PIMA's Northeast and Connecticut Valley Divisions hold joint Fall Conference.

The Northeast and Connecticut Valley Divisions of the Paper Industry Management Association held a successful Joint Fall Conference at The Mount Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire on September 7-9, 2001. The conference theme was "Keeping Up with Constant Change." An excellent management program and beautiful fall weather made for an outstanding meeting.

SESSION ROUNDUP

The opening session was titled "Total Equipment Asset Management." John H. Schultz, vice president, technical services, Allied Service Group Inc., reviewed the Total Equipment Asset Management (TEAM) program. He stressed that "it is OK to get excited about maintenance." United States manufacturers have invested $5 billion; less than 13% have yielded a return on investment. John told attendees that they "must understand asset function and the effects that loss of function will have or a reactive maintenance strategy will eat you for lunch."

John reviewed preventive and predictive maintenance and how they fit into today's proactive maintenance model. John stressed that these programs are the building blocks for success in achieving "world class results: >95% asset utilization; low cost; excellent asset health: effective preventive and predictive maintenance programs; and better efficiency through improved planning and scheduling."

In "The Effect of OSHA Inspections on Contractors During Mill shutdowns," presenters Bill Freeman, area director, and Tony Lemire, inspection team leader, OSHA spoke about the Local Emphasis Program, which targets inspections of contractors and its effect on mill shutdowns. Bill stressed that all parties have been included in this program. He related that in most areas inspections are complaint/accident driven. In Maine, these types of programs are proactive. Bill provided details of such a program for the logging industry where a partnership between landowners, the Professional Loggers Association and the insurance companies benefited all. He described how OSHA has been working with mills and contractors where random inspections are conducted during mill shutdowns. Once a site has been selected, a comprehensive inspection is done. Contractors, sub-contractors, and mill employees work together to ensure health and safety.

The closing session was "Paper, Printing and Advertising--Keeping the Relationship Alive." Speakers included Edward Ward, vice president of marketing, GEICO Insurance, and Lisa M. Hubbard, manager of technical services, SAPPI Fine Papers North America. Ed gave a presentation entitled "'Where do I spend my advertising dollars?' The role of paper and printing in consumer advertising--now and in the future." He described GEICO's efforts to advertise directly to consumers. Ed mentioned that "paperless advertising" (television, the internet, email, etc.) will not be dominant until a pocket-sized, portable flat screen is invented. He described how GEICO marketing objectives--convincing people to request a rate quote--coincide with the need to reach the target audience at the lowest possible cost with effective frequency. GEICO's core direct response media is direct mail and advertising inserts.

Lisa Hubbard gave a presentation entitled "There is nothing virtual about Paper--Paper as a provocative printing medium." Lisa provided background on SAPPI and their products. She explained how printed materials are low-tech, reach more people, are tangible and provide better ad retention. She discussed how color expresses passion and has physiological power. No other medium reproduces color with such fidelity or volume as paper. Elements of successful print media efforts include visual imagery and repetition. Lisa reviewed basic paper attributes, ink and paper interactions, special printing techniques and a printing system approach.

An exciting Spouses' Program along with the fantastic venue of The Mount Washington Hotel and its many activities rounded out a full weekend. Division Chairmen Joseph Clarke and Leo Robert invited all to attend the 2002 Fall Conference to be held at the The Balsams Grand Resort and Hotel on September 9-12, 2002. For more information on the meeting, please contact Joe Clark at + 1 207 696-3307.

To win the game, you must play the game

The Manufacturing Game[R] offers a high tech and "high touch" approach to systems thinking, or how the actions of one area impact the function of another, and the profitability of the whole. The learning lab experience gives players a bird's-eye view of a manufacturing facility. The game covers in one day what could take years to experience in the real world.

Participants in The Manufacturing Game[R] sessions gain new perspective on the manufacturing process by they perform at work every day. As a result, players gain a better understanding of how their decisions and actions impact each other and the overall performance of the plant. The game allows participants the chance to self discover. Having to invent the answers themselves creates the ownership and passion required to make significant and lasting improvement.

PIMA offered 2001 Annual Conference attendees the opportunity to participate in a one-day session to play The Manufacturing Game[R]. In response to a survey rating the game, 100% of participants in that session indicated that the game was profitable and they would recommend it to others. One gentleman explained that he had gained so much from his single session playing the game, he planned to schedule a time for his entire company to play.

You can play, too! The Manufacturing Game[R] will be available as a pro-conference session at PIMA's 83rd Annual International Management Conference. The game will be played June 18, 2002 from 8:00 am-5:00 pm. For attendees to PIMA's Annual Conference, the cost is only $50, including lunch. Sign up on PIMA's website at www.pima-online.org/conferences/june2002/ or by contacting Sarah Walsh: + 1 847 956-0250, or by e-mail: [e-mail]

Thank you sponsors!

PIMA would like to offer a special thank you to our 83rd Annual International Management Conference Hospitality Sponsors. Through the generosity of these sponsors, The conference will include daily lunches; the Annual Affiliate Reception; a Power to the People theme party; the Joint Hospitality Center, open each evening with snacks and an open bar; and Annual Awards Dance.

Platinum
DuPont Company
  White Pigments
  Elvanol[R] Polyvinyl Alcohol
  Fluoro Chemical Solutions
Hercules Pulp and Paper Division
SKF Reliability Systems

Gold
Buckman Laboratories, Inc.
MecFab Inc.

Silver
Johnson Systems
Thiele Kaolin Company

Bronze
BE&K, Inc.
Halliburton KBR
JJ Plank Corp./Spencer Johnston Co.
Korber PaperLink North America
Pacific Saw and Knife Co.
RLG International

Individual
George H. Bodman
William H. Polhemus

To become a Hospitality Sponsor, or for more information about the Sponsorship Program, contact Sarah Walsh at + 1 847 956-0250.