RAPIDCHANGE@WORK, 10.08

Values and Business Development

As the events on Wall Street last month reminded us, seeking profit without a grounding in understood common values has led many a company down a dangerous path.

One company that understands the “value of values” is NewPage Corp. of Miamisburg, OH. NewPage Corp. is North America’s largest producer of coated paper for magazines, advertisements, catalogs and the like. It was formed when Cerberus Capital purchased the business line from Mead Westvaco, which had decided to focus mostly on packaging. Earlier this year, the company nearly doubled in size when it purchased the North American mills of Finish papermaker Stora Enso.

The company has an aggressive operating model built around Lean Six Sigma and a return on invested capital that more than doubles the industry standard. But leaders are not measured by numbers alone. The company has a set of core values that are part of the evaluation process. These values create the company’s “common sense.”

Safety First: Working together so that no one gets hurt.
Integrity: Keeping promises and doing what’s right for employees, customers and the environment.
Everyone Participates: Respecting individuality, expecting active contribution and teamwork.
Candid Communications: Creating respectful two-way communications that are clear, simple and proactive.
Self-Confidence: Empowering informed decisions and intelligent risk-taking.
Best Practices: Embracing change and new ideas.
Competitive Spirit: Focusing on results.

Learn more at newpagecorp.com

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