Your Pathway to Success

AICC education is the always-evolving force multiplier for the boxmaking industry

AICC offers learning opportunities you can’t find anywhere else. From free online training to topical webinars, peer learning, and in-person training, you can discover what you need to grow and thrive in the packaging industry in any role or department.

Leadership Pathways

If you know where you want your
career to go or if you are still finding your path, AICC can help. Structured as a clear and purposeful pathway, this initiative empowers every member of the AICC community—whether you’re a new hire, a supervisor looking to improve your management skills, or a seasoned executive—to find your place to learn, connect, and thrive. No matter where you are in your career journey, AICC offers the right training, the right peer network, and the right opportunities to help you grow and succeed.

Programs and groups on the pathway are as follows:

Emerging Leader Program

The AICC Emerging Leader Program equips ambitious professionals (35 and younger) in the paper-packaging industry with leadership training, mentorship, and exclusive networking opportunities. Participants, led by elected delegates, gain access to executive roundtables, industry committees, and career development events, preparing them to become leaders in the industry. Companies benefit by investing in employees who are expanding their skills, building strong professional networks, and contributing to their organization’s long-term success. 

AICC Management Group

The AICC Management Group helps managers at all levels develop leadership skills, improve people and resource management, and navigate common workplace challenges. Members gain valuable insights, practical tools, and a supportive peer network to enhance their effectiveness and performance. Join to grow as a leader, strengthen your management skills, and connect with professionals dedicated to continuous improvement.

Production Advisory Group

The Production Advisory Group connects operations and production managers from AICC member companies to share best practices, tackle common challenges, and learn from industry peers. Members gain insights into leadership strategies, workforce retention, and productivity improvements while receiving valuable coaching and feedback. Join to build a trusted network, exchange ideas, and enhance your career and your company’s success.

Continuous Improvement Advisory Group

The Continuous Improvement Advisory Group assists managers across all departments in enhancing productivity, developing problem prevention skills, and cultivating a culture of continuous improvement. Members gain access to best practices, coaching, and collaboration to strengthen team performance and leadership effectiveness. Join to build your problem-solving skills, share insights with peers, and drive lasting improvements in your company.

Leadership Advisory Group

The Leadership Advisory Group offers AICC members a confidential space to connect, share challenges, and gain valuable insights from industry peers. Members benefit from leadership development, industry trend discussions, and a strong support network that fosters growth and accountability. Join to enhance your decision-making, gain fresh perspectives, and build lasting relationships with fellow leaders committed to success.

CEO Advisory Group

The CEO Advisory Group provides box plant CEOs with a trusted network and a facilitator to exchange insights, tackle industry challenges, and explore strategies for growth and profitability. Members gain valuable peer accountability, access best practices, and develop an outside perspective on their business, all within a confidential setting. Join to strengthen your leadership, refine your business strategy, and connect with executives who understand your unique challenges.

AICC Women in Packaging Group

The AICC Women in Packaging
Group is a dynamic community dedicated to championing women in the packaging industry, fostering professional growth, and providing invaluable networking opportunities. Members gain access to empowering speakers, skill-building programs, and inspiring role models who have paved the way for future leaders. Whether you’re looking to expand your industry knowledge, develop leadership skills, or connect with a network of peers, this group offers the resources and encouragement to help you thrive and make a lasting impact in the packaging sector.

Legacy Council

The Legacy Council preserves and shares the industry’s invaluable knowledge through white papers, BoxScore articles, and conversation. Led by industry veterans such as Ralph Young, this group of retirees, Hall of Fame inductees, and seasoned experts serves as a resource for answering questions and guiding the next generation. Join to contribute your expertise, stay connected, and help shape the future of the packaging industry.

Kids in Packaging

Kids in Packaging offers fun, hands-on crafts and activities related to corrugated and paperboard, giving children a chance to connect while their parents attend the AICC National Meetings. It creates lasting memories, fosters friendships with other “industry kids,” and introduces them to the packaging world in an engaging, age-appropriate way. Plus, it provides an excellent opportunity for partners and children to socialize and enjoy the event together.

Find your path at www.AICCbox.org/pathways.

