Thomas Varghese

• Bachelors in Economics from Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India.
• More than 20 years of work experience in various fields, especially Operations (Warehouse/Transportation), Labour Management, Logistics, Inventory Management, Quality Assurance, Customer service etc.
• 18 years of direct management experience. Successfully led numerous projects and drove the team to achieve goals.
• Experience managing a team of 60+ employees at a time.
• Experience with process improvements (Lean process, Kaizen, Six Sigma etc.)
• Excellent customer service, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Attended various trainings in Labour Management, Logistics, Customs regulations, Customer Service etc.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to effectively liaise with internal/external clients.
• Ability to study, analyze, and synthesize information to identify trends and make recommendations to deliver final results.
• Demonstrated ability to investigate complaints and make recommendations for resolutions.
• Strong MS Office skills, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint. 
• Proven ability to lead the team, work as part of a team or independently.
• Demonstrated ability to work with a high degree of accuracy, tact, diplomacy and professionalism

Area Manager, 
Outbound Shipping (January 2022 to till the date)
Inventory Control and Quality Assurance Dept (June 2014 to December 2022)

Amazon Fulfilment, Annasis Island, BC, Canada                                                         

Specific responsibilities:

• Support, mentor, and motivate the hourly workforce of the department in achieving productivity and quality targets.
• Manage safety, quality, productivity, and customer delivery promises.
• Collaborate with all support teams including Safety, Engineering, Loss Prevention, Quality Assurance, Human Resources to develop plans to meet business objectives.
• Responsible for the daily operations and management of the department.
• Administer the local Facility’s (YVR2) quality of service they provide to customers and verify compliance to high standards set by Amazon globally.
• Monitor Quality and Inventory transaction integrity accuracy (e.g. stock accuracy and shipment accuracy) on-site and provide necessary feedback to various departments, implement corrective actions etc.
• Analyze root causes of quality and inventory defects to drive improvements.
• Assign workload and supervise a team within a very fast-paced/ time-critical and demanding environment. 
• Identifying and addressing safety hazards within the work area, Coaching associates to work safely at all times.
• Execute daily, weekly and monthly action plans that improve safety, quality, inventory accuracy and service.
• Manage and report various metrics (hourly, daily, weekly etc.)
• Implement any other directions of the superiors.

1. Major Achievements:

• Assisted the management in the continuous improvement program by leading the ICQA team in constantly achieving increased productivity and quality rates.
• Designed and implemented a program that reduced the monthly damages of books - year to year. From 500 (avg.) in 2016 to 300 (avg.) by the end of 2017, and currently maintaining it under 100 (average).
• Effectively coached/trained more than 1000 associates in various functions of ICQA, mainly productivity, quality, safety, Problem Solving and Process Assistants. 
• Assisted in setting up the ICQA departments for 3 newly opened Facilities in Canada (YVR3, YVR4 & YYC1). Assisted in the physical setup of the department and trained the whole team in the entire operations of the ICQA department. 
• Assisted the expansion of the Facility (2015) by managing the inventory requirements. Led ICQA team in accurately moving the inventory physically and virtually without affecting customer requirements. 
• Led the ICQA team during 8 peak seasons in supporting IB and OB departments’ functions by resolving all the Inventory and Quality related issues.

Lead Transportation Specialist

Fleet Logistics Center, United States Navy, Kingdom of Bahrain                                 Jul ‘04 – Apr ‘14

Specific responsibilities:

