Order Wave Release Lead

Position Summary

The Order Wave Release Lead controls the release and flow of customer and transfer orders into Detroit Axle's Ontario warehouse operation. The role keeps picking supplied with properly prioritized work, monitors order exceptions and backlog, coordinates capacity with the Picking Lead and Warehouse Supervisor, and protects order accuracy by following approved WMS and inventory controls.

Reporting Structure & Role Boundaries

· Reports directly to the Warehouse Supervisor and provides day-to-day direction to employees assigned to the department.

· Escalates material staffing, safety, inventory, performance, employee-relations, equipment, or workflow issues to the Warehouse Supervisor.

· May assign and redirect work, stop unsafe work, reinforce established procedures, and provide factual coaching within Detroit Axle procedures.

· Does not independently change compensation, approve termination, issue final disciplinary decisions, enter contracts, commit Company funds, or change Company policy unless specifically authorized.

Order Wave Release & Work Control

· Control and monitor order wave releases in Deposco or the Detroit Axle-designated WMS in accordance with approved release cadence, including the current operational expectation of releases all orders when volume and system conditions support it.

· Review order queues before release and prioritize work based on shipping deadlines, carrier cutoffs, backlog, available inventory, staffing, and instructions from the Warehouse Supervisor.

· Release work in a controlled manner that maintains continuous picking without overwhelming picking, packing, staging, or shipping capacity.

· Monitor released waves through completion and identify stalled, incomplete, duplicated, misrouted, or aging orders; take permitted corrective action and escalate unresolved exceptions.

· Coordinate with the Picking Lead and Warehouse Supervisor to rebalance zones, labor, and release quantities when order volume or capacity changes.

· Coordinate replenishment needs and inventory shortages with Picking, Receiving, and Inventory Control before they create avoidable picking delays.

· Monitor address, weight, split-order, backorder, inventory-allocation, and other order exceptions and route them to the appropriate Detroit Axle function for resolution.

Systems, Accuracy & Reporting

· Maintain accurate wave/release records, exception notes, backlog status, and operational handoff information in the designated systems.

· Do not bypass system controls, inventory holds, approval requirements, or order-priority rules without authorized direction.

· Track release schedule compliance, time to resolve order exceptions, backorder status, and orders at risk of missing service commitments.

· Provide the Warehouse Supervisor with regular status updates on queue volume, released work, aging orders, unresolved exceptions, system issues, and downstream capacity constraints.

· Escalate WMS, scanner, integration, printer, label, or other system failures promptly to the Warehouse Supervisor and appropriate IT/support function.

Employee Leadership

· Provide day-to-day direction to employees assigned to wave/order-control activities and ensure procedures are followed consistently.

· Train and coach employees on order prioritization, WMS procedures, exception handling, documentation, and Company expectations.

· Maintain professional communication with Picking, Packing, Shipping, Inventory Control, Customer Service, Logistics, and other departments involved in order completion.

· Conduct clear shift handoffs identifying unreleased work, incomplete waves, urgent orders, unresolved exceptions, and system issues.

Ontario Health & Safety Responsibilities

· Because this position has authority over workers, perform the applicable duties of a supervisor under Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), including ensuring workers follow required measures and procedures and use required protective equipment.

· Advise workers of known actual or potential workplace hazards and take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for worker protection.

· Stop or correct unsafe work within the role's authority and promptly escalate serious hazards, injuries, near misses, equipment defects, spills, blocked emergency access, damaged racking, or other material safety concerns.

· Ensure only appropriately trained, competent, and authorized employees use powered material-handling equipment or other restricted equipment.

· Support workplace inspections, hazard assessments, incident investigations, corrective actions, emergency procedures, and required safety documentation.

· Complete Ontario supervisor health and safety awareness training within the required timeframe unless a verified regulatory exemption applies, and complete Detroit Axle-required role-specific training.

Employment Standards, Respectful Workplace & Accommodation

· Plan work and shift coverage in accordance with Detroit Axle scheduling practices and applicable Ontario employment standards, including required eating periods, hours-of-work rules, rest requirements, and overtime requirements where applicable.

· Do not independently deny statutory leaves, accommodation requests, or other protected employment rights; promptly refer such matters to the Warehouse Supervisor and Human Resources.

· Support a workplace free from discrimination, harassment, and violence and promptly report concerns through Detroit Axle procedures.

· Follow approved accommodation restrictions and modified-work instructions and maintain confidentiality of employee information.

Performance Expectations / KPIs

· Order release cadence compliance and continuous flow of work to picking.

· Timely resolution or escalation of order exceptions and backorders.

· Accuracy of wave priorities, system records, and shift handoffs.

· Reduction of avoidable picking idle time caused by release or replenishment issues.

· SLA/carrier-cutoff risk identified and escalated before missed shipment where reasonably possible.

Required Qualifications

· Secondary school diploma or equivalent combination of relevant education, training, and experience.

· At least 2 years of warehouse/distribution experience, including at least 1 year in a lead or supervisory capacity.

· Ability to use warehouse management systems, handheld scanners, and standard Microsoft applications used by Detroit Axle.

· Knowledge, training, and experience sufficient to organize assigned work safely and effectively.

· Strong leadership, communication, organization, problem-solving, follow-through, and documentation skills.

· Ability to communicate effectively in English for the requirements of the position; additional language skills are an asset.

· Experience with order allocation, order release/waving, warehouse systems, or closely related order-fulfillment control work.

Preferred Qualifications

· Experience with Deposco or a comparable WMS.

· Automotive/e-commerce distribution experience.

· Microsoft office experience

· Experience working with high-volume parcel fulfillment, carrier cutoffs, or priority-order queues.

Physical & Scheduling Requirements

The position involves active warehouse-floor leadership, including regular walking and standing and work around moving equipment, warehouse noise, and varying temperatures. Where material handling is an essential duty, safe lifting methods, suitable equipment, and assistance must be used as required. Evening, weekend, overtime, or adjusted hours may be required based on operational needs, subject to applicable Ontario law and approved accommodation obligations.

General

This job description summarizes the principal duties of the position and is not intended to list every task. Responsibilities may be adjusted based on operational needs, business requirements, employee capability, and management direction. All duties must be performed in accordance with Detroit Axle policies, procedures, safety requirements, and Principles of Ethical Business Conduct.