Smurfit-Stone taps Kiwiplan for automation at container plants
CINCINNATI, OH, March 05, 2008 (Press Release) - Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation has signed an agreement with Kiwiplan Inc. to implement a full manufacturing applications suite in all of Smurfit-Stone's corrugated container facilities. The project will take three years to implement fully.
"Kiwiplan's focus on improved customer service is an integral part of our supply chain excellence strategy," said Smurfit-Stone president and chief operating officer Steven J. Klinger. "I expect to see improved performance this year and I expect further improvements in 2009."
Smurfit-Stone is working with Kiwiplan (a division of Illinois Tool Works Inc.) to implement complete automation for all container plant scheduling functions. This will allow Smurfit-Stone staff to increase their focus on customer needs, quality functions, and process improvement. Kiwiplan's Continuous Automatic Scheduling Environment (CASE) automatically schedules the entire plant 24/7- optimizing corrugators and converting equipment toward full on-time delivery.
Jim Walton, Kiwiplan president, said utilizing Kiwiplan supply chain tools in addition to CASE, compliments Smurfit-Stone's strategies. The process of optimizing paper grades, widths and quantities will then flow into the automated scheduling process in each plant, area or region.
"The timing of the agreement could not be more perfect," Walton said. "Building on a 20-year relationship with Smurfit-Stone, this project fits perfectly with current North American Kiwiplan activities, new initiatives in Europe and our recent acquisition by Illinois Tool Works (ITW)."
Smurfit-Stone's commitment to top-tier customer service and ongoing operational excellence, coupled with Kiwiplan's decades-long proven reliability and ongoing product enhancement, made Kiwiplan the logical choice for automated scheduling technology, said Mark O'Bryan, senior vice president of strategic initiatives and chief information officer for Smurfit-Stone.
"Our customers expect on-time delivery, quick turnaround, and the highest quality of product," O'Bryan said. "Kiwiplan provides the tools we need to achieve these mandates."
