What Actually Are Logistics, and What Do They Do? [Local Service]
Our Covert Warriors
A funeral that Direct Funeral Services has planned will welcome you with the sight of colorful flowers. Your eyes then lock onto the photo wreath as you scan the scene for a recognizable face. Your attention is finally directed to a black "RECEPTION" stand. You quickly walk up to the front desk and see that it is well-stocked with items like a message book where you may leave the family a note of comfort, a safe box for the money sent in as condolences, a thermometer, hand sanitizer, and the now-familiar Covid-19 health declaration QR code.
People frequently underestimate the meticulous preparation and work that goes into wake settings because they assume that family and guests will already be there. The wake locations are organized by our very own logistics department, which is crucial to our daily operations but which few people think of when they hear the word "funeral."
This component maintains the supply, caliber, and cleanliness of the items required for the wake in addition to making sure that every wake venue is ideally prepared for you to receive your loved ones. At Direct Funeral Services, our logistics team is made up of seven capable people ranging in age from 29 to 61. Together, they put forth a lot of effort to set up and take down the wake decorations so that we could honor our loved ones.
Our three interviewees today were Hoe, the 61-year-old logistics team leader, Ken, the 43-year-old logistics team member, and Danny, the 29-year-old logistics team member.
Why did you decide to create this business, and was your family against it?
There were other factors, said KE. Indeed, in the middle of it, I changed careers. I've always been interested in this area, and I believed this would be more rewarding. I've been working here for more than eight months, and I've stayed because I like my teammates and the meaning my work provides. Everyone in my family supported me in choosing this career.
DA: While looking for employment openings since I wanted a change of scenery, I came upon the one for this section. At first, my parents were opposed, but I convinced them that it was the deceased's last journey and that helping them would be beneficial. Finally, they agreed with my viewpoints, therefore I made the decision to join the company.
HO: You'll be surprised by my narrative. I used to be a hawker before this, but it was incredibly taxing. My acquaintance who had applied for a position with Direct and I went to the interview together. My friend was chosen while I was still waiting to hear from Direct, but he shortly made the decision to leave. That's how I ended up joining! On my first day of work, I was on the verge of quitting by lunch, but I talked myself into staying. This is what I've been doing for more than 4 years. Fortunately for me, my family was very supportive of my decision to work in this industry!
Explain for us a typical day at work. KE: Our team leader gives us our duties when we first come to work in the morning. If there are no funerals or new patients, we will proceed with ordinary housekeeping. Naturally, this does not imply that we can sit back and do nothing. We need to focus on upkeep and be ready to depart at a moment's notice!
DA: Depending on the type of product, we'll load the proper logistics into the vehicle when we receive a case. We will then go through the checklist that our team leader has established to make sure that all of the logistics components are loaded. We will first stop at the flower shop to purchase the flowers before heading down to the wake location. The setup times for the smaller packages range from 30 to 40 minutes, whilst they take over 1.5 hours for the bigger bundles.
HO: In the past, my duties at work were somewhat comparable to those of Danny and Ken. Since I was promoted to the position of a Logistics Team Leader in late 2020, my responsibilities have included making a list of required items for each package that arrives, speaking with funeral directors about the religion of the selected package, and ensuring that each package arrives on time and according to schedule.
Moreover, I have to check with outside vendors (like tentage) to see if the tentage has been prepped before sending our crew to the wake location for our set-up. Last year, I didn't have the basic computer skills required for any of these tasks, so my supervisor had to teach me how to use them. Learning how to use a computer was a huge triumph for me since I never thought it would be feasible.
Are there any notable differences between the various religious structures? DA: Of course! For instance, different religions have diverse backgrounds, flower arrangements, and prayer items. The arrangements for Taoist funerals do not feature a Buddha table, in contrast to Buddhist funerals.
KE: One distinctive feature is the sculptures. In Taoist arrangements, lantern stands are used instead of Buddha statues, but there is a Buddha statue in Buddhism. For Religious settings, we don't have any statues at all.
HO: For Roman Catholic ceremonies, we need confirmation from the family that they want Mother Mary or Jesus to serve as the backdrop. For Taoist (Teochew dialect) rituals, the coffins must be placed horizontally at the wake area rather than vertically like the others.
Do you have any difficulties in your line of work? According to the DA, wakes staged in landed properties are more challenging than those held in parlors or on vacant decks. We frequently have to change our ideas once we arrive at a landed location because everyone is different.
