Customer & Procurement Planner

Job Description

The Supply Chain Planner — Customer & Procurement manages material flow across the North American supply chain on behalf of Bosch customers, plant operations, and internal logistics. Depending on business needs and team structure, this role may be assigned to one or both of the following tracks: Passthrough (Customer) Planning or Procurement (Raw Material) Planning. Planners are expected to develop competency in both areas over time, enabling organizational flexibility as business requirements evolve.

Assignment Note: Individual planners will be designated to a primary track based on team structure and business need. This JD covers both tracks to support role mobility and cross‑training across the planning organization.

Track A: Customer & Passthrough Planning

Procure finished goods from global Bosch supplying plants → Manage warehouse inbound → Fulfill OEM/Tier 1 customer demand

A1. Inbound Planning & Procurement from Bosch Supplying Plants

• Generate and manage purchase orders and delivery schedules to global Bosch supplying plants based on customer demand and inventory targets.
• Maintain 24+ months of rolling demand visibility in SAP and/or Kinaxis Maestro to support long‑range capacity planning at supplying plants.
• Coordinate with supplying plants on allocation priorities, capacity constraints, shortages, engineering changes, and EOP transitions.
• Monitor inbound order confirmations and proactively escalate mismatches between confirmed and required quantities.
• Maintain planning master data: lead times, MOQs, lot sizes, safety stock levels, and MRP controller assignments.

A2. Warehouse Coordination (Summerville, SC & Laredo, TX)

• Coordinate inbound receipts, inventory positioning, and stock availability across North American warehouse locations.
• Monitor and resolve blocked stock, MRP exceptions, and inventory discrepancies with warehouse operations teams.
• Manage goods‑in‑transit (GIT) visibility and ensure timely clearance of open inbound deliveries.
• Support warehouse operations through accurate ASN transmission, delivery scheduling, and outbound shipment prioritization.
• Identify slow‑moving and obsolete inventory in partnership with warehouse teams; develop disposition strategies.

A3. Customer Management & Order Fulfillment

• Manage customer‑facing planning for OEM and Tier 1 accounts across automotive, powersports, and commercial vehicle segments.
• Process and validate customer EDI releases; ensure accurate system intake and timely order fulfillment.
• Transmit and validate Advance Shipping Notifications (ASNs) through customer portals per customer‑specific requirements.
• Schedule outbound shipments and monitor deliveries through final customer destination.
• Proactively communicate supply risks to customers with recovery timelines and viable alternatives.
• Support shortage escalations with structured root cause analysis and corrective action documentation.

Track B: Procurement & Raw Material Planning

Translate production demand into supplier orders → Ensure uninterrupted material supply → Protect manufacturing continuity

B1. MRP‑Driven Procurement Planning

• Execute and manage MRP runs in SAP to generate planned orders and purchase requisitions based on production demand.
• Convert MRP requirements into purchase orders or scheduling agreements aligned with supplier lead times and production schedules.
• Maintain planning master data: MRP type, lot sizes, lead times, safety stock, reorder points, and MRP controller assignments.
• Monitor and action MRP exception messages (expedite, defer, cancel) to keep supply plans aligned with evolving demand.
• Maintain data governance standards in SAP for assigned material portfolio, including parameter integrity and proper controller assignment.

B2. Supplier Coordination & Order Management

• Manage purchase orders and scheduling agreements with external suppliers, ensuring on‑time delivery to plant locations.
• Communicate demand requirements, changes, and escalations to suppliers in a clear and timely manner.
• Monitor supplier delivery performance and proactively address shortages, late deliveries, and quality holds.
• Coordinate with Purchasing and Supplier Quality on corrective actions, capacity constraints, and alternate source qualification.
• Support new supplier onboarding and system configuration in ERP.

B3. Production Supply & Shortage Management

• Monitor stock levels at point‑of‑use and receiving locations to ensure uninterrupted production supply.
• Manage critical shortage situations with structured recovery plans communicated to plant operations and management.
• Participate in shortage review meetings with structured updates on open issues and resolution timelines.
• Coordinate expedited shipments when necessary; ensure premium freight is justified, approved, and documented.
• Track goods‑in‑transit and ensure timely customs clearance for imported materials.

Applies to Both Tracks

Inventory Management & Optimization

• Maintain inventory levels (DIO) in alignment with working capital and service level objectives.
• Perform ABC/XYZ material classification and define inventory strategies based on criticality, demand volatility, and margin.
• Identify excess, slow‑moving, and obsolete inventory; recommend and execute disposition strategies.
• Support safety stock reviews and planning parameter optimization on a defined cadence.
• Manage inventory risk through product lifecycle transitions: new launches, engineering changes, and end‑of‑production.

Performance Monitoring & Reporting

• Monitor and report KPIs relevant to assigned track: OTIF, backlog, premium freight, fill rate, supplier OTD, and DIO.
• Analyze forecast vs. actual deviations to identify trends, root causes, and improvement opportunities.
• Prepare structured input for weekly shortage reviews, monthly business reviews (MBR), and customer/plant scorecards.
• Develop root cause analysis and corrective action documentation for supply disruptions and service failures.
• Use SAP, Kinaxis Maestro, and Power BI to maintain real‑time planning and performance visibility.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration & Continuous Improvement

• Collaborate with Sales, Finance, Quality, and Purchasing to align supply plans with business priorities.
• Manage premium freight requests through the iStar approval process; ensure spend is justified, documented, and minimized.
• Contribute demand and supply input to the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process.
• Identify and drive continuous improvement opportunities across planning processes, system usage, and cross‑functional workflows.

Qualifications

Required - All Planners

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Business Administration, or related field.
• Minimum 2–3 years of experience in supply chain planning, materials management, or procurement within a manufacturing or distribution environment.
• Hands‑on SAP ERP experience at the transaction level (planning, purchasing, or inventory management context).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel for data analysis, reporting, and planning scenario modeling (pivot tables, XLOOKUP, etc.).
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data and translate it into actionable planning decisions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English; ability to communicate professionally during escalation situations.
• Results‑oriented with strong ownership mindset, urgency, and attention to detail.
• Flexible worker, operates well working both independently and in a team environment.

Preferred - Track A (Passthrough / Customer Planning)

• Automotive OEM or Tier 1 customer experience (e.g., BMW, DTNA, Toyota, Ford, Harley‑Davidson, BRP, Polaris).
• Experience managing EDI releases, ASN transmission, and customer portal compliance.
• Familiarity with managing internal plant‑to‑plant supplier relationships within a global manufacturing organization.
• Experience with premium freight management and cost‑reduction disciplines.

Preferred - Track B (Procurement / Raw Material Planning)

• Working knowledge of MRP logic, BOM structures, and production planning fundamentals.
• Experience with external supplier coordination and scheduling agreement management.
• Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing principles (kanban, PFEP, pull systems, standard work).
• Experience with foreign supplier coordination, import logistics, or customs compliance basics.

Preferred - Both Tracks