All through its 150 years, Billerud has an extended custom of adapting to alter within the forest and paper trade.

Right now, the corporate has 5,800 workers in over 19 international locations, and 9 manufacturing models in Sweden, Finland, and the US. 

Prior to now, a correct enterprise system was solely obtainable within the US, however over the approaching years, your complete world operation can be linked to SAP S/4Hana, because the system will get rolled out to all 9 manufacturing models. 

“What’s fascinating about our venture is it’s a pure greenfield,” says CIO Jens Nielsen. “We’re constructing it from begin to end. Virtually all of my colleagues have an ERP system of their legacy that must be upgraded, however we’ll set up from scratch.”

Circulation to the manufacturing unit

One other factor that’s uncommon about Billerud’s rollout is that enterprise methods usually have issue absolutely supporting the method trade, particularly on the subject of manufacturing planning. 

This has to do with the truth that manufacturing industries usually contain taking many components and placing them collectively to create a product. However that’s not the case within the course of trade, the place you do the identical factor however in reverse, says Nielsen. 

“We construct a product after which cut up up the big paper roll to totally different clients,” he says. “Traditionally, there’s been no ERP that’s been in a position to assist this. However now SAP can deal with your complete enterprise movement all the way down to the paper machine.” 

By stitching the corporate collectively from the enterprise aspect all the way in which to the manufacturing unit, it’s doable to put the inspiration to meticulously analyze and use knowledge. 

A calculated strategy to AI

Every part received’t be AI-driven tomorrow, nevertheless. In round three years, Nielsen believes AI can be of nice significance, however not in its present type. 

“AI may be very tough to navigate, not least as a result of within the IT trade, there are too many consulting and software program corporations with far too giant advertising budgets that attempt to create demand by giving firm administration a responsible conscience,” he says. “It’s necessary to maintain your eyes on the ball. What we wish now are automation to extend productiveness, and perception to win clients and new markets.”

In these areas, there’s already loads in the present day to point out for, corresponding to statistical inference evaluation and machine studying. 

“What I need to focus on are automation, effectivity, and perception,” he provides. “If AI will help us, that’s nice, however AI within the sense that methods be taught fully by themselves, we’re not there but.”

A pure development

AI will progressively enter the enterprise by being embedded and built-in into functions. “I feel most issues are available in that method,” he says. “Then you possibly can construct particular functions as nicely.”

Relating to gen AI particularly, Copilot is at present used however Nielsen says Billerud hasn’t confirmed a long-term technique. 

“We’ve minimize a number of slack to search out our technique,” he provides. “So inside the subsequent 12 months, we’ll have one thing in place primarily based on an strategy to upskill all our customers.” 

Although AI is integral to future success, perception into automation is taking over a number of Nielsen’s bandwidth. 

“The widespread thread for us is automation,” he says. “It’s essentially easy. Automation means constant knowledge all through the chain.”

And for a few years, there’s additionally been a gaggle inside the firm working with superior knowledge analytics. In keeping with Nielsen, the group has already saved the corporate a whole lot of tens of millions by optimizing power use and equipment.  

“I often name them Billerud’s hidden asset,” he says, “as they’re not seen and there’s not a lot of them. However we’ll increase group over time.” 

And there’s loads of knowledge to feed the analyses and insights, not least within the large paper machines on the mills. 

“That’s the place we’ve the perfect management over our knowledge,” says Nielsen. “The info is there to investigate and optimize the machine. However on the executive aspect, issues aren’t pretty much as good, in order that’s what we’re going to get so as, by taking the large step to S/4Hana.” 

Bringing down the firewalls

As the corporate turns into extra data-driven, the inner firewalls that beforehand existed between production-related IT and the common IT operations are additionally being eradicated.  

“There’s a number of knowledge going between us, in order that firewall is like Swiss cheese,” says Nielsen. “That’s why it’s important to work collectively in a very totally different method, each for knowledge alternate and to make the availability chain work collectively. My problem isn’t distinctive there since in lots of locations IT and operational expertise are combining in new methods.” 

To make sure success, modernizing the IT division itself can also be required, and the journey has begun with two separate IT organizations — one within the Nordics and one within the US — to change into a worldwide group. In whole, there at the moment are 170 individuals, however the plan is to extend to 200 by the top of the 12 months. 

Upkeep and security

One specific precedence is to make the IT group higher at working with preventive upkeep since there’s nonetheless far an excessive amount of break-fix, in response to Nielsen. One other space is cybersecurity. And there’s one space the place preventive upkeep and cybersecurity have in widespread: to be good at each, you must have management over your tools and methods. 

“In case you have management over your IT, you possibly can simplify the setting in addition to automate the processes,” says Nielsen. “So then cybersecurity turns into a path to larger effectivity inside IT. They’re additionally prerequisite to succeed with AI, because it requires us to ship the precise knowledge on the proper time to the precise place or particular person. There are merely no shortcuts.”  

Above all, preventive upkeep is a prerequisite for severe data-driven work. 

“By harmonizing and maintaining observe of issues, we are able to automate, which makes us safer and offers us extra environment friendly IT,” he provides.