Building Reliability in Pulp and Paper Mills: Executing Capital Projects for Long-Term Mill Success

Description:

Co-sponsored by the Project Management/Project Engineering Committee and the Young Professionals Division, this four-part series delivers a practical, integrated approach to improving safety, reliability, and performance in pulp and paper mills. The sessions progress from effective capital project execution, to maintaining mechanical integrity of fixed equipment, to applying Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM) principles, and conclude with a panel discussion that connects these disciplines into a unified reliability program. Together, the series equips attendees with actionable strategies to enhance asset availability, mitigate risk, and optimize lifecycle costs. Capital projects are essential for sustaining growth and reliability in mill operations, but success requires more than just funding. This session explores the critical roles of project managers, engineers, maintenance, and operations in executing capital projects within a mill environment. Attendees will gain practical insights into project processes, estimating methods, risk management, tracking, safety, and how well-executed projects support long-term operational performance.

Keywords:

Engineering

Captial Projects

Estimating

Maintenance

Construction

Learning Outcomes:

Upon satisfactory completion of this seminar, participants should be able to:

1)  describe the importance of good project management for the execution of capital projects

2) describe the FEL process

3) identify the role for key stakeholders on projects

4) evaluate a project schedule and identify project risks

Moderator: Elisha Ewing

Elisha is a recent graduate from Western Michigan University's Paper Engineering program. She is a process engineer at Smurfit Westrock's Mahrt Mill in Cottonton, AL and is currently working in the Chemical Recovery department. Outside of her mill life, she enjoys reading, meeting new friends, and making many trips back to Michigan to visit friends and family. Before you ask - no, she does not miss the cold, but she does miss the snow at Christmastime!

Speaker:   Christopher Johns

Christopher Johns, PE, P.Eng. has over 20 years of experience in process design, simulation, data analysis, piping design, and project management. Currently he is Director of Engineering at MEGI Engineering Inc. in Portland, OR where he is responsible for a team of multi-disciplinary engineers and designs. He holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Montana State University. Beyond the professional realm Christopher plays oboe in various community bands and orchestras and spending time outdoors.