Product Configuration Administrator

About the role

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.

Key Performance Indicators

• Achieve targeted portfolio optimization by launching new high-potential configurations annually while also retiring slow-moving or unprofitable variants based on volume and profitability analysis
• Maintain a high level of configuration validity by ensuring active options are technically correct, manufacturable, commercially viable, and aligned with current market strategy
• 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, resolve discrepancies, and ensure alignment between product offerings and customer demand preferences
• Administer and optimize configurations in the Bluestar PLM configurator, including variant management, BOM automation, rule-based pricing, lead time logic, and Dynamics 365 synchronization, to support accurate demand planning, order promising, and fulfillment
• Maintain and administer configuration logic, attributes, option structures, and related product data in the Bluestar PLM configurator, ensuring alignment with approved business rules and downstream ERP requirements
• Coordinate ongoing validation of active configurations to confirm they remain sellable, manufacturable, serviceable, and compliant as products, components, costs, and business priorities change
• Document configuration standards, decision criteria, and change impacts, and support training, communication, and adoption of configuration processes across the business
• Support continuous improvement of configuration management, including training stakeholders and leveraging data analytics for better decision-making

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Assignments are in the form of broad goals with broad latitude for decision making; complex decisions/analyses are made; innovations and flexibility are 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
• Hands-on experience with Bluestar PLM configurator or similar product configuration tools, including rule setup, variant management, BOM generation, and ERP integration
• Strong background in reading and interpreting manufacturing drawings, engineering specifications, and BOMs
• Experience working in a manufacturing environment and collaborating with sales, engineering, operations, and product management teams is highly preferred
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools (especially Excel for data analysis) and familiarity with CAD/3D visualization concepts as they relate to product configuration
• Strong understanding of product lifecycle management principles, configuration management best practices, and demand shaping strategies
• 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
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• LEAN training or experience is preferred
• Self-motivated with 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 & internationally

Work Environment

• Ensure compliance of workplace safety rules, including but not limited to the usage of personal protective equipment if provided while working; avoid any unsafe or negligent act that may endanger peers or oneself; report unsafe work conditions and provide suggestions to improve safety/health at work as needed
• Follow all work-from-home policies and procedures as agreed with direct manager and other leadership

Physical Demands

• Primarily office-based role with majority of time spent on a computer, conference calls, or 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