What's your job about?
This is my second rotation in my graduate program. The graduate program offers up to 4 rotations through different supply chain areas to learn different skills and processes within the supply chain. This rotation I am working within the Dulux Trade Team to support the trade store network. I am assisting in better managing inventory accuracy in the stores through developing new reports alongside auditing & cleaning master data. Every day, I make corrections to the material master which contains all our store data to ensure that the store network systems are running smoothly. In this role, I’ve learned how to use business intelligence and automation tools to manage our daily, weekly, and monthly reporting. I have created daily reports looking at negative stocks, overdue deliveries, cycle counts, and in-store adjustments.
What's your background?
Post high school, I studied costume design and work in the USA for a year before returning to complete my degree. After that, I traveled and gain experience in Hong Kong working for a fashion start-up. This is where I found a real interest in the supply chain. I loved being a part of a bigger picture, interacting with different suppliers, and see something grow from a concept till it arrived in the consumer's hands. I then moved to China and completed my Grad Cert. online. Visiting factories, shipping yards and gaining knowledge about the supply chain from one of the greatest manufacturing hubs. After that, I returned to Australia and found a place as part of the Duluxgroup team. Working amongst lots of different cultures and gaining experience that I couldn’t back home help me mature, learn new skills, and set me up to be quite resilient.
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Yes! I came from a very different background and almost everything I’ve done- I’ve learnt on the job. The world is filled with transferable skills that could make you an asset to a company. I was amazed at how frequently my design skills have come in useful. In my mind, all experience is a good experience.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
I have appreciated how much that my workplace has been a learning environment. Often, I have been given challenges or problems I have never faced before, I love how it is always acceptable to say, “I don’t know how to do that…but I’m sure I will know how by next week”. Even in my interview, they made it clear that they were willing to teach new skills. This program is here to help you grow into a leader. Your personality and ability to learn are the important things that you can bring to the table.
What are the limitations of your job?
In the new post covid world, most workplaces have changed to working from home environment. In my present rotation, I spend most days working from home as even when you go into the office no one else is there. As an extroverted and team-driven person, I have found this quite difficult. Looking at supply chain positions, I would consider if you would prefer a hands-on role in distribution or manufacturing vs. the working from home/office environment of procurement and planning. There are limitations in both types of roles but it is important to find the right role for you.
Finally, not every part of my job is thrilling and exciting. Some of it is just work. I’ve found from all my work experience that you must find the elements of work that you enjoy (eg. team environments, dynamic vs. repetitive role, desk bound or hands-on) and make a career choice based on that criteria.
3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...