Packaging University

AICC’s Packaging University offers more than 160 free online courses, available to everyone at a member company. Now, learning is even easier to navigate with Colleges of Study. Just find your department or area of interest, and the courses you need are already organized for you. Each college has prerequisite courses to ensure you start on the right foot, covering fundamentals, safety, machines, and packaging terms. The colleges and courses are as follows:

College of Customer Service

• Customer Service Fundamentals
• Product Knowledge and Technical Support
• Quality and Customer Satisfaction
• Corrugated Packaging Solutions and Product Offerings
• Understanding Customer Insights in Corrugated Packaging
• Business Communications
• How to Help an Upset Customer
• Quality Basics
• How to Spec a Corrugated Box
• Five Top Sales Skills
• Avoiding Antitrust Liability
• Understanding Combined Board Combinations

College of Design

• Introduction to Graphic Design
• Introduction to Structural Design
• Corrugated Packaging Solutions and Product Offerings
• Product Knowledge and Technical Support
• Quality and Customer Satisfaction
• Understanding Customer Insights
  in Corrugated Packaging
• Quality Basics
• Business Communications
• Unit Load Design and Analysis
• Understanding Combined Board Combinations

College of Finance

• Quality Basics
• Welcome to Accounting
• Business Communications
• Keeping Score: Understanding Financial Statements
• Avoiding Antitrust Liability
• Understanding Accounts
  Receivable and Cash
• Compliance in Human
  Resources for the
  Corrugated Industry
• Cost Accounting in Corrugated Packaging Manufacturing
• Financial Management in Corrugated Packaging

College of Human Resources

• Managing HR in Packaging
• Compliance in Human Resources
  for the Corrugated Industry
• Compensation and Benefits in Manufacturing
• Giving Motivational Feedback
• Conflict Resolution
• Corrective Counseling
• Developing a Workplace Safety Program
• Workplace Safety Regulations
• Emotional Intelligence for Career Development
• Individual Development Plan
• Employee Development Plans
• Quality Basics
• Business Communications
• Maximize Training ROI
• Key Performance Indicators
• Holding People Accountable

College of Leadership

• Quality Basics
• Problem-Solving for Fun & Profit
• Conflict Resolution
• Business Communications
• Leading Your Peers
• Holding People Accountable
• Speak With Data, Bring a Solution to Your Problem
• Productive Meetings
• Keeping Score: Understanding Financial Statements
• Key Performance Indicators
• Go Team: Make Your Team More Productive
• Emotional Intelligence for Career Development
• Avoiding Antitrust Liability
• Delegation DIY

College of Maintenance

• Quality Basics
• Operator Maintenance
• Business Communications
• Lock-Out/Tag-Out Procedures
• Preventative Maintenance Optimization
• Facility Assessment From a Maintenance Perspective
• Maintenance Mapping
• Implementing a Routine Scheduled Maintenance Process
• Speak With Data, Bring a Solution to Your Problem
• Maintenance Department 5S
• Workplace Safety Regulations
• Safe Handling of Hazardous Materials in Corrugated Facilities

College of Process Improvement

• Quality Basics
• Quality and Customer Satisfaction
• Business Communications
• Lock-Out/Tag-Out Procedures
• Faster, Better, Smarter With Value Stream Maps
• Introduction to Lean Packaging
• Decision Trees: Knowledge Insurance
• Proposals, Problems, and Projects With A3
• Building a Visual Workplace
• Key Performance Indicators
• Inspection and Testing in Corrugated Packaging
• Productive Meetings
• Workplace Safety Regulations

College of Production

• Quality Basics
• Quality and Customer Satisfaction
• Operator Maintenance
• Workplace Safety Regulations
• Setting Up the Modern Die Cutter
• Lock-Out/Tag-Out Procedures
• How to Read a Tape Measure
• Optimizing the Flexographic Printing Process
• WARP and How to Control It
• Rotary Die Cutting Operation
• Essential Principles of
  Water-Based Flexo Inks
• Inspection and Testing in Corrugated Packaging
• Safe Handling of
  Hazardous Materials in Corrugated Facilities

College of Sales

• Understanding Customer Insights
  in Corrugated Packaging
• Understanding the Competitive Landscape of Corrugated Packaging
• Product Knowledge and Technical Support
• Corrugated Packaging Solutions
  and Product Offerings
• Strategic Costing and Rate Strategy
  in the Packaging Industry
• Quality and Customer Satisfaction
• The Death of the Traditional Sales Process
• Accelerate Virtual Relationships
  to Create New Opportunities
• Quality Basics
• Business Communications
• Speak With Data, Bring a Solution
  to Your Problem
• Introduction to e-Commerce
• Avoiding Antitrust Liability
• Understanding Combined Board Combinations
• How to Help an Upset Customer

College of Warehousing and Logistics

• Warehouse Management and Operations
• Effective Shipping, Receiving, and Logistics
• Material Handling and Equipment
• Unit Load Design and Analysis
• Packaging Production Scheduling
• Quality Basics
• Workplace Safety Regulations

The final college includes courses that are translated into Spanish (see “Cursos en Español” on the next page). After you finish a college, you can print a certificate of completion as recognition for your hard work. Then, you can start another college or browse the many other courses available to you.

