ESUP DAKAR/LICENCE II TL

JOB DESCRIPTION: RETAIL SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGER

The retail supply chain involves the transfer of goods and materials from manufacturers and
suppliers to retail outlets. Retail supply chain managers are responsible for planning and
organising the entire process. They have to work in close collaboration with other
professionals – purchasing officers, warehouse staff and transport clerks – to ensure that a)
goods arrive at the depot as scheduled; b) goods are in good condition; c) goods are stored
correctly; d) goods are dispatched to customers on time.
The main responsibilities of a retail supply chain manager include:
 Planning delivery timetables.
 Monitoring stock levels using computer databases and auditing inventory.
 Tracking the movement of goods through depots.
 Supervising the ordering and packaging process.
 Supervising the receipt, storage or dispatch of goods.
 Processing returned goods.
 Monitoring suppliers and establishing new suppliers.
 Negotiating and managing contracts.
 Providing customer service.
Hours and Environment
Usually, retail supply chain managers work 8 am to 6 pm, Monday to Friday. However, they
may also be required to work evenings and weekends on a schedule basis. They may also be
expected to be on-call to deal with emergencies. Distribution is a 24/7 business, and many
firms now run 24-hour operations involving shift work. They are typically office based,
commonly in a distribution warehouse or depot.
Skills and Interests
Retail supply chain managers need a variety of skills:
 Good planning skills.
 Good spoken and written communication skills.
 Good problem-solving skills.
 Excellent maths skills.
 Strong organizational skills.
 Good people skills.
 Good teamwork skills.
 Excellent computer skills: confidence in using such computer packages as
spreadsheets and databases.
 Good geographical knowledge.
 Good language skills.
UNDERSTANDING THE MAIN POINTS
1. Review questions.
1. What does the retail supply chain involve?
2. What are retail supply chain managers responsible for?
3. Why do they work in close collaboration with other professionals?
4. What do the main responsibilities of a supply chain manager include?
5. Do retail supply chain managers work from 7 am to 5 pm?
6. Where do they usually work?
7. What skills must supply chain managers possess?
2. Decide whether the following statements are true or false.
1. The main responsibilities of a supply chain manager include planning delivery timetables
and monitoring stock levels.
 ESUP DAKAR/LICENCE II TL

2. Supervising the receipt, storage or dispatch of goods is a very important duty of every
supply chain manager.
3. A retail supply chain manager should find ways to improve the entire supply chain.
4. A supply chain manager must work closely with purchasing officers, warehouse staff and
transport clerks.
5. A retail supply chain manager works from Monday to Wednesday.
6. Distribution is a 24/7 business, and many firms now run 24-hour operations involving shift
work.
7. A retail supply chain manager is usually office based.
8. A retail supply chain manager may be required to work evenings and weekends on a
schedule basis.
9. A supply chain manager may also be expected to be on-call to deal with emergencies.
10. For supply chain work good planning skills are necessary.
11. Logistics managers must speak at least one foreign language.
1
a) Translate the following verbs.
To monitor, to deal with, to coordinate, to analyze, to allocate, to develop, to plan, to improve,
to use, to manage, to require, to work.
b) Use these verbs to make up meaningful expressions.
1. __________ the quality and quantity of goods.
2. __________the order cycle and associated information systems.
3. __________data to monitor performance and plan improvements and demand.
4. __________ staff resources according to changing needs.
5. _________ ______ customers and suppliers.
6. __________ business by gaining new contracts.
7. __________ warehouse or transport staff.
8. ___________ delivery timetables.
9. ___________ computer databases.
10. __________shifts.
11. __________ the supply network.
12. __________ additional skills.
Exercise 2
For nouns in column B find suitable attributes in column A.
A B
1. planning a) process
2. schedule b) staff
3. computer c)opportunities
4. packaging d) knowledge
5.administrative e) officers
6. purchasing f) databases
7. job g) manager
8.geographical h) skills
9. stock i) basis
10. distribution j) control
Exercise 3
Fill in the gaps using suitable words from the box below.
safety -
profession
- goods -
overtime -
 ESUP DAKAR/LICENCE II TL

managers -
skills –
duties -
office
Warehouse Logistics Manager
A warehouse manager has many 1) _________. He/she is responsible for the following
operations:
 Processing orders
 Organizing the dispatch and delivery of 2) ___________
 Ensuring goods are stored safely
 Keeping staff fully trained
 Maintaining health and 3) ___________ standards
 Keeping accurate records
 Managing timesheets, etc.
Warehouses are often open 24 hours a day, seven days a week so shift work is very common
in this 4) ______________ and managers may work some weekends and evenings. Hours are
usually 37 hours per week but there’s often the opportunity for 5) ___________.
Managers will spend some of their time in the 6) _________ and some of their time out on the
shop floor overseeing staff. They must be in touch with other 7) ___________ in the
production chain to ensure the management of goods is well coordinated. They manage a
team of people, so good communication and leadership 8) ___________are necessary for this
job.
Exercise 5
Fill in the gaps in the text below. Use the word combinations from the box.
Geographical
- areas -
shipping -
lines -
handling -
costs - freight
forwarding -
by - air
transportation
of goods -
appropriate
route -
payment of
freight

