Warehouse / Shipping Associate
Posted
Franklin Gear & Machine is seeking a dependable, organized, and hands-on Warehouse & Shipping Associate to support daily warehouse, shipping, receiving, inventory control, and material handling operations at our Houston, Texas facility.
This is not simply a shipping clerk position. The successful candidate must be willing and capable of actively participating in warehouse operations, handling large industrial components, preparing heavy equipment for shipment, and supporting daily manufacturing activities.
This position requires an individual who is comfortable working in an industrial manufacturing environment and understands the importance of properly receiving, identifying, storing, packaging, and shipping precision-machined components, industrial gears, shafts, and gearbox assemblies.
Responsibilities include operating forklifts and other material handling equipment when trained and authorized, assisting with loading and unloading trucks, building shipping crates and pallets, maintaining inventory accuracy, and coordinating material movement throughout the manufacturing facility.
The ideal candidate will demonstrate a strong work ethic, mechanical aptitude, attention to detail, and a willingness to perform multiple responsibilities to support production and customer delivery requirements
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This is a hands-on position requiring flexibility, accountability, and a team-first attitude. The expectation is that the employee will take ownership of warehouse and shipping operations while actively supporting the overall success of the manufacturing facility.
PRIMARY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Shipping & Receiving Operations
- Receive incoming materials, parts, components, equipment, and customer-owned products.
- Verify incoming shipments against purchase orders, packing slips, bills of lading, and other receiving documentation.
- Inspect incoming materials for visible damage, shortages, and discrepancies.
- Properly identify, label, and document received materials.
- Coordinate with purchasing, production, and management regarding material shortages or receiving discrepancies.
- Prepare outgoing shipments according to customer requirements and established delivery schedules.
- Generate and verify packing slips, shipping labels, bills of lading, and other required documentation.
- Coordinate freight pickups and deliveries with carriers and transportation providers.
- Ensure shipments are properly documented and accurately recorded.
- Maintain organized shipping and receiving areas.
2. Industrial Packaging & Material Preparation
- Package industrial gears, shafts, gearbox components, and finished assemblies for safe transportation.
- Prepare wooden crates, pallets, skids, and other shipping containers as required.
- Properly secure heavy or irregularly shaped components to prevent movement or damage during transportation.
- Utilize appropriate protective packaging materials to prevent corrosion, contamination, and handling damage.
- Ensure customer-owned components are properly identified and protected.
- Verify shipment contents against customer orders and shipping documentation.
- Assist with loading and unloading trucks using forklifts, overhead cranes, and other approved material handling equipment.
- Follow established procedures for handling oversized, heavy, or high-value industrial components.
- Maintain packaging supplies and notify management when replenishment is required.
3. Warehouse Organization & Inventory Control
- Maintain accurate inventory records for raw materials, components, supplies, and finished goods.
- Properly label, identify, and store materials in designated warehouse locations.
- Assist with inventory counts, cycle counting, and reconciliation of discrepancies.
- Monitor material locations to ensure efficient retrieval and movement.
- Maintain proper segregation and identification of customer-owned materials.
- Assist in identifying obsolete, damaged, or improperly stored inventory.
- Support inventory accuracy through timely and accurate documentation.
- Maintain organized storage areas and promote effective utilization of available warehouse space.
- Assist with implementation and maintenance of 5S workplace organization practices.
4. Production & Shop Floor Support
- Deliver materials, components, and supplies to machine, gearbox repair, and assembly departments as required.
- Coordinate with shop personnel to ensure materials are available for scheduled production activities.
- Assist with moving work-in-process components between manufacturing operations.
- Identify and communicate material shortages that could affect production schedules.
- Support the movement of large gears, shafts, housings, and industrial gearbox assemblies.
- Assist with staging completed jobs for inspection, packaging, and shipment.
- Coordinate with production personnel to ensure completed products are shipped according to customer requirements.
- Perform additional warehouse and material handling duties as operational needs require.
5. Equipment Operation & Material Handling
- Safely operate forklifts, pallet jacks, and other material handling equipment when trained and authorized.
- Utilize overhead cranes, hoists, and lifting devices in accordance with company safety procedures.
- Follow established rigging and load-handling requirements.
- Inspect material handling equipment before use and report maintenance or safety concerns.
- Ensure proper load distribution and securement during material movement.
- Maintain awareness of surrounding personnel and equipment when transporting materials.
- Follow safe lifting practices and established material handling procedures.
6. Documentation & Administrative Responsibilities
- Maintain accurate receiving, inventory, and shipping records.
- Enter material transactions into the company's ERP or inventory management system.
- Verify part numbers, quantities, job numbers, and material descriptions.
- Maintain organized shipping and receiving documentation.
- Communicate shipment status, freight concerns, and delivery issues to appropriate personnel.
- Assist with freight tracking and resolution of shipping discrepancies.
- Support accurate reporting of inventory movements and warehouse transactions.
7. Safety, Housekeeping & Continuous Improvement
- Follow company safety policies and applicable OSHA requirements.
- Maintain clean, organized, and safe warehouse and shipping areas.
- Ensure aisles, exits, and material storage areas remain accessible and free of hazards.
- Properly utilize required personal protective equipment.
- Report unsafe conditions, damaged equipment, and workplace hazards.
- Participate in safety training and continuous improvement activities.
- Identify opportunities to improve material flow, warehouse organization, and shipping efficiency.
- Support company initiatives to reduce handling damage, shipping errors, and unnecessary costs.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- High school diploma or GED preferred.
- Previous experience in warehouse operations, shipping and receiving, or industrial material handling preferred.
- Experience working in a manufacturing or industrial environment is beneficial.
- Ability to read and interpret packing slips, purchase orders, shipping documents, and inventory records.
- Basic computer skills and familiarity with inventory or ERP systems.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Ability to accurately identify part numbers, quantities, and material descriptions.
- Strong communication and teamwork skills.
- Ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple responsibilities.
- Willingness to assist with production and material handling activities as needed.
- Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience in a machine shop, industrial manufacturing, or heavy equipment repair environment.
- Forklift operating experience.
- Overhead crane and rigging experience.
- Experience packaging and shipping heavy industrial components.
- Familiarity with freight carriers, bills of lading, and shipping documentation.
- Experience with inventory management and ERP systems.
- Knowledge of proper packaging methods for precision-machined components.
- Experience building wooden crates, skids, and shipping containers.
- Familiarity with domestic and international shipping procedures.
KEY COMPETENCIES
Organization: Maintains accurate inventory locations, clean storage areas, and efficient warehouse operations.
Attention to Detail: Ensures materials, quantities, documentation, and shipments are accurate.
Dependability: Demonstrates consistent attendance, reliability, and commitment to completing assigned responsibilities.
Teamwork: Works collaboratively with production, purchasing, quality, and management personnel.
Safety Awareness: Consistently follows established material handling and workplace safety procedures.
Adaptability: Willingness to assist with multiple warehouse and manufacturing support activities.
Accountability: Takes ownership of assigned tasks and communicates concerns promptly.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORK ENVIRONMENT
- Ability to stand, walk, bend, stoop, and perform physical warehouse activities throughout the workday.
- Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds independently, with assistance or mechanical lifting devices for heavier materials.
- Frequent handling of industrial components, packaging materials, and warehouse supplies.
- Ability to safely operate material handling equipment when trained and authorized.
- Exposure to typical manufacturing conditions, including industrial noise, machinery, and varying temperatures.
- Ability to wear required personal protective equipment.
- Ability to work overtime as operational requirements dictate.
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EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
Franklin Gear & Machine is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.