Young Alumnus Listed as Inventor for Pending Patent at Georgia-Pacific

While John F. Stinson’s childhood dream was playing for the Atlanta Braves, his high school teachers saw a different future for him. Little did Stinson know, that future would include being an inventor with a patent application to save his employer thousands of dollars a year.

“My teachers at Episcopal High School encouraged me in math and science,” Stinson said, “and I began to think of a career in science or engineering."

In May 2013, Stinson walked across the stage in front of hundreds in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center to receive his degree in industrial engineering from the College of Engineering. Stinson landed a job with Georgia-Pacific to be part of a major improvement project as a Process Engineer/Project Engineer at its paper mill Crossett, Arkansas.

Stinson was tasked with reducing waste on Georgia-Pacific’s Quilted Northern Ultra Soft and Strong® tissue converting lines at the Crossett plant. Trained to examine the entire process, Stinson looked at the whole papermaking and converting process to determine what was causing the majority of the waste issue.

Once he discovered the cause of the issue, he began a trial-and-error approach to fixing it. Stinson worked on several alternatives to the accepted operating procedures, but the environmental and cost aspects of this approach made the idea unworkable. After many attempts, he was finally able to develop a viable solution.

“By July 2014, I had accumulated enough data to show conclusively that the project was a success,” he said. “Shortly thereafter, Georgia-Pacific began the process of applying for a patent. This new process will be adopted at other facilities as well.”

In March, a patent application was filed by Georgia-Pacific, listing Stinson as the inventor.

Stinson credits his father, John H. Stinson III, an LSU industrial engineering 1969 graduate and member of the Dean’s Advisory Council, for his success.

Stinson explained how his father has been an inspiration to him for teaching by example over the years and continuing to do so. Most importantly, Stinson said, he learned from his father that every engineer should embody the traditional virtues of hard work, persistence, humility and integrity.

**Due to Stinson’s invention being a pending patent, his invention could not be discussed in full detail**

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Article by Erica Pater, assistant manager of external relations, LSU College of Engineering