Systems engineering is a discipline, which is involved in the design and management of complex systems over their lifespan (Blanchard, 2008). An operations coordinator is a person in charge of organizing and coordinating the activities of different individuals in a company. An operations coordinator deals with many individuals in his work. The coordinator has to ensure that all the activities being carried out by each individual or department work in harmony to meet the overall objective of the whole organization. A coordinator has to have good management skills in order to work properly. The operations coordinator also has to have a good knowledge of the task to ensure that it is appropriately completed. When dealing with large complex projects, some issues in the projects like logistics, reliability and coordination between the various departments become difficult. A system engineer is equipped with knowledge on work processes, optimization methods, and risk management tools to deal with such projects (Blanchard, 2008). It is therefore important for an operations coordinator to have systems engineering knowledge.
In a logistics company, an operations coordinator will find it easier having systems engineering knowledge. The operations coordinator will have to fulfill a large number of roles. Systems engineering knowledge helps the person to learn to coordinate all the large number of functions involved. The roles the operations coordinator is in charge of coordinating fall under different departments in the company. However, all these different roles have to work in harmony in order to achieve the objectives of the job. Each of these tasks has a person who is responsible for accomplishing them. The operations coordinator has to come up with the best working plans, optimization plans, and risk management strategies to ensure the organization runs smoothly. The operations coordinator will be responsible for communicating with clients. All the correspondence with the client falls under the role of the operations coordinator. He has to ensure that clients receive the appropriate response from the company and in time. Depending on the nature of the work of the company, the operations coordinator will also be in charge of transport. This falls under the cargo service.
While performing this role, the operations coordinator will be responsible for approving time sheets of the employees. He will also sign payment vouchers for all suppliers. The operations coordinator is also responsible for monitoring cargo movement through tracking devices and procedures. The operations coordinator should be able to determine the location of goods under shipping. In case of any queries by any of the clients, the operations coordinator should be able to provide the required information promptly. He is also responsible for handling the entire inventory in the company. As regards to delivery vehicles, the operations coordinator is responsible for delivery of any new vehicles to the company. He should also handle maintenance of all delivery vehicles. If any of these vehicles needs replacement parts, the operations coordinator is also responsible for acquiring such.
The operations coordinator is also the person in charge of determining new business opportunity for the company. He should be able to identify new opportunities and report to senior management. After senior management has approved of such opportunities, the operations coordinator is also responsible for implementing the same on the ground.
Depending on the nature of the company, the operations coordinator might also have procurement responsibilities. Under this role, the operations coordinator will be responsible for maintaining a record of all outstanding purchase orders. This role means that the operations coordinator works as the procurement manager. He will receive the needs of others in the company and ensure that the requirements are provided in a timely manner. He will also be responsible for arranging transportation and forwarding services to ensure delivery of goods on time. The operations coordinator also reviews customer orders, forward information to planning and sales teams. Reviewing freight rates from different transporters is also the responsibility of the operations coordinator to provide the customers with the best rates.
Finally, it is the duty of the operations coordinator to ensure that the company complies with all governmental agencies. These include customs and taxes of all the countries where the company operates. A logistic company that operates across various government jurisdictions faces many laws. Each country has its own laws, which have to be followed. In line of the logistics company’s work, it has to ensure that it obeys all these laws. It is the responsibility of the operations manager to be aware of these laws. In their work, they have to ensure that all customs and taxes due are paid. In the best interests of the company and its clients, the operations coordinator has to determine the best route for goods to travel. The best route is determined by speed, cost, and safety. The operations coordinator determines the best route to give the best profits for the company as well as timely delivery of the goods and the safest route. An operations coordinator with systems engineering knowledge is better placed to handle such a role in a logistics company
Work Cited
Blanchard, Benjamin S. System Engineering Management. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons, 2008. Internet resource.
Kossiakoff, Alexander. Systems Engineering Principles and Practice. Oxford: Wiley, 2011. Print.
