Nicholas Alexander
McLeansville,NC
Summary
Director of Distribution with over 9 years of warehouse operations experience. Seasoned professional with extensive background in DC startups, restructuring, process improvement, and leadership design. Results-driven leader focused on exceeding expectations by driving continuous improvements in processes and performance.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Distribution
LT Apparel
Browns Summit, NC
09.2022 - Current
- Senior Operations Leader of new flagship 800k sq/ft apparel startup facility bringing state-of-the-art automation and unparalleled process solutions to life.
- 3 shift operation, 20,000+ SKUs, 600 FTEs and 32 salaried leaders
- Accountable for up to $50m in gross monthly omnichannel sales revenue.
- Participates in meetings/calls/presentations with Chief Officers to support the DC, specific to its outbound strategies and targets.
- Partners with Finance team to align and manage the P&L for the DC.
- Develops and executes on comprehensive short and long-term strategies for the DC, leveraging goals and initiatives to instill an enterprise mindset and to maximize local strengths and opportunities.
- Oversees all receiving, putaway, picking, VAS, inventory control, waving, routing, shipping, safety, maintenance, process improvement, and quality control departments at the DC.
- Facilitates Kaizen Events and promotes a Six-Sigma mindset with GEMBA walks, Kanban implementations, and more.
- Standardized the floor layout by using 5s standards.
- Promotes a high-performance culture by clearly setting goals and expectations.
- Creates and enforces policies (General, Safety) and procedures (SOPs) for entire DC team.
- Optimizes facility product flow and building capacity, partnering with resources (IC, IT, CI, external vendors, etc) as needed to drive current and future state.
- Coordinates with suppliers and vendors to negotiate contracts and conditions, optimize production operations, optimize shipment operations, and resolve distribution delays while remaining in the expense target parameters.
- Ensures appropriate floor presence, engaging with associates and front-line leaders to stay abreast of feedback and concerns, while validating execution of critical action items.
- Ensures strong communication channels throughout all levels of leadership and associates within the DC, inclusive of consistent follow-up with action items and feedback.
- Achieves productivity and quality metrics, partnering closely with the Operations Team to drive continuous improvement from the ground up.
- Holds self and team accountable to develop a continuous improvement mindset, looking for opportunities to enhance employee experience metrics and operations metrics such as annual engagement scores, inventory accuracy, quality defects, variable cost per unit, retention, turnover, overtime, and more. Sets targets for improvement and ensure an ownership mindset at all levels of the team.
- Continuously looks for opportunities in the DC to drive efficiency and associate engagement. Makes recommendations to VP, as appropriate.
- Leverages a results-oriented mindset, using metrics to monitor improvements.
- Provides constructive and positive feedback on new initiatives to appropriate teams. Looks for ways to break through implementation barriers rather than be impeded by them.
- Assigns appropriate timelines and accountabilities for items, empowering the team to drive action steps to completion.
- Develops the capabilities of direct reports to take on progressively higher levels of responsibility.
- Navigates ambiguity and change to achieve goals despite potential obstacles.
- Champions innovation by cultivating ideas from the Operations Team and the broader organization in an agile way, while balancing growth potential against financial risk and incremental cost to the organization.
- Spearheads the formation of committees for intradepartmental collaboration amongst exempt and non-exempt employees focused on safety, process audits, and process improvements wherein everyone has an equal opportunity to communicate great ideas and can have an impactful voice at the table.
- Partners with HRBP to drive an associate engagement strategy for the DC. Provides creative flexibility for leadership team to drive engagement within their own teams.
- Takes ownership for talent management processes to grow, develop, and retain talent. Partners with training and HR resources to enhance training and talent outcomes.
- Drives an inclusive culture at all levels of the DC.
- Partners with HR support resources to achieve staffing targets through creative recruiting methods such as job fairs, external advertising, temporary staffing agencies, cross-training, etc. Minimizes overtime for associates.
- Partners with HRBP to develop a comprehensive talent strategy for the DC, as well as appropriate succession planning.
- Holds DC leadership team accountable for developing the capabilities of their teams and creating IDPs for high potential talent.
- Uses Blue Cherry WMS and ERP to actively manage inventory.
Sr. Operations Manager
Chewy.com
Mechanicsburg, PA
08.2021 - 09.2022
- Responsible for weekly/monthly volume planning, staffing, safety engagement, production efficiency, and general oversight of Inbound/Receiving & VAS operations for the DC under supervision from the General Manager.
- Operation consists of receiving over 1.5m inbound units per month from 27 vendors across 3 shifts overseeing 4 area managers and 70 hourly associates.
- Maintains lean budget through regular audits and scrutinization of variable costs while inspiring team feedback and suggestions.
- Drafts and proposes potential cost-saving ideas/CAPX projects to further lean out operational processes.
- Uses Korber One and SAP to manage inventory and process outbound orders.
- Utilizes CLMS to effectively manage labor costs associated with gap time and transaction management.
- Coordinates receiving operations with internal and external departments to include transportation, vendor compliance, and outbound picking/shipping to ensure consistent freight deliveries and for all receipts to be free from damages, defects, infest, etc.
- Ensures DC throughput is regulated to maintain pull-style production.
- Developed and implemented automated Bad Pallet Putaway process resulting in more than $201,600 in annual savings for the DC.
