This month, we invite you to explore more about the management of Italian wine transport. We recently had a fascinating conversation with Emma Walsh, the Team Leader who oversees the Italian Operations team at Kukla UK. She shared her day-to-day responsibilities of leading one of Kukla’s busiest teams. Her team handles 3600 purchase orders annually, with a current split of 60% for intermodal road, 35% by sea, and 5% for all road transport. You’ll also discover the most important skills that an Operations Manager should possess, according to Emma, along with the common challenges to overcome in operations management, among other interesting facts. (Starting from the left in the picture: Leah Robinson, Erin Harvey, Josh Graham and Italian Operations Team Manager, Emma Walsh; Photo credit: Chris Porter)
Chris Porter: Tell us who you are and how long have you worked for Kukla?
Emma Walsh: I’m the Italian Operations Manager and have been working for Kukla for a little over two years. I have 15 years of experience in the industry, focusing on Italian imports.
What are your primary day-to-day responsibilities as an operations manager leading the Italian team?
My daily responsibilities involve overseeing operations and ensuring everything runs smoothly. This can involve stepping in to help solve a problem, checking invoices are correct and ensuring bespoke services are executed effectively.
“Being organised and proactive are significant skills to have.”
What are the most important skills that an operations manager who is overseeing one of the busiest teams within Kukla UK should possess?
Being organised and proactive are significant skills to have. It allows me to anticipate movement in the market so we can identify potential shortfalls and we can put things in place ahead of time. We want to ensure we’re organised and ready for any challenges that may come our way.
“I enjoy knowing that our customers are happy with our service.”
What part of your role do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy knowing that our customers are happy with our service. It’s great for the team to get the recognition that comes with doing a good job for our customers. We like to have a good relationship with our customers, so to have positive feedback is what we strive for.
What are the most common challenges to overcome in operations management?
Managing problems which are outside our control. Should it include vessel delays, train cancellations, strikes, etc., we do our best to ensure minimal impact to our customers. We are always looking at creative solutions to keep shipments moving.
“We like to get ahead of the curve and ensure we are prepared for when the volumes increase.”
As we approach Q4, volumes, especially of prosecco, will inevitably increase. How do you prepare for the significant upturn in volume?
Looking ahead, forward planning will be at the forefront of our day-to-day. Peak season volumes will determine that we provide more notice to our partners for equipment repositioning, etc., so being organised is key. We like to get ahead of the curve and ensure we are prepared for when the volumes increase.
How do you keep your team motivated?
By giving colleagues recognition for a job well done and a pep talk when things become challenging. I feel it’s better to know that we’re not on our own and we can all do our part to help each other.
What is the best thing about working for Kukla?
I feel fully supported at Kukla. It’s great to know that my colleagues are happy to help when times get tough and I feel my contributions are appreciated.
