At its corrugated sheet plant in Kennesaw, Georgia, Smurfit Westrock has built a management approach founded on safety, employee engagement and pride in workmanship.
Serving regional customers with custom corrugated packaging solutions, the facility sees operational performance as closely tied to leadership practices and workforce commitment.
According to Stephanie Martin, the plant's General Manager, the facility's greatest strength lies in its people. She points to a team committed to customer service while maintaining a safe workplace. On the production floor, the focus is on organization, housekeeping and a willingness to take on challenging projects rather than turning them away.
This approach balances high expectations with employee recognition. Plant leadership focuses on clear performance standards, prompt action when gaps arise, and open communication with employees. Explaining the reasons behind safety requirements and quality expectations, while recognizing individual contributions, is considered an essential part of the site's leadership philosophy.
Safety comes first
For Tyler Hilley, Operations Manager, a successful day begins with every employee returning home safely.
He describes an operation where teamwork, peer-to-peer training and adaptability are essential for managing the day-to-day challenges of plant operations. In his view, employee resilience and engagement are key factors in maintaining product quality and delivering reliable service to customers.
Maintenance focused on prevention
Christian Perez, Maintenance Supervisor, believes equipment reliability depends as much on people as it does on maintenance tools and preventive practices.
Training, a strong sense of belonging and close attention to detail all contribute to preventing equipment failures before they occur. He notes that even the best maintenance strategies are only effective when employees consistently apply them on the shop floor.
Continuous improvement of the work environment is also a priority. Feedback from production employees is used to make incremental changes that improve efficiency, safety and workplace comfort while strengthening employee ownership and engagement.
Through this profile of its Kennesaw facility, Smurfit Westrock illustrates a management philosophy in which safety, quality, collaboration and continuous improvement are viewed as the foundation of operational excellence. The approach reflects the growing importance of people-centric leadership in today's corrugated packaging industry.
Smurfit Westrock is one of the world's largest fiber-based packaging companies. Formed through the 2024 merger of Smurfit Kappa and WestRock, the company designs and manufactures corrugated, paperboard and paper-based packaging solutions for a wide range of consumer and industrial markets. It operates hundreds of manufacturing facilities and design centers in more than 40 countries and employs approximately 100,000 people worldwide.
