Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Warehouse Production Assistant

🎯 Role Definition

The Warehouse Production Assistant is an operational role responsible for supporting daily warehouse and production activities to ensure accurate order fulfillment, efficient material flow, and adherence to safety and quality standards. This role combines hands-on material handling with documentation, scanning, and basic process improvement tasks and is ideal for candidates who are detail-oriented, physically capable, and comfortable using Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) and handheld scanners.

This job title commonly appears in job postings for: warehouse associate, production associate, shipping and receiving assistant, fulfillment specialist, and inventory control assistant.

Primary keywords: Warehouse Production Assistant, order fulfillment, inventory control, shipping & receiving, material handling, forklift operator, WMS, pick and pack.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

General laborer / warehouse associate
Retail stockroom clerk
Manufacturing line worker or material handler

Advancement To:

Lead Production Assistant / Lead Warehouse Associate
Inventory Control Specialist / Shipping & Receiving Supervisor
Production Coordinator or Logistics Coordinator

Lateral Moves:

Quality Inspector
Forklift Operator / Equipment Operator
Packaging Technician

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Accurately pick, pack and prepare customer orders using established pick lists, scanning devices and packing standards to meet daily quotas while minimizing errors and ensuring correct product, quantity and shipping documentation.
Receive incoming shipments, verify contents against purchase orders and packing lists, inspect for damage, count and record inventory using the warehouse management system (WMS), and stage goods for put-away or production.
Execute put-away tasks to store incoming materials to designated locations, optimize space utilization, and update location records in the WMS to maintain real-time inventory accuracy.
Operate powered industrial equipment such as forklifts, pallet jacks and order pickers in a safe manner (when certified) to transport pallets and large items between receiving, storage and production areas.
Conduct cycle counts and full physical inventory counts, reconcile discrepancies, investigate root causes, and prepare count reports to support inventory accuracy and financial audit requirements.
Stage and replenish production lines with raw materials, components and packaging materials according to production schedules to prevent downtime and maintain continuous workflow.
Pack finished goods to customer specifications, apply shipping labels, prepare commercial invoices and ensure proper packaging integrity for domestic and international shipments.
Inspect, sort and mark products for quality control, removing non-conforming items from the production stream and notifying supervisors of quality issues to prevent defective shipments.
Maintain accurate shipping documentation — bills of lading, packing slips, manifests — and prepare freight for carrier pickup, coordinating with carriers and logistics partners as needed.
Load and unload trucks, trailers and containers safely and efficiently while following proper load securement, weight distribution and carrier requirements.
Adhere to all OSHA, company and site-specific safety procedures and PPE requirements, participate in safety meetings, report hazards and complete incident/near-miss reports when necessary.
Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) and work instructions for production processes, packaging specifications and sanitation/housekeeping standards to ensure compliance and traceability.
Use handheld scanners, RF devices and mobile tablets to capture inventory movement, record batch and lot numbers, and support traceability for product recalls or quality investigations.
Label products, components and storage locations accurately using barcode printers and label templates to support automated scanning and reduce pick/pack errors.
Contribute to continuous improvement activities by identifying bottlenecks, suggesting process improvements, participating in Kaizen events and implementing small changes to increase productivity and reduce waste.
Assist with kitting operations by assembling product kits, verifying contents, and documenting kit components for multi-SKU orders and promotional packages.
Support returns processing (RMA) by inspecting returned items, determining disposition (restock, repair, scrap), updating inventory records and coordinating with customer service for credits or rework.
Maintain clean, organized and compliant production and storage areas by performing routine housekeeping, waste segregation, recycling and spill control duties.
Communicate effectively with production supervisors, shipping coordinators and inventory control teams to prioritize tasks, escalate issues and coordinate cross-functional activities during peak periods.
Track and report production metrics such as pick rate, accuracy, on-time shipments and downtime to help supervisors monitor performance and meet service-level agreements (SLAs).
Perform basic equipment maintenance and routine checks on conveyors, pallet jacks and other material handling equipment, reporting malfunctions and coordinating repairs to minimize downtime.
Support seasonal surges and peak shipping periods by working flexible shifts, overtime and weekend schedules as required to meet customer demand and business objectives.
Complete required training and certification programs (e.g., forklift license, hazardous materials handling, food safety) and maintain training records for compliance.
Follow proper hazardous materials (hazmat) handling and labeling procedures when applicable, including MSDS review and segregation rules for flammable or regulated items.

