Production and Logistics Planner

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

Job summary

Forte Opening Solutions is seeking a Production & Logistics Planner to manage capacity planning across location(s), collaborating with cross-functional teams to maximize output and optimize routes, ensuring lowest cost per unit while maintaining quality.

The role reports to the Purchasing & Planning Manager with a dashed line to the Plant Manager at the assigned location(s). Strong analytical ability and ERP/MRP experience, plus MS Office proficiency, are essential for success.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years of Production Planning experience in manufacturing (wood or metal products).
• Minimum 1 year of Logistics coordination or analytics experience.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to communicate planning details clearly.
• Ability to lead through influence with cross-functional teams.
• Advanced MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) skills.

Responsibilities

• Establish and sustain standardized capacity planning connected to ERP across locations.
• Produce weekly capacity and lead-time reports driven by data analytics.
• Participate in SIOP activities aligning sales, inventory, and production.
• Coordinate outbound production logistics for planned routes and freight.
• Analyze weekly logistics route utilization for cost-efficiency and service.

Skills

Capacity planning

Logistics coordination

Data analytics

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Excel proficiency

Education

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

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

The 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.

Qualifications

Education 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.

Required

Technical Knowledge, Skills, or Experience:

• 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.