Freight Forwarder
A freight forwarder is an intermediary who acts on behalf of importers, exporters or other
companies or persons, organizing the safe, efficient and cost-effective 1) ________. Taking
into account the type of goods and the customers’ delivery requirements, freight forwarders
arrange the best means of transport, using the services of 2)_________, airlines and road and
rail freight operators. In some cases, the 3) _______ company itself provides the service.
Companies vary in size and type, from those operating on a national and international basis to
smaller, more specialized firms, who deal with particular types of goods or operate within
particular 4) ________. Typical work activities of a freight forwarder include:
 investigating and planning the most 5)_______ for a shipment;
 ESUP DAKAR/LICENCE II TL

 arranging appropriate packing, taking account of climate, weight, nature of goods and
cost, and the delivery and warehousing of goods at their final destination;
 negotiating contracts, transportation and 6) ___________;
 preparing documentation to meet customs and insurance requirements, packing
specifications, and compliance with overseas countries’ regulations;
 offering consolidation services 7) _________, sea and road;
 liaising with third parties to move goods;
 arranging insurance and assisting the client in the event of a claim;
 offering tailored IT solutions and electronic data interchange (EDI) connections;
 arranging 8) ____________ and other charges or collection of payment on behalf of
the client;
 utilizing e-commerce, internet technology and satellite systems to enable real-time
tracking of goods, etc.
Exercise 6
a) Read the text below. Write a short summary of the text in french.
What Does a Logistician Do?
Logisticians work in nearly every industry. Most logisticians work for either large shipping
firms or international distribution companies. They are responsible for organizing, scheduling,
and managing the distribution of materials. This career experienced a rapid growth in the mid-
1980s as manufacturing firms shifted to just in time delivery. As a result of this change, it was
necessary to schedule and manage the movement of large volumes of materials all over the
world. This career has continued to grow, with the enhancement of computer technology that
allows more firms to take advantage of this cost-reduction measure. Managing the supply
chain is the top priority for a logistician. The supply chain refers to every step in the process
from the procurement of materials to the production and shipment of those materials to
different locations.
The timing, costs, and efficiency of this process is the responsibility of the logistician. Making
transportation arrangements involves coordinating the efforts of the shipper from the supply
firm, the selection and scheduling of the transportation company, and the completion of the
customs documentation, if required. It is important to note that these shipments are typically
very large and may require specialized containers, unique transportation solutions or include
hazardous materials.
b) Ask ten questions to the text.
Exercise 7
Read and translate the texts below.
1. My name is Walter Grey. I come from Rotterdam. I work for a big international logistics
company – Maersk. I am a logistics
specialist. Over 80 percent of the world’s goods are transported by sea, and Maersk is one of
the largest players in the container
shipping market. I run the Transportation Department. I am a transportation manager; seven
people work under me. Our Department deals with providing various transportation services. I
perform the activities related to dispatching, routing, and tracking transportation vehicles. I
am responsible for preparing transportation schedules and shipping goods.
2. I’m Samantha Rose. I am from Dublin. I work for an international logistics company. I’m
a warehouse assistant. The position location is Dunga oilfield, Mangistau region. I must
provide assistance with the everyday operations of a warehouse. I am responsible for loading
and unloading products at the storage area. I also control consumption of materials and spare
parts and provide support to the warehouse supervisors in arrangement of logistics related
activities in the field. Every day I perform various activities to ensure that the warehouse
runsefficiently. My job involves working with a computer. My job
 ESUP DAKAR/LICENCE II TL

requires using bar code scanners and keeping inventory reports up-to-date.
Exercise 8
Discuss the following questions with your classmates. Use information from Exercise 7.
 What is your job? /What do you do?
 What does your work involve?
 What are your main duties?
 What are you responsible for?
 What kind of job do you find interesting?
 What is your dream job?
 What does your ideal work environment look like?
Exercise 9
a) Read the job advertisement below.
 Job Title: Supply Chain & Materials Manager
 Job Type: Permanent
 Job Requirements:
1) You should have a minimum of 10 years’ experience in SCM/Materials Management
within a relevant product manufacturing environment, at least 4 years of which will be in a
management role.
2) Your experience should include a strong mix of Inventory Management, Supply Chain
Management, Sourcing and Production Planning in a management role.
3) You will also have experience with international manufacturing.
 Main responsibilities:
 provide continuous improvement, optimising inventories at reduced cost whilst
meeting customer expectations of quality and on-time delivery;
 manage diverse teams covering Sourcing, Purchasing, Inventory Control and
Production Planning;
 provide motivational management; coaching training and developing the team to
deliver improved performance;
 maximize quality and customer service;
 negotiate changes to or new agreements where appropriate;
 oversee and optimize material flow to/between manufacturing sites and warehouse;
 optimize freight cost efficiency and service levels;
 minimize production waste and lost time.
b) Answer the following questions.
1. Are you the best person for this job? Why?
2. What interests you about this job?
3. Do you think you will get bored of this job easily?
4. Is the job challenging enough to keep you stimulated?
5. How would you define “success” for this position?
6. What are the pros and cons of being a manager?
7. How long do you expect to work for this company?
8. What training and development opportunities will be available?
9. What are your salary requirements?
10. What are you looking for in terms of career development?
Exercise 10
Complete the sentences using Modal Verbs and their equivalents.
1. I _________ speak three languages.
2. Customers __________ be given more information about our services.
3. Logisticians __________ work hard to maximize efficiency of the supply chain.
 ESUP DAKAR/LICENCE II TL

4. Soon our customers ____________ to employ such services as online cargo tracking and
tracing.
5. Logistics companies ___________ offer various services at a competitive price.
6. Next week we __________ to use this laboratory for testing the product.
7. If you want to be hale and hearty, you __________ give up smoking.
8. Logisticians ________ provide consolidation of goods prior to shipping, so eliminating
costly part shipments.
9. _________I ask you a question?
10. Tomorrow our supervisor _________ make a presentation at the seminar.
11. Something was wrong with my mobile phone, I ________ not hear anything.
12. A supply chain manager ___________be required to work evenings and weekends on a
schedule basis.
13. In the past, raw material and finished products also ________ to be moved, though on a
small scale.