Secondary Functions

Assist inventory control and operations teams with ad-hoc reporting requests, reconciling WMS data with ERP or spreadsheets and providing documentation for auditors.
Participate in cross-training programs to expand capabilities across receiving, picking, packing and shipping to improve workforce flexibility.
Support new hire onboarding by demonstrating equipment operation, safe handling techniques and company SOPs to temporary or seasonal staff.
Help implement small process-improvement pilots (5S, visual management) on the warehouse floor and document before/after performance metrics.
Aid procurement and production planners by providing on-the-ground feedback about stock levels, lead time issues and obsolete materials to reduce shortages.
Coordinate with quality assurance on root cause investigations for recurring production defects and help implement corrective actions on the floor.
Maintain and update location maps, bin assignments and visual cues in the warehouse management system to reflect layout changes and seasonal flows.
Monitor and tag inventory approaching expiration or shelf-life limits and assist with FIFO/FEFO rotation to reduce waste and spoilage.
Support sustainability programs by segregating recyclable materials, tracking packaging usage and suggesting alternatives to reduce waste.
Assist the maintenance team with locating spare parts, staging supplies and coordinating simple troubleshooting to keep production equipment running.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Proficiency using Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) such as Oracle WMS, SAP EWM, Manhattan, NetSuite, Blue Yonder or comparable systems for inbound/outbound transactions and inventory updates.
Experience with RF barcode scanners, handheld mobile computers, label printers and basic barcode troubleshooting to ensure accurate scanning and labeling.
Forklift/powered industrial truck operation and certification (sit-down counterbalance, pallet jack, reach truck, or order picker) with a strong safety record.
Strong knowledge of shipping and receiving procedures including packing, staging, carrier documentation, freight classification and preparing bills of lading.
Inventory control skills: cycle counting, discrepancy reconciliation, lot and batch tracking, FIFO/FEFO rotation and inventory adjustment procedures.
Basic math and measurement skills for counting, weighing, dimensioning and verifying pallet configurations and cubic utilization.
Familiarity with quality inspection techniques, defect tagging, non-conformance handling and documenting rejects for corrective action.
Experience with order fulfillment processes including picking methods (batch, zone, wave), packing optimization and cartonization strategies.
Understanding of OSHA safety regulations, PPE requirements, material handling ergonomics and basic incident reporting processes.
Competence in Microsoft Excel (VLOOKUP, filters, basic formulas) and experience producing simple reports or updating spreadsheets from WMS exports.
Basic mechanical aptitude to perform routine equipment checks, simple preventative maintenance and to follow lockout/tagout (LOTO) protocols when required.
Knowledge of hazardous material handling and proper labeling for regulated products where applicable.

Soft Skills

Strong attention to detail and commitment to achieving high pick/pack and inventory accuracy rates.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills to coordinate with team members, supervisors and carriers.
Reliable time management and the ability to prioritize tasks in a fast-paced, deadline-driven warehouse environment.
Team-oriented mindset with a willingness to support cross-functional teams and step into different roles during peak periods.
Problem-solving orientation to identify root causes of inventory discrepancies, shipping errors and production delays.
Physical stamina and resilience to perform repetitive lifting, standing and walking for extended shifts while following safe lifting techniques.
Adaptability and flexibility to work variable shifts, overtime, and changing production schedules as business needs evolve.
Initiative and accountability to own assigned tasks, follow through on corrective actions and escalate issues when necessary.
Customer-service focus when handling customer-specific orders, returns or urgent shipping requests.
Continuous improvement mindset: open to feedback, process changes and participating in efficiency initiatives.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED (required)

Preferred Education:

Associate degree, technical certificate, or vocational training in logistics, supply chain, manufacturing or industrial technology (preferred)

Relevant Fields of Study:

Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Industrial Technology / Manufacturing
Business Operations / Operations Management
Materials Management
Occupational Safety or Environmental Health

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 0–3 years in warehouse, manufacturing or production environments; entry-level candidates considered with strong transferable skills.

Preferred:

1–3 years of experience in a warehouse production, shipping & receiving or fulfillment role.
Previous experience using a WMS and handheld scanning devices.
Forklift certification and demonstrated safe operation history.
Experience in fast-paced, high-volume distribution or e-commerce fulfillment environments is a plus.