Carrying the coffin from the second to the first floor on the day of the funeral would be another challenging chore. It takes about eight guys working together to safely carry the casket down, and we have to properly coordinate our movements.
HO: Establishing a business on landed assets is usually challenging. Some residences lack carpets and have marble flooring. On such terrain, we must take extra care when erecting. Since some homes have limited room, some families will ask us to move their furniture, therefore we must provide alternatives (e.g. placing some items indoors and some outdoors). We must be cautious not to block any entrances in order to promote visitor movement.
You are frequently the family members' first point of contact at wake places. How do you respond to their demands or feelings? HO: We occasionally run into the family members when we arrive early to set up for the wake. A family member once left her suitcase behind at the wake and couldn't find it. She rushed over to our car as we were getting ready to leave and inquired if we had seen her bag or knew where it was. Even though we hadn't seen her bag, we promised to look for it. It was ultimately discovered on one of the chairs at the wake area. We reassured the client that everything would be fine after she expressed regret.
Always remembering that the families have just experienced a severe loss, we make an effort to be patient, more understanding of the families' current state of mind, and empathize with them. Additionally, we try our best to meet consumer needs.
Do you think the abilities you've learned here can be used in other fields? DA: I can surely apply the skills I've learnt here to solve problems in other sectors. On rare occasions, I'm told to erect the smaller cases by myself. There have been situations where the tent setup was sluggish or there was a space issue at the wake location. I'll delay all the other things I have to do that day in order to do the former. To meet the obstacles, I'll have to move swiftly and provide fresh insights and conclusions.
KE: There is no doubt that a range of vocations can benefit from having good time management skills. We occasionally have to put up and take down at 6-7 locations in a single day, and we are never allowed to be late for the setup. If our setting is not prepared, the family's ability to receive their loved ones will be delayed. It will also affect the times that Buddhists and Taoists observe prayer.
HO: Knowledge of computers is assumed! Also, since we get a lot of calls every day, I have to plan the jobs to minimize travel time by taking into account the wake's location in addition to the setup and funeral times. This is especially true when things are hectic! I do not, however, currently have any plans to leave the company.
This article is a part of a series that features interviews with our coworkers from the many divisions inside our company. Watch for our upcoming interview with the Floral Department, which will be published on July 31, 2021. In the interim, discover more about what it's like to work in the funeral industry by visiting our Funeral Insider page!
A funeral that Direct Funeral Services has planned will welcome you with the sight of colorful flowers. Your eyes then lock onto the photo wreath as you scan the scene for a recognizable face. Your attention is finally directed to a black "RECEPTION" stand. You quickly walk up to the front desk and see that it is well-stocked with items like a message book where you may leave the family a note of comfort, a safe box for the money sent in as condolences, a thermometer, hand sanitizer, and the now-familiar Covid-19 health declaration QR code.
People frequently underestimate the meticulous preparation and work that goes into wake settings because they assume that family and guests will already be there. The wake locations are organized by our very own logistics department, which is crucial to our daily operations but which few people think of when they hear the word "funeral."
This component maintains the supply, caliber, and cleanliness of the items required for the wake in addition to making sure that every wake venue is ideally prepared for you to receive your loved ones. At Direct Funeral Services, our logistics team is made up of seven capable people ranging in age from 29 to 61. Together, they put forth a lot of effort to set up and take down the wake decorations so that we could honor our loved ones.
Our three interviewees today were Hoe, the 61-year-old logistics team leader, Ken, the 43-year-old logistics team member, and Danny, the 29-year-old logistics team member.
Why did you decide to create this business, and was your family against it?
There were other factors, said KE. Indeed, in the middle of it, I changed careers. I've always been interested in this area, and I believed this would be more rewarding. I've been working here for more than eight months, and I've stayed because I like my teammates and the meaning my work provides. Everyone in my family supported me in choosing this career.
DA: While looking for employment openings since I wanted a change of scenery, I came upon the one for this section. At first, my parents were opposed, but I convinced them that it was the deceased's last journey and that helping them would be beneficial. Finally, they agreed with my viewpoints, therefore I made the decision to join the company.
HO: You'll be surprised by my narrative. I used to be a hawker before this, but it was incredibly taxing. My acquaintance who had applied for a position with Direct and I went to the interview together. My friend was chosen while I was still waiting to hear from Direct, but he shortly made the decision to leave. That's how I ended up joining! On my first day of work, I was on the verge of quitting by lunch, but I talked myself into staying. This is what I've been doing for more than 4 years. Fortunately for me, my family was very supportive of my decision to work in this industry!
