delivery of materials and systems issues. "
Listening skills. Another essential skill to perform material handling supervisor duties is listening skills. Material handling supervisors responsibilities require that "hand laborers and material movers follow instructions that a supervisor gives them." Material handling supervisors also use listening skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "processed and shipped merchandise orders for retail stores received, audited and researched purchase orders communicated and dispersed paperwork to shippers"
Physical stamina. material handling supervisors are also known for physical stamina, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to material handling supervisor responsibilities, because "hand laborers and material movers need the endurance to perform strenuous tasks, such as moving or cleaning objects, throughout the day." A material handling supervisor resume example shows how physical stamina is used in the workplace: "job requires physical lifting, endurance, stamina, operate forklifts & electric pallet jacks. "
Physical strength. A big part of what material handling supervisors do relies on "physical strength." You can see how essential it is to material handling supervisor responsibilities because "some hand laborers and material movers must be able to lift and carry heavy objects." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical material handling supervisor tasks: "moved items from one of 800+ locations to a new internal site both physically and via the qad computer system. "
Customer-service skills. A commonly-found skill in material handling supervisor job descriptions, "customer-service skills" is essential to what material handling supervisors do. Material handling supervisor responsibilities rely on this skill because "hand laborers and material movers who work with the public, such as grocery baggers or carwash attendants, must be pleasant and courteous to customers." You can also see how material handling supervisor duties rely on customer-service skills in this resume example: "communicate orally and in writing with customers, branch supervisors and other federal agencies on all matters pertaining to warehouse operations. "
The three companies that hire the most material handling supervisors are:
- Sysco9 material handling supervisors jobs
- BioFire Diagnostics3 material handling supervisors jobs
- Nucor2 material handling supervisors jobs
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Compare different material handling supervisors
Material handling supervisor vs. Delivery coordinator
A delivery coordinator is responsible for managing the distribution and shipment schedules and ensuring that the items for delivery are thoroughly inspected for quality. Delivery coordinators review customer orders multiple times to prevent distribution delays and possible complaints. They also reach out to the customers for delivery confirmation and list other instructions and adjustments as needed. A delivery coordinator handles the customers' inquiries and concerns, processes replacement orders, and resolve order disputes timely and efficiently.
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a material handling supervisor are more likely to require skills like "safety regulations," "commodities," "federal bureau," and "materials handling." On the other hand, a job as a delivery coordinator requires skills like "delivery issues," "delivery process," "delivery schedules," and "delivery operations." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
Delivery coordinators tend to make the most money working in the internet industry, where they earn an average salary of $37,283. In contrast, material handling supervisors make the biggest average salary, $56,005, in the automotive industry.delivery coordinators tend to reach similar levels of education than material handling supervisors. In fact, delivery coordinators are 1.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Material handling supervisor vs. Dispatch manager
Warehouse leads are responsible for supply chain management in distribution centers. Their duties and responsibilities include supervising employees and evaluating their performance, meeting safety regulations, and monitoring deliveries and shipments. They are the ones who interact with customers and clients to resolve any delivery issues that may arise. They also help with some administrative tasks such as order and invoice processing and maintenance. This role applies to those with excellent communication skills, leadership capabilities, and strong attention to detail.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real material handling supervisor resumes. While material handling supervisor responsibilities can utilize skills like "commodities," "federal bureau," "materials handling," and "commissary," dispatch managers use skills like "dot," "gps," "customer satisfaction," and "cdl."
Dispatch managers may earn a lower salary than material handling supervisors, but dispatch managers earn the most pay in the professional industry with an average salary of $59,844. On the other hand, material handling supervisors receive higher pay in the automotive industry, where they earn an average salary of $56,005.dispatch managers earn similar levels of education than material handling supervisors in general. They're 2.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Material handling supervisor vs. Warehouse lead
The job of driver managers involves the recruitment, training, and assessment of drivers and their qualifications pursuant to driving laws. Driver managers manage vehicles confirming their safety and working order. They monitor the fleet to make sure that the deliveries are done as scheduled. It is part of their responsibilities to serve as mentors for drivers. They address drivers' communications and offer the necessary data to drivers. Also, they set periodical inspections of the vehicles in operation.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, material handling supervisors are more likely to have skills like "commodities," "federal bureau," "commissary," and "inventory documentation." But a warehouse lead is more likely to have skills like "customer service," "ladders," "pallets," and "sales floor."
Warehouse leads earn the highest salary when working in the manufacturing industry, where they receive an average salary of $41,833. Comparatively, material handling supervisors have the highest earning potential in the automotive industry, with an average salary of $56,005.warehouse leads typically earn similar educational levels compared to material handling supervisors. Specifically, they're 3.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Material handling supervisor vs. Driver manager
Types of material handling supervisor
Updated January 8, 2025
