Six Months in Healthcare Logistics

A DB Schenker Reflection

Hello Reader!

I’m excited to share a 6-month reflection on my current role at DB Schenker, where I’ve been supporting a major healthcare client since September 2024. This experience has significantly deepened my understanding of warehouse operations and stakeholder coordination in a highly regulated environment.

Transitioning from university into a full-time role, I wanted to immerse myself in operational execution and live supply chain functions. DB Schenker presented the perfect opportunity to experience healthcare logistics at scale, demanding both precision and agility in day-to-day execution.

Overview of My Role

As an Operations Executive, I oversee a team of four storekeepers to ensure smooth daily warehouse operations across inbound, outbound, and issue resolution activities. My responsibilities include manpower planning, performance monitoring, and responding to operational challenges, such as urgent shipments or shifting workloads.

In addition to overseeing routine operations, I actively contribute to workflow improvements, support cross-functional troubleshooting efforts, and ensure compliance with GxP and SS620:2016 (2021) standards in all processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Team Management: Lead a team of four storekeepers in daily warehouse operations, ensuring task clarity, resource availability, and SLA adherence.

• Inbound & Outbound Operations: Oversee inbound receiving, outbound handling, and inventory reconciliation while ensuring documentation accuracy and compliance.

• Process Improvement: Conduct time studies and propose workflow enhancements, such as optimizing storage layouts and refining Work Instructions (WI) for clearer process alignment.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with IT and analysts to troubleshoot system-related issues (e.g., information not detected) and maintain accurate transaction flows.

• KPI & Compliance Reporting: Monitor operational KPIs and ensure all activities align with contractual agreements.

• Client Issue Resolution: Investigate root causes of service issues (e.g., wrong shipment) and coordinate cross-functional actions to implement lasting solutions.

Key Achievements

• Updated Operational Documentation: Revised seven WIs to reflect current warehouse processes accurately.

• Operational Enhancements: Identified and raised over 20 improvement opportunities to the IT team, contributing to enhanced system usability and workflow efficiency.

• KPI Accuracy: Collaborated with the client and internal analyst to validate and ensure accuracy in KPI reporting, supporting data integrity and performance transparency.

Challenges Faced

• Balancing Execution with Improvement: Managing day-to-day warehouse activities while allocating time for data analysis and process review was a constant juggling act.

• Cross-Team Communication: Bridging the operational and system teams required translating warehouse problems into structured feedback that could be actioned technically.

• Precision Under Pressure: Ensuring documentation accuracy, quality compliance, and on-time export under tight schedules demanded extreme attention to detail and agility.

Reflection and Takeaways

Reaching the 6-month mark at DB Schenker has allowed me to reflect on how much I’ve grown—both in technical capability and professional maturity. This role has exposed me to the real-time dynamics of a 3PL warehouse, where decisions impact not just SLAs, but also the delivery of healthcare products to patients.

I’ve learned how to lead a team, drive daily execution, and build structured problem-solving habits. Being part of issue resolution and process enhancements has deepened my understanding of lean operations, compliance frameworks, and stakeholder coordination—all of which are core to success in supply chain management.

A key realization was that leading operations isn't only about execution—it's also about recognizing improvement opportunities, communicating effectively across functions, and supporting those on the ground.

A big thank you to my colleagues, leads, and cross-functional teams for the support, trust, and collaboration. I look forward to continuing this journey and contributing further to operational excellence.

Thank you for reading!

Zero-Defect Commitment