Explain for us a typical day at work. KE: Our team leader gives us our duties when we first come to work in the morning. If there are no funerals or new patients, we will proceed with ordinary housekeeping. Naturally, this does not imply that we can sit back and do nothing. We need to focus on upkeep and be ready to depart at a moment's notice!
DA: Depending on the type of product, we'll load the proper logistics into the vehicle when we receive a case. We will then go through the checklist that our team leader has established to make sure that all of the logistics components are loaded. We will first stop at the flower shop to purchase the flowers before heading down to the wake location. The setup times for the smaller packages range from 30 to 40 minutes, whilst they take over 1.5 hours for the bigger bundles.
HO: In the past, my duties at work were somewhat comparable to those of Danny and Ken. Since I was promoted to the position of a Logistics Team Leader in late 2020, my responsibilities have included making a list of required items for each package that arrives, speaking with funeral directors about the religion of the selected package, and ensuring that each package arrives on time and according to schedule.
Moreover, I have to check with outside vendors (like tentage) to see if the tentage has been prepped before sending our crew to the wake location for our set-up. Last year, I didn't have the basic computer skills required for any of these tasks, so my supervisor had to teach me how to use them. Learning how to use a computer was a huge triumph for me since I never thought it would be feasible.
Are there any notable differences between the various religious structures? DA: Of course! For instance, different religions have diverse backgrounds, flower arrangements, and prayer items. The arrangements for Taoist funerals do not feature a Buddha table, in contrast to Buddhist funerals.
KE: One distinctive feature is the sculptures. In Taoist arrangements, lantern stands are used instead of Buddha statues, but there is a Buddha statue in Buddhism. For Religious settings, we don't have any statues at all.
HO: For Roman Catholic ceremonies, we need confirmation from the family that they want Mother Mary or Jesus to serve as the backdrop. For Taoist (Teochew dialect) rituals, the coffins must be placed horizontally at the wake area rather than vertically like the others.
Do you have any difficulties in your line of work? According to the DA, wakes staged in landed properties are more challenging than those held in parlors or on vacant decks. We frequently have to change our ideas once we arrive at a landed location because everyone is different.
Carrying the coffin from the second to the first floor on the day of the funeral would be another challenging chore. It takes about eight guys working together to safely carry the casket down, and we have to properly coordinate our movements.
HO: Establishing a business on landed assets is usually challenging. Some residences lack carpets and have marble flooring. On such terrain, we must take extra care when erecting. Since some homes have limited room, some families will ask us to move their furniture, therefore we must provide alternatives (e.g. placing some items indoors and some outdoors). We must be cautious not to block any entrances in order to promote visitor movement.
You are frequently the family members' first point of contact at wake places. How do you respond to their demands or feelings? HO: We occasionally run into the family members when we arrive early to set up for the wake. A family member once left her suitcase behind at the wake and couldn't find it. She rushed over to our car as we were getting ready to leave and inquired if we had seen her bag or knew where it was. Even though we hadn't seen her bag, we promised to look for it. It was ultimately discovered on one of the chairs at the wake area. We reassured the client that everything would be fine after she expressed regret.
Always remembering that the families have just experienced a severe loss, we make an effort to be patient, more understanding of the families' current state of mind, and empathize with them. Additionally, we try our best to meet consumer needs.
Do you think the abilities you've learned here can be used in other fields? DA: I can surely apply the skills I've learnt here to solve problems in other sectors. On rare occasions, I'm told to erect the smaller cases by myself. There have been situations where the tent setup was sluggish or there was a space issue at the wake location. I'll delay all the other things I have to do that day in order to do the former. To meet the obstacles, I'll have to move swiftly and provide fresh insights and conclusions.
KE: There is no doubt that a range of vocations can benefit from having good time management skills. We occasionally have to put up and take down at 6-7 locations in a single day, and we are never allowed to be late for the setup. If our setting is not prepared, the family's ability to receive their loved ones will be delayed. It will also affect the times that Buddhists and Taoists observe prayer.
HO: Knowledge of computers is assumed! Also, since we get a lot of calls every day, I have to plan the jobs to minimize travel time by taking into account the wake's location in addition to the setup and funeral times. This is especially true when things are hectic! I do not, however, currently have any plans to leave the company.
This article is a part of a series that features interviews with our coworkers from the many divisions inside our company. Watch for our upcoming interview with the Floral Department, which will be published on July 31, 2021. In the interim, discover more about what it's like to work in the funeral industry by visiting our Funeral Insider page!
