If your starting point is a correctly grouped OBJ file and a known hierarchy you may find that creating the figure using the Poser menu "File/Convert Hierarchy File" to be quicker.

Have a look at Roy Riggs PHI Builder. That will take an OBJ file and spit out a hirierchy file. You will need to do some editing but this is basically just drag and drop withing the application to go from its best guess at the hierarchy to what you actually want.

I use it frequently. It is available from http://www.royriggs.com/poser.html