Smart Wood Supply Chain Management

The mega trend of the digitalization – Industry 4.0 – has also reached the forest-wood-supply chain. It is valid to detect and use the most recent as well as future developments of the new digital solutions on an operational and strategic level. A utility-oriented migration approach is needed to implement the Industry 4.0 purposefully into the silvicultural and timber industry practice. This approach is the basis of our research project.

The aim of this project is to identify and to value the potentials of Industry 4.0 in the forest-wood-supply chain across the supply chain’s borders. Therefore, we use methods of the classic investment calculation, finance, benefit analysis, risk management and also institutional economic approaches like the principal-agent-theory. It will be explored in detail, where the operational potentials of Industry 4.0 in the optimization of existing supply chain processes are and where the strategic potentials of Industry 4.0 to develop existing or design new business models are. Establishing this knowledge the economic, ecological and social utility of this potential will be valued with a differentiated and integrated assessment.

With the results the research project is not just a foundation for further research in the range of wood supply 4.0, it is especially the first step on the way to implementing Industry 4.0 purposefully into the forestry and timber industry practice.


Person in charge:

Hoffmann, C.; Paul, C.

 

Funded by:

Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe (FNR) – A project executing agency of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture

 

Project partner:

Abteilung Arbeitswissenschaft und Verfahrenstechnologie (Georg-August-Universität Göttingen)

Forstliches Bildungszentrum für Waldarbeit und Forsttechnik (Landesbetrieb Wald und Holz NRW)

Professur für Forst- und Umweltpolitik (Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg)


Duration:

01.11.2019 bis 31.10.2022