The Advantages of a Patio Awning that is Automated [Business]
Your outdoor living space is vastly improved by retractable patio awnings. These awnings allow you to customize your deck or patio to offer the highest level of comfort by allowing you to enjoy the shade or the sun whenever you want. Which retractable awning—manual or motorized—is better?
Any retractable patio awning will suffice, but setting up a motorized one has several advantages. Although motorized awnings have many advantages, France Fabric Awning is a good place to go if you ever need repairs or are looking for motorized awning malaysia price. And take into account some of the benefits that a motorized patio awning may provide.
Convenience
A motorized patio awning offers unrivaled convenience. You can adjust the level of your patio awning by rolling it up or down with the touch of a button. Owners of manual patio awnings must frequently crank a lever to keep their awning in the optimum position, but motorized patio awnings do not require human work. Your electric patio awning may be activated without you even getting out of bed. You can keep relaxing while adjusting your patio awning with a remote control as the sun moves across the sky.
You might need to roll in your patio awning during a heavy downpour or snowstorm to keep it from being exposed. Would you want to physically spin a shaft to roll in your patio awning while standing outside in the pouring rain or a strong wind? In this circumstance, a motorized patio awning might be helpful because it allows you to roll in or out your canopy without having to stand outside and deal with the exhaustion of human effort.
Design
There are a few clear differences between manual and motorized retractable patio awnings in terms of design. It is essential to have attractive patio awnings. You won't have to bother with unsightly vertical supports or standing frames that could block your view from below if you have a motorized patio awning. The majority of manual retractable awning have supports and frames, which reduce the amount of space you have available for outdoor living by blocking both your view and that space. The most modern and useful canopy available can be a motorized retractable patio awning.
Personalization
Beside the fact that it is easy to retract motorized patio awnings without making any physical effort, there are other benefits to using them. Your patio awning can be set up to sense rain, sunlight, or wind and adjust itself using features and attachments. These high-tech automation options make managing your patio awning easier while also ensuring its safety in inclement weather. You won't have to worry about forgetting to roll up your patio awning because it will do so automatically.
Motorized retractable patio awnings have several benefits over manual retractable patio awnings. You may benefit from the most advanced outdoor living space ever created for your utmost convenience with a motorized patio awning.
Contacting your local awning company will enable you to learn more about the advantages of motorized retractable patio awnings if you're in the market for a new patio awning.
Any retractable patio awning will suffice, but setting up a motorized one has several advantages. Although motorized awnings have many advantages, France Fabric Awning is a good place to go if you ever need repairs or are looking for motorized awning malaysia price. And take into account some of the benefits that a motorized patio awning may provide.
Convenience
A motorized patio awning offers unrivaled convenience. You can adjust the level of your patio awning by rolling it up or down with the touch of a button. Owners of manual patio awnings must frequently crank a lever to keep their awning in the optimum position, but motorized patio awnings do not require human work. Your electric patio awning may be activated without you even getting out of bed. You can keep relaxing while adjusting your patio awning with a remote control as the sun moves across the sky.
You might need to roll in your patio awning during a heavy downpour or snowstorm to keep it from being exposed. Would you want to physically spin a shaft to roll in your patio awning while standing outside in the pouring rain or a strong wind? In this circumstance, a motorized patio awning might be helpful because it allows you to roll in or out your canopy without having to stand outside and deal with the exhaustion of human effort.
Design
There are a few clear differences between manual and motorized retractable patio awnings in terms of design. It is essential to have attractive patio awnings. You won't have to bother with unsightly vertical supports or standing frames that could block your view from below if you have a motorized patio awning. The majority of manual retractable awning have supports and frames, which reduce the amount of space you have available for outdoor living by blocking both your view and that space. The most modern and useful canopy available can be a motorized retractable patio awning.
Personalization
Beside the fact that it is easy to retract motorized patio awnings without making any physical effort, there are other benefits to using them. Your patio awning can be set up to sense rain, sunlight, or wind and adjust itself using features and attachments. These high-tech automation options make managing your patio awning easier while also ensuring its safety in inclement weather. You won't have to worry about forgetting to roll up your patio awning because it will do so automatically.
Motorized retractable patio awnings have several benefits over manual retractable patio awnings. You may benefit from the most advanced outdoor living space ever created for your utmost convenience with a motorized patio awning.
Contacting your local awning company will enable you to learn more about the advantages of motorized retractable patio awnings if you're in the market for a new patio awning.
