Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Warehouse Production Specialist

🎯 Role Definition

The Warehouse Production Specialist is a hands-on operations professional responsible for executing daily production and fulfillment tasks in a warehouse or distribution center. This role ensures accurate order picking and packing, timely shipping and receiving, consistent inventory control, reliable operation of material handling equipment (e.g., forklifts, pallet jacks, RF handhelds), and strict adherence to safety and quality standards. The ideal candidate combines physical stamina with process discipline, basic technical skills in WMS/ERP systems, and a continuous improvement mindset to meet productivity and accuracy targets.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Material Handler / General Warehouse Associate
Shipping & Receiving Clerk
Assembly Line or Production Associate

Advancement To:

Lead Production Associate / Team Lead
Warehouse Supervisor / Shift Supervisor
Inventory Control Specialist
Operations Manager / Distribution Manager

Lateral Moves:

Quality Assurance / Quality Inspector (warehouse)
Shipping Documentation Specialist / Compliance Clerk
Maintenance Technician (warehouse equipment)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Execute accurate order picking and packing using RF scanners or pick-to-light systems, ensuring each shipment matches order specifications, SKU counts, and labeling requirements to maintain a 99%+ order accuracy rate.
Operate material handling equipment (powered industrial trucks, forklifts, pallet jacks) safely and efficiently to move raw materials and finished goods between staging, production, and shipping areas while complying with OSHA and company safety policies.
Receive inbound shipments, verify packing lists and bills of lading against purchase orders, inspect for damage, and perform initial quality checks before updating WMS/ERP for immediate putaway.
Perform regular cycle counts and assist with full inventory audits, reconcile discrepancies between physical counts and WMS records, and coordinate investigations to identify root causes of inventory variances.
Pack and palletize finished product to packaging and stacking specifications, including weight limitations, shrink-wrapping, strapping, and correct pallet labeling for carrier pickup to minimize damage and ensure load stability.
Prepare shipping documentation (BOLs, manifests, commercial invoices, hazardous materials paperwork when required) and coordinate with carriers to schedule pickups, track shipments, and resolve transit exceptions or carrier disputes.
Set up, operate, and troubleshoot production line equipment for light assembly, kitting, or labeling tasks, monitoring machine performance and reporting any downtime or quality issues to maintenance and production leads.
Monitor and meet daily productivity and throughput targets (lines per hour, cartons per hour, picks per hour), while maintaining adherence to quality standards and cycle time expectations.
Conduct quality inspections at assigned production or packing stages, identify defective product or packaging, segregate nonconforming items, and complete nonconformance reports for corrective action.
Execute product changeovers and lot/code change procedures, including cleaning, re-labeling, and updating production orders in the WMS to ensure traceability and batch integrity.
Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs), safety protocols, and 5S/lean manufacturing discipline to keep work areas organized, reduce waste, and support continuous improvement initiatives.
Load and unload trailers using proper load securing techniques, confirm shipment counts, and stage outgoing freight in shipping lanes to maximize dock efficiency and minimize dwell time.
Use warehouse management systems (WMS) and basic ERP modules to receive work assignments, update transaction statuses, confirm inventory movements, and generate pick/ship labels and reports.
Perform basic preventative maintenance and cleaning on production and handling equipment, escalate mechanical issues promptly, and document repairs and maintenance actions in equipment logs.
Train and mentor new associates on warehouse procedures, safe equipment operation, quality expectations, and site-specific policies to accelerate onboarding and reduce training-related errors.
Maintain temperature-controlled or specialized storage requirements (e.g., cold chain or humidity control), monitoring conditions and documenting environmental logs to preserve product quality and regulatory compliance.
Implement lot and serial number traceability for regulated or serialized products, ensuring accurate recordkeeping for recalls, warranty claims, or audit requests.
Support kitting and light assembly operations by staging components, verifying BOMs (bills of material), and packaging finished kits according to production instructions and customer specifications.
Participate in daily shift huddles, communicate production status and issues to supervisors, and collaborate cross-functionally with inventory control, quality, and shipping teams to resolve bottlenecks.
Execute returns processing and reverse logistics tasks, inspect and disposition returned merchandise, update WMS for RMA transactions, and coordinate restocking or disposal per company policy.
Adhere to hazardous materials handling and DOT/HAZMAT regulations when applicable, including correct labeling, segregation, documentation, and training requirements.
Track and report key performance indicators (KPIs) such as order accuracy, on-time shipments, inventory variance, productivity, and safety incidents; propose and implement corrective actions to hit targets.
Support seasonal surges and peak operations by flexing across roles (picking, packing, loading) and contributing to temporary reallocation of resources to meet customer SLAs.
Ensure packaging materials inventory is maintained, reorder thresholds are communicated, and consumables are used efficiently to control costs and prevent production downtime.