Grow your skills at www.AICCbox.org/packu.

Webinars

Each month, AICC offers at least one engaging and informative webinar, available at no cost to members. These sessions provide timely insights on a rotating range of topics relevant to the independent packaging industry, including sales strategies, print advancements, and customer service excellence. 

Designed to support continuous learning and professional growth, AICC webinars connect members with industry experts and practical knowledge they can apply immediately in their businesses. 

If you can’t attend a live webinar, recordings are always available at www.AICCbox.org/webinars. See all upcoming events at www.AICCbox.org/calendar.

In-Person Training

AICC seminars offer valuable in-person learning experiences designed to deepen industry knowledge and enhance professional skills. Held in conjunction with AICC’s National Meetings—and occasionally as standalone events—these seminars cover a wide range of timely and practical topics, including finance, production, customer service, and leadership.

Led by seasoned experts, each seminar provides a focused environment for attendees to engage directly with instructors, ask questions, and connect with peers, making them an essential opportunity for hands-on education
and meaningful networking.

See all upcoming events at www.AICCbox.org/calendar.

AICC can also work with you to develop training tailored to your specific needs within your plant. When you are ready to train your team, AICC will develop a course based on your needs, create course materials, and bring industry trainers to your plant
on your schedule. 

Learn more at www.AICCbox.org/inhouse. 

Sidebar: Next Generation Executives

The Next Generation Executives: AICC’s Executive Leadership Training Program is a specialized, high-impact experience designed exclusively for future C-suite leaders in the packaging manufacturing industry. This program, led by executive coach Matt Eichmann, builds essential financial, operational, and strategic decision-making skills while guiding participants through the complexities of executive leadership transitions, emotional intelligence, and team culture development. With an emphasis on mentorship and peer-to-peer connection, it empowers emerging executives with the knowledge, confidence, and network needed to lead with purpose and drive sustainable success within their organizations. Learn more at www.AICCbox.org/NextGen.

Sidebar: Business Management in Corrugated Packaging Program

The Business Management in Corrugated Packaging Certificate Program is a first-of-its-kind certificate program designed for rising professionals in our industry. The 12- to18-month program blends Master of Business Administration-level business insight with corrugated-specific training, equipping you with the skills to manage and lead.

Why Enroll?

• Master strategy and management skills for success in the corrugated packaging industry. 
• Customize your courses to fit your career path.
• Collaborate in a small, high-impact cohort (five to 10 participants).
• Solve industry challenges with a capstone project.

Graduates are recognized at AICC National Meetings. Scholarships are available through the Foundation for Packaging Education. Learn more at www.AICCbox.org/businessmanagement. 

Sidebar: Cursos en Español

AICC Packaging University también ofrece muchos cursos en español:

• Fundamentos de seguridad
• Fundamentos de la impresión flexográfica
• Glosario de términos de impresión y embalaje
• Resolución de conflictos
• Alineación del rodillo corrugador
• Introducción al embalaje Lean
• Comprensión de las combinaciones de cartón corrugado
• Operación del troqueladora rotativa
• Principios básicos de las tintas a base de agua para impresión flexográfica
• Cómo optimizar la impresión flexográfica
• Conceptos básicos de corrugado 101
• Conceptos básicos de corrugado 102
• Conceptos básicos de corrugado 103
• Control de las operaciones en una empresa fabricante de empaques de cartón
• Creando un lugar de trabajo visual usando las 5s o las 7S
• Benchmarking para la excelencia en la producción de empaques de cartón corrugado
• Desperdicio de papel
• Factores que afectan la resistencia a la estiba en los empaques de cartón corrugado
• La necesidad del mantenimiento por parte de los operadores
• Reducción de configuración
• La eficiencia general del equipo (OEE) en la industria del empaque
• Cómo especificar una caja
• Pandeo y cómo controlarlo
• Optimización del
  mantenimiento preventivo
• La importancia de los empaques en el e-commerce, Modulo 1
• La importancia de los empaques en el e-commerce, Modulo 2
• Introducción al diseño de cargas unitarias de cajas a nivel de sistema
• Implementación de un proceso de rutina de mantenimiento programado
• Cómo realizar una auditoría a la corrugadora
• Como mejorar las ventas en esta nueva realidad
• Matemáticas para la producción de empaques
• Navegando el tiempo: Gestión de tiempo para el taller