What does it take to convert wood into a reel of high quality paper that must reach a customer in, say, Indonesia, at exactly the right time? The answer is literally hundreds of people with different skills such as financial experts, machine operators, laboratory technicians, human resource staff, engineers, panel beaters, IT technicians, receptionists, electricians, workshop staff, information officers, sales staff and process technicians. Long-term success comes from a well-composed team in which everybody’s skills are put to good use.
Most of Billerud’s employees work at the company’s four mills, three of which are in Sweden and one in the UK. We have our own sales offices in a dozen European countries as well as Asia and the Middle East. Employees from all parts of Billerud’s organisation work together with customers in development assignments all over the world. They often work in networks and projects that cross geographical and professional boundaries or in specialist groups within specific fields.
In the organisation, everyone works towards specific goals. Work crews identify areas for improvement, set targets and establish action plans. Results are measured continuously and compared with targets. The aim is to create a working climate in which each individual is encouraged to take active responsibility for daily routines by seeing the results of their work clearly. This can include keeping good order in the workplace, preventing damage to machinery and taking the initiative for simple measures that provide savings.