Production and Logistics Planner

Forte Opening Solutions; Howell (MI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Forte Opening Solutions in Howell, MI is seeking a Production & Logistics Planner to manage capacity planning and coordinate logistics across multiple locations. The role emphasizes data-driven decision making, ERP/MRP utilization, and cross-functional collaboration to maximize production output while minimizing cost per unit.

Responsibilities include standardized capacity planning, weekly reporting, SIOP participation, and logistics optimization.

Qualifications

• Degree in supply chain management, logistics, business, economics, or analytics required.
• APICS CSCP or CPIM certification is a plus.
• Minimum 2 years in production planning for wood or metal manufacturing.
• Minimum 1 year in logistics coordination, analytics, or administration.
• Strong analytical and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Advanced MS Office, especially Excel and PowerPoint.

Responsibilities

• Establish and sustain a standardized capacity planning model connected to ERP across locations.
• Produce weekly capacity and lead time reports from plant data driven by analytics.
• Coordinate outbound production logistics including routes, LTL, and contract freight.
• Optimize inventory with purchasing to reduce obsolete and slow-moving stock.
• Participate in SIOP activities to align sales, inventory, and production planning.
• Review pricing and margins and support budget and contract alignment for carriers.

Skills

Production Planning

Logistics coordination

Analytics

Cross-functional leadership

Microsoft Office

ERP/MRP systems

Data-driven decision making

Effective communication

Education

Associate or bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, logistics, business, economics, or analytics

APICS CSCP

APICS CPIM

Job description

Job DetailsJob Location: Howell, MI 48843Job Category: Supply ChainThe Production & Logistics Planner is responsible for the capacity planning and logistics coordination of one or more company locations. This role involves collaborating with cross-functional teams, maximizing production output through capacity analytics, and optimizing truck routes and logistics to ensure the lowest cost per unit while maintaining quality. The ideal candidate will have strong analytical and planning skills with the ability to operate within standard procedures and systems. This position reports directly to the Purchasing & Planning Manager with a dashed line to the Plant Manager at the location(s) where this position is assigned to.

Key Accountabilities:

Production Planning (40%):

• Establish and sustain a standardized capacity planning model that is connected to or within ERP for all division locations.
• Ensure visualization of production planning through MDI (manage for daily improvement) visual tools standardized at each plant.
• Produce weekly capacity and lead time reports for internal customers and leaders driven by data analytics from each plant.
• Participate in SIOP activities to ensure alignment between sales, inventory, and production planning for short- and long-term business needs.
• Use leading indicators such as quote volumes or sales bookings data to plan capacity in the longer term.

Logistics Planning & Optimization (40%):

• Coordinate and schedule outbound production logistics for planned routes, LTL, and contract freight.
• Optimize logistics planning to achieve lowest cost per unit freight while maintaining reliability to customer expectations.
• Review and monitor pricing and margins on daily/weekly basis for alignment of budgets, contracts, and expectations for carriers.
• Analyze weekly logistics route utilization reports to ensure maximized dollar per mile performance.

Inventory Optimization (20%):

• Ensure alignment with purchasing team to optimize inventory usage during production.
• Participate in regular reviews of obsolete and slow moving inventory (OSMI) and take action to mitigate.
• Understand the inventory segmentation through materials planning strategies such as ABC and XYZ analysis to assist in SIOP planning.
• Ensure alignment with corporate cycle counting strategies that achieve 96% or better inventory accuracy.
• Participate in regular cycle counting as assigned.

QualificationsEducation and Certifications:

• Associate or bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, logistics, business, economics, or analytics required.
• APICS CSCP, APICS CPIM are a plus, but not required.

Technical Knowledge, Skills, or Experience:

Required:

• Minimum of 2 years of Production Planning experience with a focus on manufacturing wood or metal products.
• Minimum of 1 year of Logistics coordination, analytics, or administration experience.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to communicate detailed planning.
• Ability to lead through influence with other cross functional leaders.
• Advanced skillset in Microsoft office - Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Previous subject matter expertise in ERP/MRP systems.
• Experience using data to drive informed and thoughtful decision making.