Mike Schmitt
- Published: June 01, 2007
- President, Alcan Packaging Food Americas
- Hobbies: Enjoying my family. We travel, and I play golf and tennis.
- Recommended Reading: The Goal by Eliyahu Goldratt and The World is Flat by Thomas Friedman
How did you get into the converting business?
Michigan State's packaging undergraduate degree was a focused technical degree that really appealed to me. So, I obtained my degree from Michigan State and got into the packaging business right out of college.
How would you describe your management style?
Be open, be engaged, and give employees the latitude to make decisions and do their jobs.
What is your key to retaining good employees?
People need challenging assignments. Level of compensation has less to do with retaining employees than people think. It is also important to develop people. Internal and/or external training is an excellent investment.
What is the key to growing a business in a bad economy?
Stay lean and efficient at all times. Being lean and efficient in good times helps you weather bad times. Diversification is very important as well. And, of course, you have to stay focused on the customer.
What is the biggest threat to the converting industry right now?
For packaging converters, volatility in the cost of raw materials is always difficult to manage, but that has been a persistent condition that never seems to change. Some in the industry are concerned about the growth of sourcing from low-cost countries. Some may even feel threatened by increased competition from developing countries. That is unfortunate, because with the global market comes great opportunity.
What is the biggest mistake you made and how did you fix it?
I didn't stop the construction of a new facility although I knew it was a bad decision. I inherited the project. I was new to my position and felt maybe I didn't have a full understanding of the business. But my assessment was right, and as a result, we had to close the plant four years later.
What's the best advice you ever got?
I used to have a boss who asked, “Is what we're doing fair?” I feel the same way. Everything we do should meet the test of fairness.
What are you most proud of in your business?
I am most proud of our efforts in the area of environment, health, and safety. We're an industry leader in this regard. We are constantly reducing waste and emissions, increasing recycling, and working to ensure the health and safety of our workers.
What advice would you give someone just starting out in business?
Diversify your experience. Try to get experience all over the world, across your business. This helps you gain perspective.
What is the worst advice you ever got?
To continue building that plant!
At a Glance
Alcan Packaging Food Americas
8770 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.
Chicago, IL 60631
23 plants; 5,000 employees
Specialty: flex-pack
