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International Paper Engineering

To build innovative digital systems that transform renewable resources into sustainable products people depend on globally

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To build innovative digital systems that transform renewable resources into sustainable products people depend on globally

Strengths

  • INFRASTRUCTURE: Robust cloud infrastructure supporting global operations
  • TALENT: Strong engineering team with deep industry expertise
  • AUTOMATION: Advanced manufacturing automation systems in place
  • DATA: Extensive operational data collection across facilities
  • SECURITY: Comprehensive cybersecurity framework protecting assets

Weaknesses

  • INTEGRATION: Legacy systems hindering digital transformation
  • ANALYTICS: Underdeveloped data analytics capabilities
  • AGILITY: Slow technology deployment cycles averaging 9+ months
  • TALENT: Skills gap in emerging technologies like AI/ML
  • COLLABORATION: Siloed technology teams across business units

Opportunities

  • OPTIMIZATION: Process optimization through IoT and edge computing
  • SUSTAINABILITY: Digital tools to measure and improve ESG metrics
  • ANALYTICS: Predictive maintenance to reduce downtime by 30%
  • AUTOMATION: End-to-end supply chain digitalization
  • INNOVATION: Creating digital products from sustainability initiatives

Threats

  • SECURITY: Increasing cybersecurity threats to operational systems
  • COMPETITION: Digital-native competitors disrupting market share
  • TALENT: Difficulty attracting top tech talent to paper industry
  • REGULATION: Evolving compliance requirements for data privacy
  • COST: Rising technology infrastructure and maintenance costs

Key Priorities

  • MODERNIZATION: Accelerate core systems modernization initiative
  • ANALYTICS: Develop advanced analytics capabilities for optimization
  • TALENT: Upskill workforce and recruit specialized digital talent
  • SECURITY: Enhance cybersecurity posture across digital footprint

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To build innovative digital systems that transform renewable resources into sustainable products people depend on globally

MODERNIZE

Transform legacy systems into future-ready platforms

  • ARCHITECTURE: Define and implement enterprise API strategy connecting 75% of critical systems by Q4
  • CLOUD: Migrate remaining 60% of on-premises applications to cloud environment with 99.9% reliability
  • AUTOMATION: Implement CI/CD pipeline reducing deployment time from 14 days to 2 days for core apps
  • TECHNICAL DEBT: Reduce legacy system maintenance costs by 25% through rationalization
ANALYZE

Unlock operational insights through advanced analytics

  • PLATFORM: Deploy enterprise data analytics platform with real-time dashboards for all mills
  • INSIGHTS: Deliver predictive maintenance models for critical equipment reducing downtime by 20%
  • ADOPTION: Achieve 80% adoption rate of data-driven decision making among operations leaders
  • VALUE: Generate $15M in operational savings through analytics-driven process optimization
SECURE

Protect digital assets against evolving threats

  • FRAMEWORK: Implement zero-trust security architecture across 100% of digital infrastructure
  • COMPLIANCE: Achieve 100% compliance with updated cybersecurity policies and standards
  • DETECTION: Reduce mean time to detect security incidents from 96 hours to 4 hours
  • TRAINING: Train 100% of technology team on security-by-design principles with 90% pass rate
ENABLE

Build world-class digital engineering capabilities

  • TALENT: Hire 15 specialists in AI, cloud architecture, and cybersecurity with 90% retention
  • UPSKILLING: Complete digital skills assessment and training for 100% of engineering team
  • AGILE: Implement agile delivery methodology across all technology teams with 85% maturity score
  • INNOVATION: Launch engineering innovation lab generating 5 validated proofs-of-concept
METRICS
  • ADOPTION: Digital transformation adoption rate: 85%
  • EFFICIENCY: Technology-enabled operational cost savings: $25M
  • RELIABILITY: Critical systems uptime: 99.95%
VALUES
  • Safety
  • Ethics
  • Stewardship
  • Inclusion & Respect
  • Strength in Teamwork
  • Commitment to Excellence

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Align the learnings

International Paper Engineering Retrospective

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To build innovative digital systems that transform renewable resources into sustainable products people depend on globally

What Went Well

  • IMPLEMENTATION: Successfully deployed IoT sensors in 3 mills with 98% uptime
  • SECURITY: Zero major security incidents despite 27% increase in attempts
  • COSTS: Achieved 12% reduction in IT operational costs through automation
  • CLOUD: Completed migration of 40% of workloads to cloud ahead of schedule
  • RELIABILITY: Achieved 99.8% uptime for critical manufacturing systems

Not So Well

  • PROJECTS: 35% of digital transformation projects behind schedule
  • INTEGRATION: Legacy system integration challenges delaying modernization
  • TALENT: 18% turnover in engineering team, higher than company average
  • ADOPTION: Only 62% user adoption rate for new digital tools vs 75% target
  • ANALYTICS: Data analytics platform implementation delayed by 3 months

Learnings

  • CHANGE: Need stronger change management for technology deployments
  • AGILE: Traditional waterfall approach limiting delivery speed and value
  • RESOURCES: Need dedicated resources rather than part-time assignments
  • TRAINING: Insufficient training causing low adoption of new technologies
  • MEASURING: Better ROI metrics needed to justify technology investments

Action Items

  • AGILE: Implement agile delivery methodology for all technology projects
  • TALENT: Launch digital skills development program for engineering team
  • GOVERNANCE: Establish technology steering committee with business units
  • ARCHITECTURE: Develop API strategy to address integration challenges
  • ROADMAP: Create clear 3-year technology roadmap with business alignment

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To build innovative digital systems that transform renewable resources into sustainable products people depend on globally

Strengths

  • DATA: Massive operational data sets across manufacturing facilities
  • INFRA: Established cloud infrastructure supporting AI deployment
  • PILOTS: Successful AI pilot programs in quality control
  • LEADERSHIP: Executive commitment to AI transformation
  • PARTNERS: Strategic technology partnerships with AI vendors

Weaknesses

  • EXPERTISE: Limited internal AI expertise and talent bench
  • INTEGRATION: Difficulty integrating AI with legacy systems
  • GOVERNANCE: Underdeveloped AI governance framework
  • DATA: Poor data quality and inconsistent standardization
  • ADOPTION: Cultural resistance to AI-driven decision making

Opportunities

  • OPTIMIZATION: AI-powered process optimization reducing waste 15%
  • QUALITY: Computer vision for defect detection improving yield
  • FORECASTING: Predictive demand forecasting reducing inventory
  • SUSTAINABILITY: AI optimization of energy and resource usage
  • MAINTENANCE: Predictive maintenance reducing downtime by 30%

Threats

  • INVESTMENT: High implementation costs with uncertain ROI
  • COMPETITION: Industry competitors advancing AI capabilities faster
  • COMPLEXITY: Technical complexity of AI integration with OT systems
  • ETHICS: Emerging ethical concerns and regulatory requirements
  • DEPENDENCE: Over-reliance on external AI expertise and vendors

Key Priorities

  • STRATEGY: Develop comprehensive AI strategy and roadmap
  • TALENT: Build internal AI expertise through hiring and upskilling
  • USE-CASES: Prioritize high-impact AI use cases in operations
  • GOVERNANCE: Establish robust AI governance and ethics framework

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AI Disclosure

This report was created using the Alignment Method—our proprietary process for guiding AI to reveal how it interprets your business and industry. These insights are for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial, legal, tax, or investment advice.

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