Thorsten Bock

Global Procurement & Transformation Leader | €200M Spend | Indirect Procurement: Packaging, Logistics, IT & Corporate Services | €3M Annual Savings | Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt

Tönisvorst, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

About

Global procurement and transformation leader with more than 12 years of experience in manufacturing, supply chain and operational excellence. I currently manage more than €200 million in annual spend across 20 international sites, covering Packaging, Logistics, IT and Corporate Services. Through global tenders, supplier consolidation, commercial negotiations and category strategies, I deliver approximately €3 million in recurring annual savings. My background combines strategic procurement with Lean Six Sigma, digital transformation and hands-on operational improvement. I have led international transformation projects across Europe and the Americas, improving cost, capacity, quality and supply reliability. Core expertise: Global and Indirect Procurement | Category Management | Strategic Sourcing | Contract Negotiation | Supplier Risk Management | Procurement Transformation | Logistics Procurement | IT Procurement | Lean Six Sigma

Experience

  • Commodity Manager – Global Indirect Procurement at Westlake
    Apr 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 4 mos

    • Lead global procurement activities for Packaging, Logistics, IT, and Corporate Services across 15 sites with a total spend exceeding €200M. • Develop and implement the overall procurement strategy, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives. • Build strong, value-adding partnerships with both suppliers and internal stakeholders. • Guarantee continuous supply of indirect goods and services while reducing total cost through synergies, economies of scale, and enhanced quality and service. • Drive global procurement productivity, achieving competitive pricing and improved commercial terms.

  • Westlake Epoxy (3 yrs 8 mos)
    • Commodity Manager
      Apr 2023 - Apr 2024 · 1 yr 1 mo

      • Managed global procurement for Packaging, MRO, and Services across 8 sites with over €100M spend responsibility. • Strengthened supplier relationships and improved stakeholder collaboration across global functions. • Ensured uninterrupted supply of critical materials and services while reducing costs through process standardization and leverage. • Delivered measurable improvements in cost efficiency, supplier performance, and contractual competitiveness.

    • Projectlead
      Sep 2020 - Apr 2023 · 2 yrs 8 mos

      • Developed corporate strategy frameworks and selected appropriate methodologies and tools for implementation. • Led projects across Germany and Spain, including global best-practice initiatives. • Created a standardized Root Cause Analysis system implemented globally. • Achieved savings of up to €5 million in schedule M, MOM, and growth initiatives.

  • Senior Consultant at UMS Consulting
    Dec 2017 - Sep 2020 · 2 yrs 10 mos

    • Implemented Replenishment Pull Systems in the steel, aluminum, and foaming industries, reducing lead times by 30%. • Developed a forecasting tool that lowered pricing costs and increased overall profitability. • Simplified pre-material specifications by 30%, optimizing process complexity across multiple industries. • Led a comprehensive operational transformation of a recycling company. • Boosted yield and capacity in international manufacturing projects (+10% yield / +20% capacity in the foaming industry) — recognized with an award for operational excellence. • Drove digital transformation initiatives using Minitab, Tableau, and iGrafx (Digital Twin modeling). • Conducted Value Stream Analyses to identify and eliminate bottlenecks across aerospace, small-series assembly, and metal processing sectors.

  • Techn. Expert, Business Excellence Coordinator & Deputy Team Leader manufacturing excellence at Outokumpu
    Sep 2013 - Dec 2017 · 4 yrs 4 mos

    • Implemented a Replenishment Pull System in Supply Chain Management, cutting lead times by 20%. • Reduced pre-material complexity by 30% in production and supply chain processes. • Conducted comprehensive Lean/Continuous Improvement assessments across global sites (USA, Mexico, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Netherlands). • Delivered international performance improvement projects (e.g., +10% capacity increase in Dillenburg site).