Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Incoming Technician

🎯 Role Definition

As an Incoming Technician, you are the gatekeeper of our supply chain and the first line of defense for quality control. You will be responsible for the entire lifecycle of inbound materials, from physically receiving and unloading shipments to verifying their accuracy, inspecting for quality, and ensuring they are meticulously documented and put away in our inventory system. This role is crucial for maintaining inventory integrity, supporting production schedules, and ensuring the operational efficiency of our entire facility. This role requires a detail-oriented and proactive individual who takes pride in accuracy and wants to make a tangible impact on our team's success.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Warehouse Associate
Picker / Packer
Retail Stock Associate

Advancement To:

Receiving Team Lead
Inventory Control Specialist
Warehouse Supervisor

Lateral Moves:

Shipping Technician
Quality Control Inspector
Logistics Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Meticulously receive, unload, and stage incoming shipments from various carriers, ensuring the safe and efficient handling of all materials and products.
Thoroughly inspect and verify incoming goods against purchase orders, invoices, and packing slips to confirm absolute accuracy in quantity, part numbers, and specifications.
Accurately record and maintain detailed logs of all received items, discrepancies, damages, and lot numbers within our enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.
Conduct comprehensive visual inspections of all incoming products and materials for any signs of damage, defects, or tampering, and formally document and report all findings.
Properly label, tag, and identify all received materials with internal tracking numbers, barcodes, and storage location information for streamlined inventory control.
Efficiently sort, route, and put away received goods into their designated warehouse-managed locations, utilizing material handling equipment as required.
Proactively communicate any shipment discrepancies, overages, shortages, or quality issues to the procurement team, warehouse management, and relevant stakeholders.
Manage the returns process by receiving, inspecting, and documenting Returned Merchandise Authorizations (RMAs) from customers or vendors, ensuring proper disposition.
Safely and proficiently operate material handling equipment, including sit-down forklifts, pallet jacks, and hand trucks, to move materials throughout the facility.
Uphold a clean, organized, and safe receiving area at all times, ensuring full compliance with company safety policies and OSHA standards.
Collaborate closely with the inventory control, quality assurance, and production teams to ensure a smooth and timely flow of materials into the supply chain.
Utilize RF (Radio Frequency) scanning technology and handheld devices to accurately track inventory movements from the receiving dock to the final put-away location.
Correctly identify, handle, segregate, and store hazardous materials according to Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and all regulatory guidelines.
Generate and distribute daily and weekly receiving reports to provide management with visibility into inbound logistics performance and workload.
Actively participate in and support regular cycle counts and physical inventory audits to ensure the highest level of system-to-physical inventory accuracy.
Organize, scan, and file all receiving-related paperwork, including bills of lading, packing slips, and certificates of conformance, for audit and record-keeping purposes.
Act as a key point of contact for freight carriers to resolve delivery issues, schedule receiving appointments, and address logistical challenges.
Perform light kitting or pre-assembly tasks by grouping incoming components for specific production orders or customer shipments.
Ensure real-time and precise updates to the inventory management system for every transaction performed to maintain data integrity.
Strictly adhere to all quality control procedures and standards when inspecting incoming parts, ensuring they meet engineering and customer specifications.

Secondary Functions

Assist the shipping department with packing, labeling, and loading outbound shipments during peak operational periods.
Contribute to workplace safety meetings and provide actionable feedback on potential hazards or process improvements in the warehouse environment.
Support the inventory control team with special projects, including cycle counting, location audits, and physical inventory reconciliation.
Perform basic daily maintenance and safety checks on all material handling equipment to ensure operational readiness and a safe working environment.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Warehouse Management Systems (WMS/ERP): Proficiency with WMS or ERP software (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Epicor) for inventory transactions.
Material Handling Equipment (MHE): Certified and experienced in operating MHE such as forklifts, reach trucks, and electric pallet jacks.
RF Scanning Technology: Competency using RF scanning guns and other handheld devices for tracking inventory.
Computer Literacy: Strong skills in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel for data entry and reporting, and Outlook for communication.
Documentation: Knowledge of shipping and receiving documentation, including Bills of Lading (BOL), packing slips, and commercial invoices.
Basic Math: Solid arithmetic skills for counting, verifying quantities, and reconciling inventory counts against documents.

Soft Skills

Attention to Detail: An exceptional eye for detail and a steadfast commitment to accuracy in all tasks.
Organizational Skills: Strong ability to organize, prioritize, and manage multiple tasks effectively in a fast-paced environment.
Communication: Clear and effective communication skills, both written and verbal, for coordinating with internal teams and external carriers.
Problem-Solving: Proactive in identifying and resolving discrepancies, damages, and logistical issues as they arise.
Self-Motivation: A reliable and self-motivated work ethic with the ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
Safety Consciousness: A deep commitment to following safety protocols and maintaining a safe work environment for yourself and your team.
Teamwork: A collaborative, team-oriented mindset with a positive attitude and willingness to support colleagues.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High School Diploma or GED equivalent.

Preferred Education:

Associate's Degree or technical certification in a related field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Logistics
Supply Chain Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

1-3 years of direct experience in a warehouse, receiving, or logistics role.

Preferred:

3+ years of experience in a high-volume receiving department, particularly within a manufacturing or large-scale distribution center environment.