Featuring Gouri Shankar Patnaik, GM (QA & TS) J K Paper

About Gouri Shankar Patnaik, GM (QA & TS) J K Paper

Mr. Patnaik is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in Quality Assurance, Technical Services, and Product Development in both coated and uncoated grades of paper. He began his career at J K Paper Mills in 1985 and has held senior roles at industry leaders including Sinarmas Pulp and Paper Ltd, BILT, Century Pulp & Paper, and ITC.

An active member of TAPPI, QCFI, FICCI, IPMA, and IPPTA, and a qualified NABL Assessor, he has contributed widely to technical services, product development, and water management. Mr. Patnaik is also an accomplished author, having published “Quality Assurance in Industry”, awarded the International Excellence Award 2023, and “Relationship Revolution – Transforming Customers into Brand Ambassadors”, which has received strong market response.

1. How Quality Assurance and Technical Services framework evolved in recent years to meet the growing demands of global markets:

Quality Assurance system got matured over a period of time. QA & TS framework is as follows:

• Input raw materials and packing material inspection and approval.

• In-process intermediate product testing at regular intervals.

• Product testing for relevant test parameters as per product requirement.

• Product audits at post manufacturing areas like finishing house and warehouse.

• New product/input chemicals & raw materials and process development.

• Statistical quality control.

• Quality awareness to process crew.

• After sales technical services.

2.What role does quality assurance play in differentiating products in today’s highly competitive pulp and paper industry?

Close watch over laid down specifications critical to quality

No product is released to market which are not conforming to specifications

State of the art equipments (Autolines) are used for testing and equipments are calibrated regularly for accurate results

Replication of activities happening at customer’s end with prototypes in Laboratory (Printing prototypes for both coated and uncoated paper and paper boards).

Data monitoring Statistically

Inspection during production, conversion, and pre-dispatch inspections on continuous basis

Providing technical services to customers proactively

3.Could you share insights into how customer feedback and technical services are integrated into product development and improvement at?

There is a wing of Technical Services sitting in marketing offices across four corners of the country, and for overseas markets as well.

They are on regular touch with customers.

Cross functional teams from Mill visit proactively every month to major cities to meet the customers and discuss their developmental plans. Ask them how can we be helpful to them in their journey of development. According to their future needs we try to develop new products or improvise the existing ones.

4.With sustainability becoming central to business strategies, how does the QA & TS division contribute to achieving sustainability and circular economy goals?

We have an R&D division which works relentlessly to get something new/wealth out of waste. Our entire solid waste is utilized inside the mill starting from wood yard to effluent sludge. We produce methanol from SOG Gases, PCC out of Carbon dioxide, energy out of wood dust and steam and energy out of black liquor.

5.What are the most critical quality parameters customers in domestic and export markets look for, and how does ensure consistent delivery?

It depends on the product you manufacture and end use. All products do not require same parameters to be critical to quality. Critical to quality parameters differ from product to product and even customer to customers. We produce customised products as well according to customer’s need.

6.Digitalization and Industry 4.0 have entered the pulp and paper sector—how is leveraging digital tools in QA and technical services?

Started digitalization journey in 2020. We are first in India to be awarded for Digitization among all industries in India. Entire mill is digitized, and lot of work is going on from pulp mill to production including Quality Assurance.

7.How important are certifications and compliance standards (such as FSC, PEFC, ISO) for competitive positioning, and what challenges do they bring?

It is a must for all industries to have compliance standards. It not only to show up in the market but also smoothens the processes you have, and entire system gets disciplined, and work goes smoothly without ambiguities.

8. Can you share examples where technical services significantly resolved a client’s challenge or led to a new product innovation?

There are lot of examples available across my journey of 40 years. Take an example of multinational company put up a line for soap packing with a speed of 8000 packs/min but to their surprise they could not go beyond 5000 packs. When we visited their plant, the team had put up the issue. We studied the issue at length and decided to improvise the product and send some trial material. After some time we got a very big thanks message saying that they could increase speed by 1000 packs instantly. Our study worked for them, and customer got delighted.

In some cases, we send our technical team from shopfloor to resolve their issues in process.

9.Looking at India’s paper industry landscape, how do you see the role of technical services evolving for customer engagement and value creation over the next five years?

Now-a-days industries are appointing technical services guys to resolve customer issues. It is very important for us and customers as well. It keeps us connected with the customers. Even few of the bigger corporates appoint printing/packaging technologists for this purpose. They can contribute to new product development as well.

10.What advice would you give to young engineers or professionals aiming to build a career in Quality Assurance and Technical Services within the pulp and paper industry?

Please join Quality Assurance and Technical Services. It is the knowledge hub. Quality is when customer returns, not when product returns. You can understand the importance of Quality Assurance in any industry you work. People grow very fast with first hand overall knowledge gains across the production line and other allied systems required for production. Commonly successful corporates introduce young talents in Quality Assurance to understand product quality and its importance, then sends to production lines to gro