Climbing the Mountain

A few years ago, I had the great pleasure to visit the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. Most know little about this mountain kingdom, but many do know that it is the home of the highest place on earth—Mount Everest.

Nepal is a hard country. Little grows naturally, grazing land is lean, and the logistical and commercial infrastructure is, for the most part, nonexistent. Climbing Everest is a difficult and dangerous endeavor. Every single step is hard, and the costs are crippling. Danger and fatal consequences are inherent in every step. Almost all struggle at some point. Most don’t succeed. On Everest, small miscalculations can have disastrous, even fatal results.

No one climbs these heights without assistance. That is why it is critically important that you find the right sardar, or experienced leader, to help you to make the climb without having to learn every lesson the hard way.

It is critically important that you find the right sardar, or experienced leader, to help you to make the climb without having to learn every lesson the hard way.

So, it is not too strained an analogy that having a knowledgeable and experienced guide is just one of the roles that AICC performs for those attempting to climb the mountains of challenges present in the packaging business.

For example:

• Only 9 percent of U.S. employment is in manufacturing. And many of the people you do know in manufacturing are often your direct competitors. It can sometimes be hard to find anyone you can commiserate with or ask guidance from. Enter AICC, The Independent Packaging Association—the only association dedicated to the independent corrugated, folding carton, and rigid box manufacturers and industry suppliers.
• AICC allows you to meet, share knowledge with, and ask questions of some of the smartest people in the industry in a free and open discussion—people who have been where you are and have done what you do. You can learn from the people who have traveled the path you are climbing. They know where things get tough, what to watch out for, and how get to the top of the mountain.
• Just as in mountaineering, your equipment will make or break your journey. Picking the right equipment and using it to its best advantage is critical to success. Having experienced operators discussing the pros and cons of machinery and being able to see actual machines producing actual products is a huge advantage in building your equipment profile.
• At every step of the journey, it is always about your people. Learning the best ways to recruit, educate, and develop your staff is part of the bedrock of building a successful company, and part of the bedrock of AICC.
• On those days when you are not sure where to turn, there is someone who has been there before to offer you encouragement and guidance, sharing knowledge regarding machinery, processes, technology, and a host of other that are critical to your success. And when things don’t go well, there will be someone to talk with who has been there before, to provide either a friendly voice or a quick kick to get you going again.

And if you ever decide to go to Nepal, by all means, go. But make sure you bring plenty of sun screen. It’s hot, the air is thin, the sun is bright—and believe it or not, Mount Everest is at the same latitude as Tampa, Fla.

John Clark is director of analytics at Amtech Software. He can be reached at jclark@amtechsoftware.com.