Job Title: Manager - Stores & Dispatch
Department/Group: Stores
Location: Chennai, India
Travel Required: Rare (<5%)
Position Type: Full Time
Job Purpose
Lead and manage the Stores and Dispatch function with a strong focus on operational excellence, inventory optimization, digitalization, and Continuous Improvement. Ensure timely material availability, high inventory accuracy, efficient material flow, safe storage, and on-time dispatch to support manufacturing and project requirements.
The Stores Manager will be expected to be a self-driven and proactive leader who continuously identifies opportunities to modernize stores operations, improve processes, develop people, and reduce inventory and logistics costs. The role will drive the transformation of the Stores function from a traditional material-handling operation into a well-organized, technology-enabled, and data-driven inventory management function.
Key Responsibilities
Stores & Warehouse Management: Manage end-to-end Stores operations covering material receipt, inspection coordination, identification, storage, preservation, issue, transfer, return, and dispatch of raw materials, WIP, finished goods, consumables, spares, and project materials. Establish and maintain an efficient warehouse layout, bin location system, material identification, segregation, stacking, and 5S/6S standards. Continuously review layout and flow to improve space utilization, accessibility, safety, and retrieval time. Develop standardized processes and work instructions for operational consistency.
Inventory Management & Optimization: Maintain high levels of inventory accuracy and material traceability through cycle counting, physical verification, reconciliation, and systematic variance analysis. Establish and monitor min/max stock levels, reorder points, safety stock, and inventory norms with Procurement, Production, and Planning teams. Drive reduction of excess, slow-moving, non-moving, obsolete, and surplus inventory. Implement ABC analysis, inventory ageing, FIFO/FEFO, cycle counting, and inventory turnover monitoring. Analyze trends to minimize inventory cost, optimizing working capital and inventory investment.
Digital & Modern Stores Transformation: Drive modernization through effective use of ERP/MRP systems, barcode/QR-code systems, digital traceability, and real-time inventory reporting. Ensure accurate and timely ERP transactions for receipts, issues, transfers, returns, consumption, adjustments, scrap, and reconciliation. Implement digital bin management, electronic documentation, automated inventory reporting, and executive dashboards. Reduce manual processes through digitalization and automation.
Material Flow & Production Support: Ensure timely availability of materials to support manufacturing and project requirements. Establish an effective material flow system (Raw Material → WIP → Machining/Fabrication → Subcontracting → Assembly → Finished Goods → Dispatch). Control and trace WIP, fabricated, and machined components throughout production. Coordinate cross-functionally to resolve material availability issues and proactively prevent shortages or bottlenecks.
Subcontracting & External Processing: Control material movement to and from subcontractors, job workers, and external processing agencies. Ensure proper documentation, material traceability, quantity reconciliation, and timely return of materials. Monitor subcontractor material ageing to prevent delays and material losses.
Dispatch: Plan and manage inbound and outbound dispatches, including vehicle planning, loading, unloading, packing, transportation, and dispatch. Ensure on-time dispatch aligned with customer and project delivery requirements while optimizing transportation costs. Ensure safe handling, packing, and transportation of magnets, machined components, and other sensitive materials.
Safety, Compliance & Risk Management: Ensure safe storage, handling, and movement of materials, particularly heavy, magnetic, fragile, and high-value materials. Maintain proper use of cranes, forklifts, lifting accessories, and material-handling equipment. Comply with statutory, regulatory, customs, environmental, safety, quality, and company requirements. Identify operational risks and implement preventive measures.
Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence: Lead Lean, Kaizen, 5S/6S, and continuous improvement initiatives. Eliminate unnecessary movement, waiting time, duplication, manual work, inventory waste, and material losses. Establish standard processes based on data, root-cause analysis, and operational feedback. Benchmark Stores and Warehouse practices against modern manufacturing standards to implement cost, productivity, and space utilization projects.
Team Leadership & People Development: Lead, motivate, and develop the Stores and Logistics team through clear responsibilities, performance objectives, coaching, and regular feedback. Build a culture of ownership, accountability, discipline, teamwork, and continuous improvement. Develop employees via cross-training, multi-skilling, and competency development to build second-line leadership.
Required Skills & Experience / Competencies
Bachelor's degree in engineering with 12-15+ years of relevant experience in Stores, modern inventory management, and dispatch management-preferably in manufacturing, heavy engineering, fabrication, or project-based industries.
Hands-on experience with inventory optimization, ABC analysis, cycle counting, stock ageing, FIFO/FEFO, and inventory reconciliation.
Strong understanding of ERP/MRP systems with experience in improving ERP-based inventory processes.
Proven track record in implementing warehouse improvements, digitalization, barcode/QR systems, or technology-enabled inventory solutions.
Strong leadership, delegation, coaching, mentoring, performance management, and team-building capabilities.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, decision-making, and communication skills focused on cost and process improvement.
Additional qualifications in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, or Operations are an added advantage.
Experience in an ISO-certified, export-oriented, or multinational manufacturing environment is preferred.
Working Hours
Schedule: Full-time basis from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday in office.
Expectation: In this role, it is necessary to 'work the job, not the hours'. Additional hours will be required as necessary to fulfill job responsibilities.