- Improved Safety Culture through continuous feedback initiatives and incentives; Total incidents down 32% & critical incidents down 56% since taking over.
- Leads weekly Top 3 Continuous Improvement meeting for the region.
- Created and implemented new automated tools and processes leading to increased reach truck putaway rates of more than 31%.
- Created and implemented a more accurate shift-planning tool for volume and staffing resulting in reduced training costs, reduced attrition, and increased morale.
- Implemented multiple team member engagement and recognition initiatives.
- Created, implemented, and facilitates internal Safety Committee made up of, and run by, hourly team members to raise awareness for building safety throughout all departments.
- Use of specialized systems and software to track inventory, TM production, and labor planning. Specifically Korber One, Kronos, Baron Einstein, Tableau, Excel, Access, DBViz, SQL, CLMS, Word, Powerpoint, G-Suite, & others.
- Handles corrective feedback including, but not limited to, disciplinary action and terminations when necessary.
- Observes, analyzes, collaborates, designs, and then implements continuous improvement projects empowered and driven by hourly associates' suggestions.
- Collects, records, and then analyzes production and financial data to lean out business processes and increase revenue while reducing costs.
- Designs and presents complex dynamic spreadsheets and charts to better understand, model, and predict business trends.
- Gives frequent, honest, and consistent feedback (1:1s) with direct reports to ensure alignment, growth, and the development of others.
- Completes thorough opening, closing and shift change functions to maintain operational standards each day.
Warehouse Operations Manager II
NFI
High Point, NC
02.2020 - 08.2021
- Mid-level Manager responsible for the production, safety, and operation of the first shift for Hanesbrands Champion activewear line of apparel in 475k sq/ft facility with 750 hourly associates and 3.5m units shipped monthly.
- Oversees Receiving, Picking, VAS, & Shipping departments on first shift with 5 supervisors as direct reports.
- Reports directly to the General Manager.
- 99.8% on-time shipping rate with a strong focus on quality and customer service.
- Designs and implements quarterly staffing strategies to match volume forecast models.
- Supports General Manager in the preparation and delivery of P&L statement.
- Develops and trains new management staff.
- Observes, studies, designs, and implements continuous improvement initiatives.
- Creates detailed production and labor reports and recommendations to the General Manager and Director.
- Maintains a safe working environment in accordance with NFI policy and OSHA requirements.
- Conducts shift meetings, A3 meetings, monthly goal, and yearly strategy meetings.
- Supports General Manager with preparing and presenting operational metrics, monthly Facility Recap, Labor Utilization, and other reports to home office.
- Performs the responsibilities and duties of the General Manager is their absence.
Operations Manager I
NFI
High Point, NC
12.2018 - 02.2020
- Oversees the operation of second shift consisting of the Picking, VAS, and Shipping departments over 4 Operations Supervisors.
- Responsible for safety, human resources support, and efficient operation of second shift.
- Works with specialized software to include PKMS WMS, Excel, G-Suite, Outlook, etc.
- Ensures all employee time is logged and recorded accurately.
- Ensures the facility is left neat, organized, and ready for the incoming shift.
- Sends out nightly shift reports to the Sr. Operations Manager and General Manager in regard to production, safety, and other metrics.
Operations Supervisor
NFI
Orlando, FL
05.2017 - 12.2018
- Responsible for the Disney VAS and Re-Ship operation on first shift consisting of 17 hourly employees.
- Trained, mentored and motivated employees to maximize team productivity.
- Oversaw implementation of procedures, goals and objectives within operations.
- Identified areas for improvement and implemented new processes to enhance overall company quality and performance.
- Developed work plans and schedules for employees to facilitate adequate staffing.
- Evaluated and reported on department metrics to upper management.
- Maintained staff by recruiting, selecting and developing personal growth opportunities.
- Developed action plans based on analysis findings and implemented solutions.
- Coordinated with other supervisors, combining group efforts to achieve goals.
Education
MBA - International Business Management
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, FL08.2016
Bachelor of Science - Health Care Administration
Santa Fe College
Gainesville, FL12.2013
Skills
- Leadership
- Strategic Planning
- Warehouse Operations
- Warehouse Safety
- Project Management
- Continuous Improvement and Lean Processes
- Data Collection & Analysis
- Order Fulfillment
- Budget Preparation and Management
References
- Steve Wuebker, SVP of Operations, LT Apparel - (336) 740-0947
- Steve Chelston, VP of Distribution, LT Apparel - (848) 309-1102
- Michael Decker, General Manager, NFI - (336) 391-4832
- Derek Archer, Director of Operations, Little Caesars Distribution - (704) 466-8421
- David Smith, Senior Executive, Hanesbrands - (336) 407-6156
- Kelly Hobbs, Director of Human Resources, LT Apparel - (336) 840-6955
Timeline
Director of Distribution
LT Apparel
09.2022 - Current
Sr. Operations Manager
Chewy.com
08.2021 - 09.2022
Warehouse Operations Manager II
NFI
02.2020 - 08.2021
Operations Manager I
NFI
12.2018 - 02.2020
Operations Supervisor
NFI
05.2017 - 12.2018
MBA - International Business Management
Florida Atlantic University
Bachelor of Science - Health Care Administration
Santa Fe College
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