WS Packaging grows its label and package printing busines through acquisition and lean manufacturing practices.

By Sue Busch

The notion of strategically teaming business management experts and printing experts to accomplish leaner operations firmly took root when WS Packaging Group—originally formed with the merger of Wisconsin Label Corporation and Superior Label Systems in 2000—was acquired by private equity firm J.W. Childs in 2006. Today, this talent mix consistently characterizes WS Packaging's leadership. "As a management team, our whole is greater than the sum of the parts," says Lane. "It's very exciting to have the shared vision that we do."