The Final Word by Jim Thompson


I am excited about the future of our industry. Further, I do not see as mutually exclusive the development of our industry and advances in networking (the Internet). Every successful industry in the last 200-plus years has found ways to deliver product to consumers at relatively lower and lower costs while maintaining or improving their profit margins. Networking has improved and will continue to improve our ability to do this. To posit otherwise is Luddite thinking.

It is fine to look fondly at sepia-toned photographs of the pulp and paper industry of old (say, 1990). Future success, though, depends on using the latest tools, like the Internet, to lower our costs to the ultimate consumer while maintaining our margins. There is no other path to success.