“The BatchMaster support team worked diligently with us on all issues.”

Irene Jordan

Manager Information Technology

International Paper

Company Name

International Paper

Location

Memphis, TN

Industry

Paper and Packaging

Solution

BatchMaster Desktop

Systems Replaced

BatchMaster DOS Version

International Paper Improves Inventory Visibility, Formula Management, and Operational Efficiency with BatchMaster ERP

International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a global leader in paper and packaging with manufacturing operations spanning North America, Europe, Latin America, Russia, Asia, and North Africa. Headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, the company employs more than 50,000 people across more than 20 countries.

Within International Paper is a water-based flexographic ink division operating across 11 North American locations. This division supports customer packaging requirements through highly specialized manufacturing processes that depend on accurate formulations, inventory control, and timely production management.

As business volumes and operational complexity increased, the company recognized the need for a more advanced manufacturing and ERP platform to support real-time visibility, improved reporting, and better operational decision-making.

Challenges

Prior to implementing BatchMaster ERP, International Paper relied on a semi-custom mainframe-based system for inventory, sales, and purchase order management. Over time, the limitations of the legacy environment became increasingly difficult to manage.

1. Limited Inventory Visibility Across Locations

The company needed immediate access to inventory information across multiple manufacturing sites to support purchasing and production decisions in real time.

Inventory updates were often delayed because administrative staff entered transactions later rather than directly from the production floor, leading to inconsistencies and further delays.

2. Complex Formula and Laboratory Management

Thousands of formulations were being maintained through a combination of legacy systems and spreadsheets, making formula management difficult and time-consuming.

The company needed greater control, flexibility, and visibility into formulation data to support product development and operational consistency.

3. Increasing Operational Complexity

As customer order patterns fluctuated and production demands increased, maintaining safety stock levels and managing short material situations became increasingly expensive.

The organization needed better tools to improve purchasing decisions, reduce shortages, and increase overall operational efficiency.

4. Outdated Technology Infrastructure

The existing mainframe environment no longer supported the company’s long-term operational goals. International Paper wanted to modernize its technology platform, eliminate manual processes, and create a single, reliable source of operational data.

Solution

International Paper first implemented the DOS version of BatchMaster in 1998 to improve real-time inventory control across multiple manufacturing sites.

The company later transitioned to BatchMaster Enterprise, moving from a DOS and Btrieve environment to a Windows and Microsoft SQL-based platform. The migration was led internally by Irene Jordan and a small consulting team working closely with BatchMaster consultants.

The implementation allowed International Paper to modernize operations while eliminating outdated workflows that had previously been required to compensate for limitations in older manufacturing software.

BatchMaster ERP became the operational foundation for:

Real-time inventory management
Formula and laboratory management
Purchasing and procurement visibility
Quality reporting and analysis
Production and batch reporting
Operational dashboards and analytics

Key Results

1. Improved Inventory Visibility and Accuracy

One of the most significant improvements was gaining real-time visibility into inventory across manufacturing locations.

Inventory updates now occur immediately as production batches are closed on the manufacturing floor, eliminating delays caused by separate administrative entry processes.

This real-time visibility enabled purchasing teams to:

2. Increased Efficiency in Formula Management

BatchMaster ERP provided International Paper with far greater flexibility and control over formulation management.

The laboratory and formulation functionality allowed the company to manage thousands of formulations more efficiently while supporting ongoing product development and operational consistency.

The team also leveraged SQL-based reporting and queries to analyze formulation effectiveness, profitability, and ingredient usage.

This included:

According to Doug Miller, Product Development Lab Manager, “With BatchMaster, you’re limited only by your imagination when it comes to the business analysis and reporting capabilities available through the system.”

3. Reduction in Batch Reporting Errors

By enabling production personnel to enter data directly into the system at batch close, International Paper reduced manual reporting delays and minimized errors associated with duplicate or delayed entry processes.

The result was more accurate operational data and faster access to critical manufacturing information.

4. Enhanced Reporting and Business Intelligence

BatchMaster Enterprise’s Microsoft SQL foundation significantly expanded reporting and analytics capabilities across the organization.

The company developed custom Crystal Reports to support purchasing, inventory management, quality analysis, and operational planning.

Over time, dynamic dashboards further improved visibility into:

5. Strong Partnership and User Adoption

International Paper credited the BatchMaster support and consulting teams for helping ensure a successful transition to the new platform.

“The transition from DOS and Btrieve to Windows and MS SQL was certainly a challenge,” said Irene Jordan, IT Manager at International Paper. “But the BatchMaster support team worked diligently with us on all issues.”

As the organization continued to identify new ways to improve operations with BatchMaster ERP, additional licenses were deployed to support more users across North America.

Looking Ahead

Today, BatchMaster ERP remains a core operational platform supporting International Paper’s manufacturing, purchasing, quality, and inventory management processes.

By modernizing its technology infrastructure and improving visibility across operations, the company gained stronger control over production, inventory, compliance, and costs while increasing throughput and profitability.

Miller summarized the company’s experience simply, “I’m sold on BatchMaster Enterprise. It’s a robust application, and it works.”

About BatchMaster Software

BatchMaster Software is a leading provider of ERP solutions that help growing formula-based manufacturers streamline operations, reduce costs, and comply with stringent regulatory mandates. BatchMaster ERP is designed specifically for the Food, Nutraceuticals, Cosmetics, Pharmaceuticals, Chemicals, and Specialty Manufacturing industries, and can be deployed on-premise or in the cloud.