Michael Symons Email & Phone Number

Vancouver, BC, CA

Vancouver, BC, CA

• Evaluate supply chain technology and processes including CRM, SRM and supply chain visibility to support digital supply chain initiatives.
• Conduct comprehensive data research on company-wide KPIs to drive results in key customer measures.
• Provide supply chain leadership on critical business transformation objectives including a sustainability working group and digitization projects.

Vancouver, BC, CA

• Lead Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) process on a monthly and quarterly basis.
• Plan the monthly demand and production forecasts with input from Sales and Operations feed in to the S&OP analysis.
• Maintain optimal inventory levels throughout the supply chain to effectively support customer demand while minimizing use of working capital.
• Lead Mill Production Coordinators in the development and execution of their production plans, and work with MPCs and Mill Managers to improve Production Plan Attainment.
• Develop a distribution strategy that minimizes use of working capital while meeting customer demand and in-stock requirements.
• Maintain a full understanding of Canfor’s productions and operations at all mills and reloads

Vancouver, BC, CA

• Built and managed a team of Transportation Coordinators responsible for securing resources for 13 manufacturing sites across the southern US.
• Managed shipment volumes of over 1,000 shipments per week, and an annual transportation spend in excess of $60 million.
• Developed a comprehensive Transportation Plan to support sustainable deliveries through periods of extraordinary equipment shortages, including establishing distribution facilities.
• As part of a Supply Chain team, worked to develop and implement a Sales & Operations Planning process to consolidate production, sales, and supply chain operations across all manufacturing sites.
• Managed vendor relationships with rail, truck, and ocean carriers – in all, over 200 carriers.
• Led the Supply Chain / Logistics stream in implementing Canfor’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platform in two phases for Canfor’s 13 manufacturing sites and 2 Sales/Administrative offices.

Vancouver, BC, CA

• Built and managed a team of Transportation Coordinators who succcesfully integrated Transportation activities for all Canadian manufacturing and sales operations across our Lumber and Pulp divisions.
• Managed shipment volumes and transportation spend in excess of $300 million.
• Developed Strategic and Tactical plans to support all Canadian operations throughout the year, including times of extreme stress on transportation networks – including strikes and significant weather events.
• Supported the first phase of implementing Canfor’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platform, a significant transformation of Canfor’s business processes and practices.
• Represented Canfor at Transportation industry functions and events.

Vancouver, BC, CA

• Managed a team of Production Planners responsible for developing and executing the production plan across 4 pulp mills and 1 paper mill.
• Managed the distribution of Canfor Pulp’s product across distribution centers in the Midwest, Northeast, and around Vancouver BC to support shipments to final customers.
• Consolidated and distributed Sales and Production forecasts to senior leadership in Finance, Sales, and Operations.

Montreal, QC, CA

• Handled customers of increasing size, from small development accounts to top-5 customers in terms of revenue and volume.
• Developed small- and mid-sized business opportunities in BC, Alberta, and Saskatchewan as part of a regional team of front-line management involved in growing CN’s franchise in Western Canada.
• Worked with customers and CN Operations to resolve disputes and service issues with a data-driven approach while retaining sensitivity to stakeholder needs.
• Consulted with Government and industry leadership on policy and resource planning in sensitive regions with multiple stakeholders.
• Negotiated contracts of a variety of sizes, from small spot moves worth $20,000 to high-volume transportation agreements worth over $50 million.
• Gained experience building extensive transportation costing models.

Montreal, QC, CA

• Provided managerial support balancing the requirements of Marketing and Sales, Operations, and Customer Service, mostly in the complex BC service zone.
• Developed systems and processes to support Customer Service representatives and transportation supervisors in handling a fast-paced, rapidly changing transportation landscape, including creating customer scorecards.
• Worked directly with customers and Operations in developing short and mid-term plans to alleviate pressures brought about by weather, accidents, service disruptions, labor problems, and other unplanned events that.
• Established protocols to manage fair dispute resolution processes regarding accessorial charges like demurrage / storage and other asset use charges, which drove transportation savings for the customer and improved.

Montreal, QC, CA

• Worked closely with Field Operations in CN’s Western Region in a Performance Assessment role, bringing objectives from the Regional Vice President through the organization chart to general management, superintendents.
• Provided analysis and support for non-core revenue streams, like ancillary service charge for extended asset use.
• Developed a regional human resource planning system for core railway functions to guide hiring policies.
• Worked on the front lines in key emergency situations such as strikes, washouts, derailments, etc, usually in a resource-planning or logistics role.

• Served as a primary source for long and short-term business research and analysis.
• Provided reporting support for a range of rail operations initiatives, including Operating Plan compliance, measures for compliance and exceptions meeting service windows, and fuel consumption measures.
• Served in a liaison role between Operations and Information Technology to help bring Operations the IT solutions it required, including business analysis prior to implementation and QA support to ensure products met.
• Assumed the role of the Supervisor Asset Planning and Utilization, which brought with it a host of new reporting requirements, including fleet performance analysis, trip cycle and segment analysis, lease agreement.

Jack Welch Way Leardership Program, Organizational Leadership

Bachelor Of Arts (Ba)