Speaking at ChemUK, the UK’s largest expo for the chemicals, process engineering and formulated product industries, UKWA CEO Clare Bottle controversially claimed that warehouse managers in the chemicals sector had equally skilled jobs to the scientists.
“I certainly grabbed the attention of my audience, but I think there’s a genuine case to be made,” Clare says.
“Warehouse managers handling chemicals must possess a deep understanding of chemical properties, including reactivity, toxicity, and flammability: they’re responsible for ensuring compliance with stringent regulations such as (COSHH).
They must conduct thorough risk assessments and implement safety measures to prevent accidents. This includes designing and enforcing protocols for spill containment, fire prevention, and emergency response, as well as analysing data to monitor inventory levels, track shipments, forecast demand and make informed decisions.
All this requires technical know-how and a commitment to safety protocols akin to that of scientific professionals. Warehouse Managers rely on problem-solving, an understanding of data and an approach to management that reflects the experimental and iterative approaches found in scientific inquiry.”
Most of the audience at ChemUK were manufacturers, but many of them also operate their own warehouses. Clare was keen to ensure they recognised the role played by their warehousing operations in the success of their business. In her presentation, she highlighted the huge changes in warehousing and her predictions for the trends ahead. She also challenge outdated perceptions about warehousing – including those around skills.
“In 2022 Chi Onwurah MP said ‘we should be inspiring young people with the endless possibilities of science, not directing them to warehouses’,” she concluded, “However, I would would definitely argue that Warehouse Manager and Scientist are equally skilled jobs.”
Part of the mission at UKWA is to talk about warehousing, to promote the importance of warehousing as a critical part of the supply chain, a vital contributor to the UK economy and a sector that offers an exciting array of career opportunities. This year UKWA has been taking that message out to new audiences, attending events in the pharmaceutical, food and chemical sectors.
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