• Directly supervise and lead a team of 9 office, 4 warehouse and 60 packing/delivery staff in providing excellent customer service and processing shipments between various worldwide locations and Bahrain.
• Ship cargo by utilizing the most efficient and cost-effective means.
• Verify documents prepared by Transportation Assts. to ensure accuracy and quality prior to their distribution to various agencies.
• Conduct and administer Military Shipments Customs inspection and Pre-clearance program to ensure shipments leaving Bahrain are in compliance with Bahrain and destination country Customs Regulations.
• Conduct continuous training to the staff, packing crews, Local Agents, Reserve and Active Military Personnel etc. on the preparation of shipping documents, packing standards, shipping procedures, customs regulations and the appropriate application of all military cargo shipping regulations.
• Prepare necessary documents for customs clearance on incoming and outgoing cargo and Liaison with the Customs Directorate of Bahrain on the movement of military Cargo
• Administrate all the functions of the cargo warehouse like loading, unloading, receiving, processing and documenting.
• Monitor Carrier’s performance to ensure compliance with military directives and instructions. 
• Resolve unusual problems, discrepancies and complaints associated with the transportation of shipments.
• Prepare reports required by department, command and outside agencies.
• Implement any other directions provided by the superiors.

1. Major Achievements:

• Processed more than 200 million lbs of military cargo.
• Lead the team in assisting approximately 120,000 customers.
• Administered Quality Assurance (QA) Inspection program on more than 100 million lbs of cargo/shipments to ensure the shipper comply with the quality assurance program. 
• Administered Customs Preclearance Inspection program on more than 100 million lbs cargo/shipments to ensure the shipper complies with host and destination country Customs Regulations.
• Trained more than 500 Personnel on the preparation of shipping documents, shipping procedures, warehouse management, packing standards and the appropriate application of all military cargo shipping regulations.
• Participated as a presenter in more than 500 Seminars in counseling military service members on the members’ transportation entitlements, shipping procedures, US Customs Regulations, Bahrain Customs regulations etc.

Logistics Coordinator

110 Forwarding and Stevedoring, Kingdom of Bahrain                                                  Apr ‘02 – Jul ‘04

Specific responsibilities:

• Directly supervise and lead a team of 4 office, 4 warehouse and 40 packing/delivery staff in processing shipments between various worldwide locations and Bahrain.
• Plan, Arrange and Coordinate shipments’ packing and delivery. 
• Provide customer service and process shipments to and from Bahrain.
• Book cargo and negotiate ad hoc rates with carriers. 
• Provide continuous training to office, warehouse and pick-up/delivery crew, in preparing shipping documents, packing standards, shipping procedures, customs regulations etc. 
• Conformity verification of all documentation at time of shipment preparation. 
• Build and maintain good relations with carriers. 
• Respond promptly to all incoming communications in order to properly manage and control daily operational issues. 
• Tracking and tracing of shipments until delivery is made at the final destination. 
• Timely and accurate billing of shipments. 
• Conformity review and approval of suppliers invoices on a timely basis. 
• Conformity review and approval of overseas affiliates’ remittances on a timely basis.
• Perform any other clerical activity when directed.

Major Achievements:

• Streamlined shipping process to provide the best service to the customers; assisted approx. 3500 customers.
• Implemented various measures to economically move shipments and saved approx. US$ 40,000 for the company in 2 years. 
• Processed more than 3000 shipments to and from Bahrain.

Office Clerk                                                                                                                   Jul ‘97 – Mar ‘02

The Indian School, Kingdom of Bahrain

Specific responsibilities:

• Perform all-round office functions as assistant to the Office Superintend.
• Direct supervisor to 30 non-teaching staff, mainly School Security Staff, Maintenance team, school drivers, and School attendants
• Manage the front desk & the customer service program.
• Work as Cashier in collecting academic fees and other receivables.
• Assist Accounts Dept. in accounting activities.
• Assist Purchase Dept. in the procurement process.
• Assist Personnel Dept. in various Personnel activities.
• Assist book & stationery store with its daily operations.
• Perform any other administrative, financial/accounts, office automation or other clerical duties as assigned by the superiors.

Bachelor of Arts (B.A), Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India                                                  1997 

Certificate in Computer Application, CVM Computers, Kerala, India                                              1997

Diploma in Client Server Technology, Global Institute, Kingdom of Bahrain                                  2002