Georgia-Pacific MIQ Brings Digital Manufacturing Tools Directly to Mill Workers

Georgia-Pacific MIQ is changing how employees access operational information and maintenance resources at the company’s manufacturing facilities. The Manufacturing Intelligence Quotient (MIQ) platform brings procedures, troubleshooting guidance and essential workplace applications together in one digital location, allowing employees to retrieve information while working on the factory floor.

The system has been introduced at Georgia-Pacific’s Brewton Containerboard mill in Brewton, Alabama, and Alabama River Cellulose (ARC) mill in Perdue Hill. Following a successful pilot, the company is preparing to extend the platform to several other mills.

For employees who previously relied on numerous separate information systems, the change has significantly altered their daily working routines.

Georgia-Pacific MIQ Simplifies Access to Manufacturing Information

At the Brewton facility, employees previously had to navigate more than 60 different systems to find the information needed for their work. These included SharePoint, file servers, spreadsheets and workplace communication tools.

MIQ consolidates access to these resources, allowing employees to retrieve relevant information directly from where they are carrying out their tasks.

Waymon Neal, a utilities control room operator at the Brewton mill, has worked at the facility for 41 years. He described the platform as one of the most significant technological changes he has experienced.

“I’ve seen a lot come through in my 41 years,” Neal said. “MIQ—and having all the information right there in your hand—is one of the greatest changes I’ve seen.”

The platform is designed to make operational information more accessible, reducing the time employees spend searching across different systems and locations.

Digital Tools Reduce Time and Effort on the Factory Floor

The benefits of MIQ are particularly apparent in maintenance operations, where employees frequently need equipment details, technical information and troubleshooting instructions.

Brewton maintenance mechanic Zac Busby said the platform has reduced the amount of walking required during his working day.

“It’s been a game-changer,” Busby said. “If I had to go back to the old way, it’d add about four extra miles of walking to my day.”

His colleague Jordan Monarch highlighted the ability to retrieve equipment information quickly. By entering an equipment identification number, employees can access relevant details without searching through separate records.

The platform also allows workers to take photographs of unfamiliar equipment or components and obtain information to help resolve questions.

These capabilities are intended to make maintenance work more efficient by putting relevant information within reach when employees need it.

Supporting Mill Operations, Maintenance and Workplace Safety

MIQ is also designed to support routine manufacturing operations.

Operators can use the platform to access procedures, review equipment startup and shutdown instructions, and troubleshoot operational issues while working at their stations.

It can also help employees identify parts and communicate with colleagues elsewhere in the facility. Rather than having to locate someone physically or switch between different communication systems, workers can contact teammates directly through the platform.

At the Alabama River Cellulose mill, product unit mechanic Johnny Brock emphasised the convenience of having essential information readily available.

“Once you get used to having everything in the palm of your hand, it’d be hard to go back,” Brock said.

By making procedures and equipment information easier to retrieve, Georgia-Pacific aims to support more consistent working practices and improve access to information relevant to safe operations.

Employees Helped Develop the MIQ Platform

An important aspect of the MIQ initiative is that Georgia-Pacific developed it in collaboration with the employees expected to use it.

Rather than introducing a technology platform exclusively through a top-down management decision, the company involved operators, mechanics and mill teams in shaping its functionality.

Their practical experience and feedback helped determine which features were needed and how the system should support everyday manufacturing tasks.

This approach was intended to ensure that the technology addressed actual workplace requirements rather than simply adding another digital tool to employees’ responsibilities.

The resulting platform brings together information that workers previously accessed through multiple channels, while also helping improve communication and cooperation across different teams.

Georgia-Pacific Plans to Expand MIQ to More Mills

Following the successful pilot, Georgia-Pacific is preparing to introduce MIQ at several additional manufacturing facilities.

Jacob Turner, Brewton’s manufacturing transformation leader, said the current implementation represents only an early stage of what the platform could eventually achieve.

“We dreamed this up so well in the beginning, but we’ve only scratched the surface,” Turner said. “As more people get this in their hands, you’re going to see things we’ve never even thought of yet.”

The expansion will provide opportunities to gather further employee feedback and identify additional applications for the platform across manufacturing operations.

Georgia-Pacific’s experience with MIQ illustrates how industrial digitalisation can extend beyond large-scale machinery and automated production systems. Improving the way employees access operational knowledge, equipment information and workplace communication can also make a meaningful difference to day-to-day manufacturing activities.

As the company expands the platform, its longer-term potential will depend on how effectively it continues to address the practical needs of employees across its mills.