5 Minutes With...Thomas Knoll

In this series of articles, we will spend 5 minutes with each member of the Fujitsu Global Supply Chain Unit Leadership Team. We'll find out how they started their careers, what makes them tick, their views on Procurement, and what they do to relax.

Thomas Knoll is the Director of Country Procurement outside of Central Europe.

How did your career in Procurement begin?

After completing an apprenticeship in 1999, I started my first role in supply chain; in direct material purchasing. This German based company was in the manufacturing industry, where I was responsible for buying materials directly for manufacturing parts for truck trailer. In 2001, I moved to Amazon’s Procurement team where I started to work nationally and then internationally. I’ve always worked in Procurement roles and within an international environment. In 2009 I joined Fujitsu, initially in a strategic Procurement role for key accounts in Germany and after various roles I eventually moving on to lead Country Procurement in Europe.

What is toughest challenge that you have faced in procurement and how did you overcome this?

I think my toughest challenge at the moment is that I'm working internationally and being responsible for 11 countries. They have different cultures, languages and legislation, and it can be a challenge in that respect. However, I think that it's a very big asset, having a diverse team of people, as it helps us as a team to become better. The various cultures, the different attitudes of the people are great assets to leverage, however the same time it can be a challenge.

Another challenge is to utilize our technology to drive process and efficiency. We want to create a better experience for our customers by centralizing activities and utilizing the huge amount of expertise across the countries in which we operate. We are using a lot of different processes across those countries, and it is a challenge to harmonize them. Harmonizing is key, but we want to maintain the balance of staying connected locally and considering the local differences. Think regionally, act locally.

?What priorities do you see for Procurement?

The key priority for me is to add value for our customers and internal stakeholders, and there are four pillars which help me to define how we do this. Personally, I'm focusing on talent development which I think is especially important at the time of a digital transformation. Another big part is cost reduction and risk mitigation, which is always the main expectation of Procurement, making sure that we purchase at the right cost level. Relationship Management is another very important element so working closely with our stakeholders and suppliers is key. The fourth pillar is around leveraging technology to drive process efficiency. In summary, the four key pillars are talent development, cost reduction and risk mitigation, relationship management and digitalization, I think that's key.

What goals have you set yourself within the next year in Procurement?

My personal goal is to be really seen as a business supporter and advisor, working closely with the business and our customers. As we are transforming as a DX company, as Fujitsu as a whole, I want to utilize technologies for the benefit of procurement. Utilizing current technology and being open to new technologies and continuously learning really benefits the business. So, I think I must develop as well, and keep on learning as we keep changing the business.

If you wrote a book about your career so far, what would you title it? Why?

I don’t think I’d ever write a book, but if I did, I think I would call it something along the lines of ‘plan big and go far’. The reason for this is because I think if you have big goals and big dreams you will achieve great things. If you have small dreams you don't get that far.

Where is somewhere you would like to travel that you haven’t been to before?

I’d really like to go to Australia, as I haven’t been there before, but if I could choose to return to some of the places I have been before, I’d go back to Japan. I have only been for business, but I was very interested in the culture and I’d like to experience more of it. I’d also love to go to back to America and do a West Coast road trip, and visit the national parks.?

What do you do to relax?

This is an easy one! Back in 2019, I purchased a road bike – so now I do a lot of cycling and ride my bike as much as time allows. In Summer, I ride outdoors, and in winter I ride in my cellar. Being on a bike is time for me to relax, to think, as well as to plan and achieve big targets such as climbing some of the mountains. I am always planning the next trip in my head!?