Job zoom: Preparation Manager
"What I like is the variety of my job: I get to work on different projects, while still being part of the daily routine"
Arnaud, preparation manager at Logisseo
The preparation manager ensures that all operations relating to the processing of customer orders are carried out in the best possible conditions, respecting deadlines and customer specifications. He/she is responsible for ensuring customer satisfaction with the preparation service. As a manager, he plays a key role in the organization of the day and the distribution of tasks. At Logisseo, he is also in charge of consumables procurement.
The preparation manager's missions
The preparation manager is in charge of managing the team of order pickers. As part of this role, he or she leads the daily briefing: this is an opportunity toinform the team of the number of orders to be carried out, to allocate tasks according to priorities, and to highlight the day's special features. During this briefing, he also proposes a muscular awakening, with the aim of reducing the risk of RSI. multi-skilled operator, Cyril.
On a day-to-day basis, he or she must ensure that business processes (steps, gestures, overall sequence) are respected. His objective is to ensure that every preparation technician has access to training that enables him tooptimize his skills, but also to emphasize his versatility.
In addition, he/she is the link between customers and the preparation team: this means that all requests concerning operating procedures must be addressed to him/her. The preparation manager works closely with the logistics manager and the sales department, with the aim of improving processes, whether to satisfy customer requests or to adapt individual tasks as required.
He is also a source of ideas on ways toimprove the productivity and quality of the company's services.
Finally, at Logisseo, the preparation manager is also in charge of purchasing and supplying packaging materials: he or she has to keep an eye on the quantities used to ensure that the team has everything it needs to carry out its tasks (cardboard, adhesive...), and has to be adaptable in order to always offer the most appropriate material.
The skills required to be a good preparation manager
To become a preparation manager, it's essential to have a wide range of skills and know-how.
On the job side, logistics should hold no secrets for him : he must be able to prepare orders, use business software, optimize resources, analyze statistics...
They also need to possess a number of personal and professional qualities, such as :
- managerial and organizational skills,
- the quest for continuous improvement
- versatility,
- rigor,
- a sense of service and communication
- and must also be a source of ideas.
What training and qualifications are required to become a preparation manager?
To become a preparation manager, it is essential to have specialized training in logistics. Training in team management is also essential. These courses provide a solid foundation of skills that are essential for advancement in this field.
An in-depth knowledge of logistics, for example, will enable you to understand the processes involved in managing the flow of goods, while management training will help you develop the skills you need tolead and motivate your staff.
Furthermore, experience plays a crucial role in preparing you for this role. Joining a company specializing in the sector, whether through an internship or a job, enables you to put into practice the knowledge you have acquired in training. It's a good opportunity to come face to face with the real challenges of the job, and to learn how to solve problems encountered in the field.
The CSR aspect of the preparation manager's job
At Logisseo, the preparation manager attaches great importance to the ecological and societal impact of the business: he embodies the values promoted by the company.
Like all Logisseo professions, the preparation manager's day-to-day work includes a CSR component, which he or she must put into practice.
On a day-to-day basis, he ensures that his team applies the CSR rules laid down by the company, such as re-use of materials, waste sorting, rational use of consumables, etc.
He also works with the CSR manager to find new ways of improving employees' daily lives and reducing the company's carbon footprint. His position gives him a key role in the CSR approach, since it enables him to arbitrate between strategic aspects and the constraints on the ground, as experienced by operators.
The example of Arnaud, Logisseo's preparation manager
Arnaud joined Logisseo in June 2023. Prior to this position, he worked in logistics, purchasing and procurement. Supply chain speaks to him!
He believes that to be a good preparation manager, you need to be organized and adaptable . You also need to know how to communicate effectively: how to listen and get messages across smoothly!
What Arnaud likes best about his job is the "jack-of-all-trades" aspect: he works on a number of subjects with varying deadlines, which allows him to assert that every day is different from the last. Like many of his colleagues, Arnaud likes the multi-faceted aspect of his job, but also the Logisseo values, which are very close to his heart!
Now you know everything there is to know about the job of preparation manager! To find out more about the day-to-day life of a logistics company, follow us on LinkedIn or Instagram.