| Project Title: | Purchasing Internship: A deep dive into the world of purchasing at Bosch |
| Author: | Max Radford |
| Advisor: | Mr. Sabbir Hossain |
| Degree: | Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) (International Program) |
| Major: | International Business Management |
| Faculty: | International College |
| Semester / Academic year: | 2/2022 |
Citation
Radford, Max. (2022). Purchasing internship: A deep dive into the world of purchasing at Bosch. (Cooperative Education). Bangkok: Siam University.
Abstract
This cooperative internship report combines real-life work experience and outcomes of a six-month internship at Robert Bosch Thailand. The main objective of the internship was to provide the intern with valuable insights into the purchasing department at one of the largest automotive manufacturing companies in the world. During the internship, the focus was to practice skills and knowledge about purchasing as well as developing personal relationships within the industry. Some of the key responsibilities included overseeing contract management, supporting management with presentations, and organizing events and activities. Mini-qualitative research was conducted to assist Bosch to identify a problem observed within the contract management process. The data was collected through informal interviews with buyers from the purchasing department. Convenience sampling was used to select the participants in the study. The results showed that despite the contract management being successful, there were still some limitations naming the lack of a sole person overseeing the contract management and the level of manual input in the process. Based on the results, a 4-step implementation plan was offered to the company. The plan included the implementation of a key user, improved training, an automated program to collect the data, and an automated dashboard to display the data. The plan can help Bosch to have a fully integrated contract management process that both minimizes human error and reduces manual inputs. The internship provided a meaningful experience for the intern’s personal and professional growth and proved to create a positive relationship between the intern and the company. Some of the key highlights included participating in significant projects and events while challenges included adapting to a new environment and working with a diverse team.
Keywords: Automotive manufacturing, purchasing, Bosch, contract management, internship rotation model
Purchasing Internship: A deep dive into the world of purchasing at Bosch
Faculty of International College, Siam University, Bangkok, Thailand