Lead, Supply Chain & Logistics Operations

Company Overview

Firestone Airide, specializes in air spring manufacturing and technology with a history of more than 80 years of research and development on technologically advanced air springs for the global marketplace. Firestone engineers air springs and related products for commercial trucks and trailers, cars, sport utility vehicles, light trucks, mini vans, motor homes, buses, agricultural equipment, rail and industrial applications.

Job Category

Supply Chain & Procurement

Position Summary

Performs supply chain and logistics functions such as freight management (air, sea, & ground), distribution planning, inventory control, outsourcing, and vendor selection. Creates integrated processes among internal functions (e.g., operations, purchasing and logistics) and outside suppliers. Responsibilities are within the Supply Chain and Logistics Function as a generalist or in a combination of disciplines.

Responsibilities

Manage freight for a global business that has an annual spend of up to $10 Million.

o Maintain freight routing guides/maps for all North American customers and suppliers.

• Target lowest possible cost for FSA in the Americas region.
• Explore industry best practices for freight management.

o 60% of freight may be managed by contracted relationship with a 3rd party contract agency (Truck Load + LTL Freight).

• This position will be the main point of contact for data transfer, contract resolution, freight claims, and final carrier selection.
• Main point of contact for freight tracking via multiple 3rd party portals for customers or plants to maintain production or on-time customer shipments.
• Must be able to work collaboratively with Sales, Purchasing and manufacturing plants to clearly define pick up addresses, INCO terms, package size.

o 40% of Freight cost will be managed directly by this position.

• Ocean freight via brokerage including customs brokerage, container fees, storage.
• Parcel contracts with UPS and FedEx.
• Main point of contact for all disputes, insurance claims, freight tracking.

o This position also manages 100% of all premium freight for all locations.

• Arranges and manages the cost for total FSA.
• Creates monthly reports for premium freight for cost controls and for IATF compliance.

o This position is also the direct link between freight spending and coding cost to a sales channel.

• Payments for Freight are via a 3rd party bank, however each payment must be linked manually or electronically to a sales channel.
• This is a monthly requirement and is a direct relationship between this position and the FSA finance team.
• Freight payments can be delayed if coding is not done correctly or on time.
• Ensure business processes limit or eliminate billing errors from carriers so that FSA does not incur inappropriate payments.
• Assists the finance team with determining monthly freight Accruals.
• Audits for routing guide compliance, mode usage compliance.
• New Vendor Selection process will be owned by this position both in SAP and with External providers.

o New Freight Vendor set up in SAP.

o Creating vendor contracts, negotiating in partnership with legal for the best cost for FSA.

o May assist with fork truck standards, leases, outside warehouse contacts, safety systems.

• FSA Training, Strategy, Budget.

o Assist sales, customer service, all global plants and be the expert on INCO terms for inbound freight and outbound freight.

o Help with new customers onboarding or with future cost estimates for new programs during the quoting phases of projects regarding "how much will freight be" for business case calculations.

o Informs FSA for freight and warehouse, short- and long-term cost management strategies and also for the annual operating budget.

• Continuous improvement champion for Freight and Warehousing.

o Should be knowledgeable on the Sales and Distribution module in SAP.

• Be the interface to OEM customers for outbound freight questions and processes and how these relate to SAP.
• Understand SAP Handling Units to aid in delivery disputes with OEM's or help resolve lost freight issues in partnership with FSA customer service.
• Ability to ensure all warehouses are using SAP in the most efficient way.
• Ability to run reports from SAP and provide data or for internal company auditors.

o This position will be responsible for looking for best practices and implementing.

• Order picking, labeling, shipping, ASN usage.
• Returnable container processing inbound.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally 10% - 15%.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Typically requires a minimum of 6+ years of related experience with a bachelor's degree; or 4+ years and a master's degree; or a PhD with 3 years of experience; or equivalent work experience.

• Must possess a passion for continuous improvement.
• Must work independently and learn with limited instruction.
• Ability to work collaboratively with customers, internal Customer Service, Planning, Finance, and all manufacturing plants.
• SAP Exposure or expertise specifically with warehouse operations, freight, standard reporting
• This position will be the main point of contact with SAP team and the IT team, for creating best practices, upgrades in areas of Freight and Warehousing operations.
• Exposure to RF gun usage, inventory management, cycle counts, and best practice in connection with SAP a plus.

What we offer

At Bridgestone, what really matters is to foster co-creation opportunities and empowering you to be creative and curious to make mobility safer, more efficient, and more sustainable for future generations. Whatever role you fill, when you represent Bridgestone, you are a valued teammate, and part of our larger mission to "Serve Society with Superior Quality", for that, we offer you more than just a competitive compensation; we will provide you:

• A supportive and engaging onboarding experience to ensure a smooth transition into our team.
• The opportunity to develop and grow, through training and regular mentorship.
• Corporate Social Responsibility activities.
• A truly global, dynamic and challenging work environment.
• Agility and work/life effectiveness and your long-term well-being.
• An effective and inclusive team.

Bridgestone is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. It is our policy to consider all individuals for employment based on their unique merit and without regard to age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.

Employment Eligibility

If hired, a Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification must be completed at the start of employment. Temporary work authorization or the need for sponsorship may disqualify you from employment.