Joel MacKerras – National Inventory and Systems Manager.

What do you do?

Atlas McNeil Healthcare are a leading distributer of an extensive range of surgical and medical supplies.

Since joining the Atlas team fresh out of high school over 15 years ago, I have covered many facets of the business including customer service, purchasing and accounts, as well as general warehousing.

In my current role as National Inventory and Systems Manager I am responsible for overseeing stock control in 7 locations around Australia as well as working closely with Bunzl IT, QAD and Kettering on issues, implementations, and upgrades.

What do you love about your job?

The variability! As they say, variety is the spice of life.

Each day brings a new challenge, especially in the current climate with tight product availability. I have been able to employ my broad skillset within QAD to ensure there is a fair allocation and distribution of stock to customers and all in a timely manner.

I am surrounded by a talented and supportive team that makes it all so much easier.

What’s one piece of wisdom you would like to share?

Approach everything with a growth mindset – don’t say “I can’t do that”, change it to “I can’t do that, YET”.

What are you working on at the moment?

We are ramping up to a full warehouse shift for our Perth distribution centre in September this year. Our parent company, Bunzl Australasia, have just purpose built a facility in Jandakot to house several different arms of the company with Atlas McNeil being one. This shift will involve the physical relocation of almost 1000 SKUs along with stocktaking and heat mapping to ensure we have the most practical and efficient use of space.

With the recent announcement of a new distribution centre here in Adelaide to be built in the coming year, we will be doing the same shift as Perth but with almost 10,000 SKUs!