Operations Manager Review

I am a Warehouse Operations Manager at ASDA’s Erith Chilled Distribution Centre (CDC), a large, chilled logistics sites in the network. I am responsible for leading the end-to-end warehouse operation that services over 100 ASDA stores across London and the Southeast. My role requires ensuring the safe, efficient, and accurate movement of chilled stock through goods in, put away, pick, load, and dispatch functions.
I lead a large management team, including 30+ Department Managers, 4 direct reports, and over 400 operational colleagues across multiple shifts. I am accountable for operational performance, people development, service levels, compliance, and cost control. Key performance metrics under my responsibility include cost, accuracy rates, downtime management, and delivery performance. I also oversee labour planning, agency resourcing, workflow design, and the implementation of operational change.
Overall, my role combines strategic leadership, operational excellence, and people development to ensure safe, reliable, and high performing chilled distribution for ASDA’s customers.

Overall, the programme has been well organised and structured. The modules follow a clear sequence, building from core theory into more advanced leadership and business topics, which makes it easier to apply the learning directly to my role. Although there are challenging periods, expectations are communicated clearly, and with good planning the assessment workload is manageable.
A real strength of the programme has been the support from the skills coaches and the teaching team. They have been supportive, approachable, and willing to challenge me in the right way, pushing my development without feeling overwhelming. They show a genuine desire to help people achieve their potential, which has made a significant difference to my confidence and progress.
I’ve also had excellent support from my line manager, who has fully backed the process. She has ensured I consistently receive my study time, and she has engaged well with the assessors throughout the programme. The wider support from ASDA has also made a real difference having an employer who values development and invests in their people has helped me balance academic study with the operational demands of my role.

I receive a high level of support from my employer, and it has had a real impact on my ability to progress through the programme. My line manager has been consistently supportive she makes sure I get my protected study time each week and checks in regularly on my progress. She has also engaged proactively with the assessors and tutors, which has helped keep everything aligned between work and university expectations.
More broadly, the support from ASDA has been excellent. The business genuinely values colleague development, and that has made a big difference. I’ve had the flexibility I need during peak assessment periods, and my leaders have created an environment where learning is encouraged rather than seen as an additional burden. The focus on developing talent shows in how the programme is supported, communicated, and recognised across the organisation.
Overall, the combined support from my manager and the wider ASDA team has helped me balance academic study with the demands of a busy operational role, and it’s been a major factor in my success on the apprenticeship.

I receive a very high level of support from my training provider, and it has been a key factor in my progress throughout the programme. My Skills Coach has been consistently supportive, approachable, and willing to challenge me in the right way. His regular check ins, structured guidance, and clear, constructive feedback have helped me plan my workload effectively and improve the quality of my academic work. His coaching style suits me well and has played a major part in keeping me on track.
The teaching team have also been excellent. The sessions are well structured, expectations are clear, and they are always available when additional guidance is needed. They genuinely want learners to reach their full potential, and that comes through in their teaching and the support they provide.
My Project Supervisor has been particularly impressive. She always provided feedback quickly and concisely, which aligns perfectly with my working style. Her input was invaluable in shaping my project work, helping me refine my structure, strengthen my analysis, and ultimately improve the standard of my submissions. Her feedback made a direct impact on my grades.
Overall, the combination of strong coaching from , high quality teaching, and excellent project supervision has meant I’ve felt fully supported at every stage of the programme, even alongside the demands of a fast paced operational role.

The CMI Apprenticeship degree has helped me perform significantly better in my role. The programme has strengthened both my academic capability and my practical leadership skills, and I’ve been able to apply the learning directly into the day to day operation at the CDC.
The modules on business modelling, decision making, communication and leadership have helped me take a more structured, evidence based approach when analysing performance or tackling operational challenges. It has improved the way I plan, problem solve and lead people, particularly during periods of change or when driving performance improvements.

Yes

Yes, I would recommend ASDA to a friend, mainly because The culture is generally supportive, and there’s a clear focus on colleague wellbeing and development, which makes a big difference day to day.
At the same time, I’d be honest about the challenges. The operation is fast paced and demanding, and at times the workload can feel intense, especially during seasonal peaks or major change initiatives. Like any large organisation, communication can occasionally be inconsistent between teams or functions. However, I’ve also seen real efforts to improve this through engagement activities, leadership development and better cross functional working.
Overall, I would recommend ASDA because the positives strong support, development opportunities, and a great team of people to work alongside, outweigh the challenges. For someone who wants to grow and is comfortable in a fast moving environment, it’s a great place.