Throughout the paper industry, engineers are valued for their ability to create industrial policies and practices that maximize the productivity of a plant. They also are responsible for coordinating the design and construction of new manufacturing facilities, the modification and improvement of existing facilities, and the supervision of all processes.

Civil, mechanical, chemical and electrical engineering skills can all be valuable assets. In addition, there is an emerging engineering skill that is becoming more and more important to the industry - the systems engineer. This individual provides the control system expertise that’s needed to design and operate the process controls and computers that run the industry’s new high-speed paper machines.

Many of today’s pulp and paper mills operate around the clock. It takes skilled people to plan the production process, supervise production to keep operations running smoothly, and to provide the foresight and preventative maintenance needed to avoid breakdowns or interruptions. People trained in the engineering disciplines, or in mathematics or the classical sciences, are needed for these positions. In addition, talented electricians, pipe and steam fitters, and machine operators all play a major role in the day-to-day operations of the mills. A formal technical background is generally required for these positions.

Likewise, environmental engineers are crucial to the papermaking process. These professionals play a key role in protecting public health and safety by creating effective pollution controls, reducing the environmental impact of mill operations, ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal environmental regulations, and making sure the mills are safe, efficient and compatible with their local communities. Look to the chemical and civil engineering disciplines, as well as to biology and chemistry, to prepare you for this important field.

To make sure that the finished products meet the highest standards, mills rely on quality control experts. These individuals are responsible for the stringent testing and evaluation of all paper and paperboard products. Their backgrounds usually include industrial engineering, chemistry or statistics.
 

 
"The most rewarding aspect of my job is that the daily challenges are never the same. We make our product at a rate of 45 tons per hour and it's exciting to find new and better ways to improve our products for our customers."

Todd Quick,
Paper Machine Assistant Superintendent,
Inland Eastex

The pulp and paper industry invests $10 billion annually in new equipment and technology.