Supply chain

In a globalized world, digital technologies change markets, and sustainability is becoming a key factor. For Bosch, this means reacting with greater flexibility, speed and transparency to increasingly individualized customer wishes — while meeting highest quality requirements at the same time. This is a demanding task for the 32,500 employees of Bosch Supply Chain Management. Their work in the subfields of purchasing and logistics relies on automated processes and digitalization.

Supply Chain Excellence for long-term success

Why is Bosch relying on digitalization as a decisive competitive factor? And what does the daily work in Bosch Supply Chain Management look like in practice? The core task is to ensure robust and agile supply chains along the entire value stream. Innovative technologies and connected flows of goods — e.g. based on real-time data — help Bosch to maintain the highest standards continuously.

Quality as a success factor: this conviction is apparent in the development of strong partnerships and efficient supplier relationships.

All suppliers have a quality management system that aims to ensure defect-free delivery right from the beginning of series production. As part of preventive quality assurance, Bosch coordinates the required measures at the outset of a project. Moreover, the purchasing teams work together with the suppliers on ensuring the continuous adherence to the demands in quality, for example by providing trainings.

To our trainings for suppliers

Bosch Global Supplier Award

Since 1987, the Robert Bosch GmbH awards the Bosch Global Supplier Award on a regular basis. This award not only honors an outstanding performance in the production and delivery of products and services, but also strengthens the shared partnership. The additional awarding category Sustainability has been established to honor outstanding activities with regards to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). For the first time of awarding, the focus was on climate protection (reduction of CO₂ emissions).

Bosch pursues the claim of innovation, quality, and excellence throughout the entire supply chain with the strategic goal: supply chain excellence. At the same time, the teams in purchasing and logistics enable globally competitive prices — a fundamental prerequisite for the long-term success of the company. In the spirit of technology pioneer, visionary, and company founder Robert Bosch, the associates in the supply chain aim to drive the digital transformation of Bosch forward. A claim that rests on reliable values. Values to which Bosch is committed, and which are also the foundation of all collaboration with partners and suppliers. This goes beyond the demands for high quality. It is also important for Bosch Supply Chain Management to meet suppliers on equal ground.

Dr. Arne Flemming

Senior vice president, supply chain management, Robert Bosch GmbH

„Supply chain management at Bosch combines purchasing and logistics. Close collaboration between these two functions and our partners from manufacturing allows us to shape the supply chain to the benefit of Bosch. Doing so reveals tremendous potential to leverage synergies and save costs. Cross-functional, open, and trusting cooperation – especially between associates and executives with responsibility for the supply chain – is something I see as a critical factor in successfully seizing this potential.“

Designing supply chains responsibly

We firmly believe that stable and at the same time sustainable supply chains are the only basis for companies to survive in global competition – and thus contribute to social prosperity. This is premised on ethical behavior and resource-conserving entrepreneurship. Together with our suppliers, we are committed to this – and are thus creating the prerequisites for a future that is as successful as it is sustainable for all of us.

Responsible corporate governance

Shared values and clearly formulated rules determine our actions as a company. We have unequivocally defined our position on legal requirements and ethical issues in our globally applicable Code of Business Conduct. And because responsible and lawful conduct is important beyond company boundaries, we have formulated the expectations on our business partners in a corresponding code of conduct.

Find out more about responsible corporate governance

Environmental and social standards in supply chains

A company with a global presence like Bosch also bears global responsibility. This is true in particular with respect to human rights – in all supply chains, across national borders and company boundaries. We shape our supply chains from this understanding, based on the Ten Principles of the United Nations Global Compact and the fundamental principles of the International Labour Organization (ILO). In this way, we help to make working and living conditions sustainable worldwide and at the same time reduce risks for our company.

Find out more about our supply chains

Environmental protection along the entire value chain

Environmental responsibility

Effective environmental protection can only succeed through the cooperation of multiple parties. We ourselves act with great rigor in this ambit to drive forward climate action, conserve resources, and reduce the impact of our activities on the environment to the extent possible. We also expect our suppliers to do the same and factor in their climate action activities as awarding criterion during supplier selection.

Find out more about environmental protection

Visions as the basis for strategic planning

Shaping a sustainable and innovative future, with a focus on digital transformation, for example in the area of Industry 4.0 — this is the declared goal of Bosch Supply Chain Management and its partners. The company is already a developer and pioneer in purchasing and logistics in many areas. This way, both divisions strengthen Bosch's long-term competitiveness with their strategic orientation and innovative strength.

One focus is the factory of the future — an important part of Bosch's IoT strategy. Driverless transport systems, for example, can be used to automate many internal transport processes. The real-time localization of vehicles, carriers, or materials is continuously becoming the focus of technological perspectives. After all, the strategic goal is and remains: supply chain excellence. Today — and even more so in the future.