Tyler Union Distribution Center Managers all come together for the first time

02/09/2017 Tyler Union
(Tyler Union DCMs pictured left to right: Todd Ford, Portland; Thomas Sudberry, Chicago; Jorge Riviera, Corona; Thomas Ainslie, Vineland; Bob Lee, Dallas; Mike Krumtinger, Tyler Union; and Julio Arevalo, Anniston/Oxford)

A Distribution Center Manager’s responsibility is much more than just receiving and shipping product. We must also be knowledgeable about a wide variety of products while handling other functions in human resources, quality and inventory control, purchasing, accounting and everything that deals with environmental, health and safety.  

After finding a qualified DCM, we train them on company EHS practices, equip them with the correct PPE and then teach to identify any issues with ours products prior to shipping to the customer. Our customers expect a superior product and we make sure that team members know what that is.

A DCM must be familiar with company sales policies and effectively communicate these policies so that customers understand how their orders are being handled.  It is also important that we properly track their inventory and maintain the supplies needed for packaging the material.  Everything must be accounted for.

This job is not an easy one. For every department head at Tyler Union, that hat along with several others must be worn by a DCM, but the most challenging part is the distance. When I first started in Chicago, it was difficult for me being that far away from the company. Even though I knew everyone and had constant contact through telephone and email it was still hard to find that sense of team and I knew the feeling was mutual with several of the DCMs.

That’s why this past January we held a three day meeting with several department heads at Tyler Union Anniston and all the Tyler Union Distribution Center Managers. This gave everyone an opportunity to meet and build relationships with people they deal with on a daily basis through phone calls and emails but had never met. Putting a face and personality to a voice makes a world of difference.

A lot of information was shared during the three day crash course and the DCMs came away more knowledgeable of the foundry and the company and with a much stronger feeling of being a part of the Tyler Union team.

Article written by Mike Krumtinger, Tyler Union Distribution Center Manager