Secondary Functions

Participate in continuous improvement projects using Lean, Kaizen, or Six Sigma principles to reduce cycle times, minimize waste, and improve throughput in the warehouse production process.
Assist supply chain teams with ad-hoc reporting needs, including extraction of inventory, shipping, and production data from the WMS to support root cause analysis and managerial decision-making.
Collaborate with procurement and planning teams to communicate stock levels, damaged goods, and replenishment needs to maintain optimal inventory and avoid stockouts.
Support safety and training programs by contributing to incident investigations, updating safety SOPs, and delivering toolbox talks or equipment operation refreshers to peers.
Help implement new WMS features, barcode schemes, or automation initiatives by validating workflows, testing processes in live environments, and documenting process updates.
Engage with quality and regulatory audits by preparing required documentation, supporting onsite inspections, and implementing corrective actions recommended by auditors.
Provide cross-training across shipping, receiving, inventory, and production functions to enhance team flexibility and maintain service levels during absences or peak periods.
Assist with packaging engineering requests by providing feedback on packaging performance, pallet patterns, and carrier damage trends to improve packaging standards and reduce freight claims.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Warehouse Management System (WMS) proficiency (e.g., Oracle WMS, Manhattan, SAP EWM, HighJump) with experience performing cycle counts, putaway, picking, and shipping transactions.
Safe operation and certification of powered industrial trucks (PIT) / forklifts, reach trucks, and sit-down/stand-up equipment; familiar with daily pre-use inspections and maintenance logs.
RF scanner and barcode labeling experience for accurate picking/packing and inventory transactions.
Shipping and receiving expertise including preparing Bills of Lading (BOL), carrier coordination, freight scheduling, and understanding Incoterms for domestic/international shipments.
Inventory control techniques: cycle counting, root-cause variance analysis, reconciliation, and corrective action tracking.
Basic ERP interaction and order processing skills (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite) to update order statuses, create work orders, and manage inventory movements.
Familiarity with packaging standards, palletization, stretch-wrapping, strapping, and load securement best practices.
Knowledge of safety and regulatory compliance (OSHA standards, DOT/Hazmat regulations when applicable) and ability to follow/complete required paperwork.
Basic mechanical troubleshooting for production line equipment, conveyor systems, and light maintenance tasks.
Data literacy: ability to read production reports, interpret KPIs, and use Excel for basic data analysis (filters, SUMIFS, pivot tables).

Soft Skills

Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy in high-volume, fast-paced environments.
Excellent time management and the ability to prioritize tasks to meet tight shipping deadlines.
Effective verbal and written communication skills for cross-functional coordination and reporting.
Team-oriented attitude with experience working in collaborative, shift-based teams.
Problem-solving mindset and adaptability to changing priorities, process updates, and peak season demands.
Proactive safety leadership and the ability to coach peers on safe work practices.
Dependable work ethic with consistent attendance, punctuality, and availability for shift schedules.
Continuous improvement mindset with openness to process changes, training, and performance feedback.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED.

Preferred Education:

Associate degree or technical certificate in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Industrial Technology, or related field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Industrial Maintenance / Manufacturing Technology
Business Operations / Operations Management
Quality Assurance / Industrial Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

1–5 years of hands-on warehouse, production, or distribution center experience.

Preferred:

2+ years in a production-focused warehouse role with demonstrated experience using WMS, operating forklifts (certified), performing cycle counts, and meeting production KPIs. Experience with Lean/Kaizen or continuous improvement initiatives and exposure to temperature-controlled logistics or regulated products is a plus.