Our Company
Lancer Worldwide, a Hoshizaki Company, is an award-winning global leader in beverage dispensing. Through innovation and a commitment to dedication in action, we create products that benefit our customers worldwide, and give them a distinct advantage in the marketplace. We offer our teammates the opportunity to grow personally and professionally, to contribute to the success of a dynamic organization, and to serve others in a manner that exceeds their expectations. We welcome talented, passionate, and highly motivated individuals to join our team.
Summary/Objective
The Product Configuration & Demand Planning Administrator reports to the Product Lifecycle Management team and serves as a key hybrid role optimizing both the product portfolio and demand signals for configurable offerings. This position collaborates with sales, marketing, engineering, operations, and market intelligence teams to launch and maintain product configurations in the ERP system, shape customer demand toward efficient short-lead-time options while supporting premium high-configuration variants, and develop configuration-specific demand forecasts. Using the Bluestar PLM configurator integrated with Dynamics 365, the role ensures accurate configurations, rationalizes slow-moving variants, and drives aligned demand plans that improve forecast accuracy, inventory efficiency, and overall supply chain performance across the product lifecycle.
Key Performance Indicators
- Achieve targeted portfolio optimization by launching xx new high-potential configurations annually while retiring xx% of slow-moving or unprofitable variants based on volume and profitability analysis
- Improve demand shaping effectiveness, measured by increased adoption rates of recommended short-lead-time configurations and overall reduction in average lead times or configuration-related delays
- Deliver improved supply chain efficiency with xx%+ configuration data accuracy, validated cross-functional demand plans, and reduced excess inventory or stockouts related to product variants
- Maintain configuration data accuracy and validation compliance at 98%+ through cross-functional coordination, minimizing errors in BOMs, pricing, and manufacturing processes
Essential Functions
- Gather and analyze inputs from sales, marketing, competitive intelligence, and market data to recommend and prioritize new product configurations for launch in the Bluestar PLM configurator and ERP system
- Design and maintain product configuration rules, options, and logic in Bluestar PLM to support demand shaping-guiding customers toward efficient, short-lead-time models while enabling complex, high-value configurations for customers willing to accept longer lead times
- Monitor product configuration volumes, sales performance, and market trends to identify slow-moving variants for retirement and generate updated demand plans that balance inventory, production capacity, and customer requirements
- Coordinate with cross-functional teams (sales, marketing, engineering, operations) to continuously validate active configurations, refine demand forecasts, resolve discrepancies, and ensure alignment between product offerings and business demand signals
- Administer and optimize configurations in the Bluestar PLM configurator, including variant management, BOM automation, rule-based pricing/lead time logic, and synchronization with Dynamics 365 to support accurate demand planning, order promising, and fulfillment.
- Develop, maintain, and improve rolling demand forecasts at the product configuration level by integrating historical data, market insights, promotions, new launches, and product lifecycle information.
- Participate in Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) or related processes by providing configuration insights, scenario analysis, and recommendations to improve overall demand visibility and supply response.
- Support continuous improvement of configuration management and demand planning processes, including training stakeholders and leveraging data analytics for better decision-making
Additional Responsibilities:
Other responsibilities as needed and assigned
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- Assignments are in the form of broad goals. There is broad latitude for decision making. Complex decisions / analysis is being made. Innovations and flexibility are being exercised
- Must be able to review and relate Engineering Drawings and Specifications
- Keeps abreast of the latest trends and competitive activities within the marketplace
- Competencies with expected proficiency - Collaboration, Execution, Leading [Project] Teams, Initiating Action, Work Standards, Execution, Coaching, Creating a Culture of Trust
Education & Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Information Systems, or a related field (Master's preferred)
- 3-7 years of experience in product configuration, PLM administration, ERP systems (preferably Microsoft Dynamics 365), or a similar role in a manufacturing or configurable products environment
- 2-5 years of experience in demand planning/forecasting, or supply chain roles in a manufacturing or configurable products environment
- Hands-on experience with Bluestar PLM configurator or similar product configuration tools, including rule setup, variant management, BOM generation, and ERP integration
- Strong understanding of product lifecycle management principles, configuration management best practices, and demand shaping strategies
- Strong knowledge of demand planning principles, forecasting techniques, S&OP processes, and how they intersect with product configuration and lifecycle management
- Proven analytical skills with the ability to interpret sales data, market analysis, and volume metrics to drive configuration decisions
- Excellent cross-functional collaboration and communication skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders across sales, marketing, engineering, and operations
- Detail-oriented with strong problem-solving abilities and a proactive approach to portfolio optimization and process improvement
- Excellent organization skills required
- Strong critical thinking and negotiation skills
- Excellent management and interpersonal skills
- Strong presentation skills
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- LEAN training or experience is preferred
- Self-motivated, good project and resource management skills. Ability to work independently
- Ability to lead a project team; Ability to adapt to change
- Willing to travel regionally
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools (especially Excel for data analysis) and familiarity with CAD/3D visualization concepts as they relate to product configuration
Work Environment
- Ensure compliance of workplace safety rules, including but not limited to the usage of a personal protective equipment, if provided to you, while working; not involve in any unsafe or negligent act that may endanger peers or oneself; reporting unsafe work conditions and providing suggestions to improve safety/ health at work, as needed
- As agreed with direct manager and other leadership, follow all work-from-home policies and procedures
Physical Demands
- This role is primarily based in an office environment, with the majority of time spent working on a computer, participating in conference calls, or attending meetings
- Sitting, standing, walking, and bending as needed. Using proper lifting technique may be required to lift objects up to 25 lb. with assistance. May have to reach for objects at or above shoulder height. May be required to operate traditional office equipment including computers, copiers, fax machines and telephones
- This role requires occasional travel, which may involve extended periods of sitting, standing, and carrying light luggage.
Notice To Third Party Agencies
Please note that LANCER does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed Recruitment Fee Agreement, LANCER will not consider or agree to payment of any referral compensation or recruiter fee. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without a previously signed agreement, LANCER explicitly reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers, are deemed to be the property of LANCER.
EEO Statement
Lancer provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.