Paper & Forest Products

The paper and forest products industry currently faces several challenges.  In the area of sales and operations, managing pipeline orders is complicated by disruptive last-minute changes. In addition, data-driven strategies are needed to customize the mix of products for each business based on fluctuations in product/production costs.  Similarly, there is also a need to cultivate a balance between the changing demands in foreign and domestic markets and a need to maintain essential machinery without interfering with production or reducing inventory.  Further, short-to-medium-term “grade turbulence” in box plants requires optimization of the mix between paper grades. Finally, reducing expenses associated with trim waste and paper trades are essential factors to be addressed.

Sea Cliff Consulting provides customized tools and expertise to equip our clients to meet each of these challenges.  In the area of sales and operations planning, we help our clients to develop custom strategies and models that take into account market changes and disruptions.   We also assist box plant clients to manage short-to-medium-term grade turbulence by creating transition plans and optimizing which grades to retain, thereby reducing complexity and minimizing inventory costs.  Complex analysis that optimizes order size and quantities based on machine size is used to reduce trim waste.  Finally, Sea Cliff creates models that allow clients to run what-if analyses around potential trade options, ensuring they can make the most of their trade partnerships to reduce costs and improve customer service.