Administrator, Product Configuration & Demand Planner

Lancer Worldwide, a Hoshizaki Company, is an award-winning global leader in beverage dispensing. Through innovation and a commitment to excellence, we create products that benefit customers worldwide, giving them a distinct advantage in the marketplace. We offer teammates opportunities to grow personally and professionally, contribute to a dynamic organization, and serve others in a manner that exceeds expectations.

About the role

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 new high-potential configurations annually while retiring a percentage 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 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

Responsibilities

• 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
• Perform other responsibilities as needed and assigned

Qualifications

• 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
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools (especially Excel for data analysis) and familiarity with CAD/3D visualization concepts as they relate to product configuration
• LEAN training or experience is preferred
• Ability to lead project teams, adapt to change, and work independently with strong project and resource management skills
• Willing to travel regionally

Skills

• Collaboration
• Execution
• Leading project teams
• Initiating action
• Work standards
• Coaching
• Creating a culture of trust
• Reviewing and relating engineering drawings and specifications
• Keeping abreast of the latest trends and competitive activities within the marketplace
• Strong critical thinking and negotiation skills
• Excellent management and interpersonal skills
• Strong presentation, verbal, and written communication skills
• Self-motivated with good project and resource management skills

Work Environment

• Ensure compliance with workplace safety rules, including the use of personal protective equipment if provided
• Avoid unsafe or negligent acts that may endanger peers or oneself
• Report unsafe work conditions and provide suggestions to improve safety and health at work
• Follow all work-from-home policies and procedures as agreed with direct manager and leadership

Physical Demands

• 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
• Occasional travel may involve extended periods of sitting, standing, and carrying light luggage