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Materials Handling Engineer

Category: Supply Chain/Logistics
Reports To:      

Job Description/Responsibilities
The materials handling engineer’s main responsibility is to develop systems and methods, and recommend equipment acquisition, to ensure the most economical packaging of products, in-plant storage and retrieval of material, and automated machine load/unload systems.  Other responsibilities include developing and directing the development of sketches, specifications, samples, and written analysis of proposed packaging for design approval by executive management; planning and directing activities concerned with the design and development of protective packaging containers; and analyzing engineering drawings and specifications of products to determine physical characteristics, special handling, and types of materials required for containers.

Qualifications/Skills
You’ll be expected to recommend the most efficient packaging procedures, innovations in packaging materials, and methods for sealing; gather data relative to the costs of packaging and freight; confer with customers on container requirements; contribute to strategies for efficient in-plant storage systems, including parts containers, racks, and retrieval systems; recommend automatic parts handling systems for use in loading and/or unloading machines.

Education/Background
An Associate’s degree is acceptable; a Bachelor’s degree in a business field is preferred.  Five years’ related experience is essential; completion of technical training is a plus.  You must be able to deal effectively with manufacturing engineers, product engineers, production supervisors, shipping and receiving personnel, and production control personnel.

Please send [résumé and salary history/requirements] to:      

Job Description

Materials Handling Engineer

Category: Supply Chain/Logistics
Reports To:      

Job Description
Main responsibilities are to develop systems, methods, and recommended equipment acquisition to ensure the most economical packaging of products, in-plant storage and retrieval of material, and automated machine load/unload systems.

Qualifications
•	Bachelor’s degree in business field preferred; Associate’s acceptable.

•	Five years’ related experience is essential; completion of technical training a plus.

•	Must be able to deal effectively with manufacturing engineers, product engineers, production supervisors, shipping and receiving personnel, and production control personnel.

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Duties
Percentage
of Job	Exemption
Classification	Duty	Essential Function	
     %	Exempt	Develops or directs development of sketches, specifications, samples, and written analysis of proposed packaging for design approval by executive management.	Y / N	
     %	Exempt	Recommends most efficient packaging procedures, innovations in packaging materials, and methods for sealing.	Y / N	
     %	Exempt	Plans and directs activities concerned with design and development of protective packaging containers.	Y / N	
     %	Non-Exempt	Analyzes engineering drawings and specifications of products to determine physical characteristics, special handling, and types of materials required for containers.	Y / N	
     %	Non-Exempt	Gathers data relative to costs of packaging and freight.	Y / N	
     %	Non-Exempt	Confers with customers on container requirements.	Y / N	
     %	Exempt	Contributes to strategies for efficient in-plant storage systems, including parts containers, racks, and retrieval systems.	Y / N	
     %	Exempt	Recommends automatic parts handling systems for use in loading and/or unloading machines.	Y / N	
     %			Y / N	
     %			Y / N	

Exemption Analysis
While some engineering jobs would fit nicely into the Learned Professional exemption (541.301), this one doesn’t require the depth of advanced knowledge or instruction. And since the direction of a specific department isn’t involved, the main exemption under which this might qualify would be the Administrative (541.200). Analyzing all the duties separately, it’s a close call. Several of them seem clearly non-exempt. But on the whole, it appears that the preponderance of managerial activities (developing, recommending, analyzing, contributing to strategies) would push this position under the Administrative exemption. But note that another job with the same title might have less emphasis on the exempt duties and more on the non-exempt, which is why you must closely analyze each individual job’s main duties and responsibilities.

Category Decision
The duties and responsibilities for this position have been analyzed.	
Manager:	Date:	
On that basis, this position has been judged to be        Exempt          Non-Exempt.	
Interview Questions

Materials Handling Engineer

Category: Supply Chain/Logistics
Reports To:      

	What is the largest inventory you have controlled?
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	Tell me about a time when you advised a supervisor and the supervisor chose to ignore your counsel.  Knowing what you do today, what would you have done differently?
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	1	2	3	4	5

	Describe a logistics project in which your input made a difference.
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	Tell me about a proposed packaging plan that you have developed and the result of implementing that plan.
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	1	2	3	4	5

	What do you think is the most important development in the overall field today?  What impact do you think it will have?
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	1	2	3	4	5

	Have you ever developed or adopted an innovative system for packaging or storage?
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	1	2	3	4	5

	You have been asked to evaluate a new automated parts handling system.  What steps will you take?
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	1	2	3	4	5

Additional Questions
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Overall Impression
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Average Rating
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Your Recommendation
	Hire
	Do Not Hire
	Second Interview
	Need More Information

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Print Name

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Signature

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Date

APPLICANT COMPARISON FORM 

Date:      
	Evaluator:      	
Position:      		

Once you have completed the interview process, transfer the notes and rating tallies you completed to the chart below.

Candidates’ Names	Average Rating	Recommendation	Overall Impression	
1.      	1	2	3	4	5		Hire
	Do Not Hire
	Second Interview
	Need More Information		
2.      	1	2	3	4	5		Hire
	Do Not Hire
	Second Interview
	Need More Information		
3.      	1	2	3	4	5		Hire
	Do Not Hire
	Second Interview
	Need More Information		

Candidates’ Names	Average Rating	Recommendation	Overall Impression	
4.      	1	2	3	4	5		Hire
	Do Not Hire
	Second Interview
	Need More Information		
5.      	1	2	3	4	5		Hire
	Do Not Hire
	Second Interview
	Need More Information		
6.      	1	2	3	4	5		Hire
	Do Not Hire
	Second Interview
	Need More Information		
7.      	1	2	3	4	5		Hire
	Do Not Hire
	Second Interview
	Need More Information		

Candidates’ Names	Average Rating	Recommendation	Overall Impression	
8.      	1	2	3	4	5		Hire
	Do Not Hire
	Second Interview
	Need More Information		
9.      	1	2	3	4	5		Hire
	Do Not Hire
	Second Interview
	Need More Information		
10.      	1	2	3	4	5		Hire
	Do Not Hire
	Second Interview
	Need More Information		

Comments:      

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