Support of universities and trade associations is more important to the survival of our industry now than ever before

by Gilly Hitchcock and Mike Luciano

Through its pulp and paper programs, a local community college in central Maine recently provided the bulk of hourly papermakers hired by several local paper mills. The college also extended its two-year certificate and/or degree programs to all mill employees in the area, new hires as well as long-term employees. This program also partnered with the state university to accept all credits toward a four-year pulp and paper degree.

These examples illustrate the importance of a functional alliance between industry and education. Especially today, it is vitally important to the success—if not the continued existence of papermaking itself in this part of the world—that we maintain both our memberships in these organizations, as board or committee members, as well as provide financial support.

Only by active participation and financial support can we have input into the types of knowledge and academic programs that are needed to keep the industry's workforce updated and outfitted with the latest technologies and methodologies. It's the only way we can assure our industry remains competitive with that in our countries and regions of the world.

Regaining the Edge. Of course this isn't a new idea. It is, however, an area where we have slipped more than a little in recent years. Finnish and German paper industry workers typically come out of pulp and paper educational programs, creating a highly prepared workforce for the industry in those countries. The paper industry there is highly promoted by companies as well as universities, and young people enter these programs knowing that this is an industry they want to be part of.

So there's the rub. For some time, the U.S. industry is still being publicized as a "mature" or even a dying industry. Young people are not exactly flocking to our universities begging to get into the pulp and paper sciences or engineering programs. Other businesses and industries are grabbing the top talent.

Also, hourly people are no longer waiting outside the door to get in the mills, as they once did. When they do get in, many haven't even had "Papermaking 101" because most mills do not insist on any post high school requirements for entry level hires. Europeans and the Scandinavians do, and it's showing.

As industry leaders and members, we need to be our own best sales people and put a positive spin back on this industry. Relationships with the teaching institutions must again be given high priority in order to train human resources that companies will need to regain the critical edge they enjoyed in prior decades.

In this regard, our universities need first-hand information about what these future candidates must have to bring the industry back to a level of higher efficiency and performance. They also need monetary support to ensure that pulp and paper programs are not displaced by programs for other, "more attractive" industries and businesses.

Lobbying for the Industry. Support for local and regional paper associations is also important. These associations not only provide important news and training, they serve as a lobby for our industry and a way for us to network and evaluate best practices. Many U.S. paper companies are well past the century mark. Some, however, have a different name on the front door than when they originally started. Others, unfortunately, have closed their doors, moving their operation to places where machines are bigger, wider, faster and use the latest technology and methods to produce pulp and paper.

As an industry, let's not forget where we have come from since the late 1800s, but at the same time let's not get bogged down in the doldrums of a “mature” industry focused primarily on the past. At this critical juncture in the history of our industry, let's put more money and time into positively promoting papermaking by supporting those institutions and associations that develop our most important resource, the employees. Only then can we reverse the impression of this industry from one that has plateaued to one that is continuing to grow both in talent and technology.