WHAT does a day in the life of a logistics manager entail?

WHAT does a day in the life of a logistics manager entail?

Each day demands a high level of team collaboration to meet daily goals and balance priorities. So, planning and performance review meetings with key stakeholders are critical.

The key objective in logistics is to achieve high levels of customer satisfaction while balancing cost with customer service.

In order to make the right decisions one has to review the drivers for these variables on a daily basis with the use of reports and just generally interacting with both internal and external customers and partners.

Why did you decide on this career?

I discovered logistics by chance. A friend recommended the course to me at university and I decided to give it a try.

How did you get intothe career?

I was awarded a contractual bursary at university so that launched me into the career. I was also curious about discovering many areas within the field, while at the same time finding my own space during my career. As a result I was exposed to many challenging opportunities.

What's challenging aboutthe job?

It is a typically high pressure environment and there is a need to deal with conflicting priorities from both internal and external customers and keep the machine running smoothly at all times

What do you love most about your job?

It's a challenging field. Within a team environment the job is highly interactive and one deals with various people daily.

I am a practical, analytical person who also loves the big picture and putting things in order.

With logistics you must have an understanding of how the individual parts make up the bigger picture. With hindsight, it's been the right fit for my personality.

What type of person will make a success of this position?

Someone who is comfortable with managing complexity, is able to think on their feet and can handle constant pressure.

What subjects do you need to pass in high school to be able to study towards this career?

Commercial subjects are the best option. But I came from a science background.

What does one study at tertiary level to be able to get into this career?

A qualification with logistics-supply chain as a subject, with exposure to general business courses, would be a good start.

What growth prospects are there for this career?

I think the best option to the executive level of logistics director is to launch your career as a management trainee.

In a nutshell, one grows from "on-the-job training".

What career opportunities exist for a logistics manager?

Typically warehousing, distribution, inbound logistics, outbound logistics, customer service, inventory planning and control, freight forwarding, procurement.