Expeditors are in charge of making sure that everything a company needs to manufacture or service its products arrives on time. Shipments could be delayed or overlooked without expeditors, preventing work from being completed. This could be costly to the business. Expeditors are skilled at keeping in touch with vendors and managing shipment schedules. A high school diploma and strong computer skills are required for most expeditor positions.
Material expeditors are in charge of keeping track of production materials shipments. A company that makes leather purses, for example, uses leather, metal or plastic fasteners and zippers, as well as packaging. The material expeditor communicates with supervisors on a regular basis to determine when new assembly materials are expected to arrive. He or she then makes contact with the material vendors to ensure that the materials will arrive on time. If a problem arises, such as a vendor running out of a material, the expeditor is responsible for informing the supervisor and assisting in the search for replacement materials so that they can be shipped on time.
Industrial expeditors may work in fields that require knowledge of petroleum, chemicals, and other industrial components. A four-year college degree in an industrial major is required for many industrial expeditor positions. Refineries are one of the most common work environments for industrial expeditors. The expeditor is in charge of getting materials to the refinery. The expeditor is in charge of creating tracking systems and reports.
Expeditor jobs are also found in purchasing departments. A purchasing expeditor, like expeditors in the materials and industrial arenas, is in charge of tracking and ensuring timely shipment of needed materials. A purchasing expeditor works with the department that actually buys the needed materials, while materials and industrial expeditors work with the manufacturing side of the company.
Each expeditor is responsible for the basic tracking of all shipments, regardless of the field. The industry or department in which expeditor jobs are available is the difference in the jobs. Strong computer and telephone skills are required for all positions.
Expeditor jobs occasionally necessitate travel. A variety of work environments exist, ranging from an office to a shipyard. Employees in the expeditor position report to procurement managers, purchasing directors, and other members of the product manufacturing chain of command.
Expeditors are expected to track other shipments in addition to shipments of commonly used materials. Ordered office furniture, company vehicles, and building signs must all be delivered. Employees with expeditor jobs are responsible for ensuring that they ship on time.