Shell Polymers: Let’s change the supplier-converter relationship

What if a supplier did more than creating and shipping what you ask for? What if a supplier cared about the converters they work with, and what if they worked to create a different kind of supplier-converter relationship?

At Shell Polymers, which has now started operations at its state-of-theart Pennsylvania polyethylene plant, we put the needs of the customer first. That’s why we’re transforming how converters interact with their suppliers by playing a proactive role in the relationship. Or should we say, (Real)ationship. No, that’s not a typo. A (Real)ationship describes our commitment to ensuring our customers are heard. What does that look like in practice? Well, for us, it means forming true connections with you, our customer, as we get to know you, understand your problems, and work together to solve them.

We know you need more than a reliable supply of high-quality polyethylene. Converters desire transparent customer service, technical insights, and a supplier who works collaboratively to solve problems.

Don’t add more stress: You’ve got a tough job, and added stress shouldn’t come from your supplier. You already oversee purchasing, forecasting, price negotiations, project management, and more. So you don’t need your suppliers creating any new headaches.

Beyond resin supply: We truly believe that it’s no longer enough for suppliers to just be a resin seller. Instead, we aim to keep the lines of communication open with our customers so we can understand what’s challenging you today and what we should be focusing on down the road. To do that we make it a point to keep our fingers on the pulse on how you, and others in the industry, are feeling. 

What challenges are you facing day-to-day? Do you feel like you’re being heard? Is someone in your corner providing solutions for your specific needs?

Custom-built for your needs: That need for real relationships — what we call (Real)ationships — has inspired how we’ve designed and built our team, our plant, and our processes – to put customers like you at the center of our decision-making. Aligning our account managers, customer service, and technical experts in this way allows us to respond to your business’s unique challenges.

With commercial operations now underway, our team is generating hard and soft data during every customer interaction. We will use those insights to help amplify the customer voice and guide how we do business.

By understanding how our customers feel through conversations and surveys, we will take what our customers have to say about their experiences and couple that with operational metrics to turn words and insights into actions. These actions will turn into new processes and solutions that directly benefit our customers. By listening to our customers and creating solutions to address their challenges, we’ll put together a feedback loop that constantly improves how we work with converters. We know that your needs will continue to evolve and change, so the more you share feedback with us, the more everyone can benefit.

These interactions and feedback could change anything from how we communicate with customers to the products that we offer to them. In the end, the goal is the same: To bring value to your business through high-quality resin and a tailored customer experience you can count on.

Technology is the lifeblood of productivity in today’s world. Tracking shipments shouldn’t be as complicated as it is when other industries, like pizza delivery companies, let customers track orders in real time. If it’s possible to track your Friday dinner, shouldn’t it be possible to track your polyethylene shipment? Understanding your challenges is the first step of a (Real)ationship. And once we understand those challenges, we intend to build real solutions by using state-of-the-art technology. 

Shell Polymers’ plant in Monaca, PA is backed by an all-star leadership team of Polymer Pioneers who are focused on building (Real)ationships every step of the way.

These dedicated leaders will help us forge new kinds of relationships in the polyethylene industry. At the end of the day, they know that supplying polyethylene – even our diligently tested resin grades – is only table stakes for a true relationship with customers.

In this business, as in any business, it’s always the people that matter. In addition to leading the project with integrity, these leaders are dedicated to bringing on a diverse range of team members to build (Real)ationships that serve our customers. 

Over the last several years, we’ve rallied passionate industry leaders, such as Senior Technical Service Engineers, Dan Falla and Carl Baker, to help us accomplish our goals and support customers with their breadth of knowledge and industry expertise. Together, this team of technical professionals has extensive polyethylene experience that our customers can leverage.

Our team has in-depth knowledge of polyethylene and how it can benefit polyethylene converters specializing in injection molding, blow molding, rotational molding, film, sheet extrusion, and pipe extrusion. It’s another layer that adds to the creation of long-lasting (Real)ationships.

The polyethylene industry is evolving. Converters expect more than just the product they’ve ordered. Suppliers can take numerous steps to better enable converter success.

At Shell Polymers, we’re committed to doing much more for converters than simply making and shipping them resin. We characterize this approach to the customer as (Real)ationships.

At Shell Polymers, we’re committed to being a different kind of polyethylene supplier — the kind that always puts plastic converters’ unique needs first — and we’ve conducted extensive industry research to understand just what those needs are.

The result? An accessible Northeastern plant, diverse PE expertise, supply chain efficiencies, cutting-edge technology, and more to help you maintain a competitive edge in an ever-evolving industry.

While we’re proud of our innovative processes and ways of working, we’re most excited to forge real connections with plastic converters like you.

In the end, our greatest differentiator from the competition -- and value to you -- comes from (Real)ationships. It’s a twist on today’s traditional supplier relationship and a promise that we’ll keep you at the forefront of all we do. This people-first mentality, combined with the deep experience and technological expertise of Shell Polymers, means we are uniquely suited to help move your business forward.

For further information, please visit our website at www.shell.com/polymers