Wood has a significant impact on everyday life and is a natural renewable resource that drives sustainable economic benefits to society. Today, America's forest industries confront serious challenges in globalization and a highly fragmented supply chain. Industry efforts have typically focused on specific industry segments such as primary producers (e.g., lumber mills), secondary processors (e.g., furniture manufacturers), or retailers with little attention paid to the needs of the end consumer. To promote global competitiveness and sustainable growth, the Forest Industries Center emphasizes research efforts that aim to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the entire supply chain from the perspective of the consumer.

    The Center draws on the academic resources of Virginia Tech's Pamplin College of Business and the College of Natural Resources. This cross-collaboration of researchers in business and forest and wood products enables the Center to identify barriers that limit the efficiency of the forest-to-consumer supply chain and create innovative strategies to make the U.S. industry more competitive in the global marketplace.

    The Center conducts its work through three main areas of focus: research, technology transfer, and future workforce expansion. Interdisciplinary research activities integrate a consumer-centric business model with an emphasis on effective management of the supply chain and efficient use of the natural resources. Through conferences, workshops and executive education, the Center works to communicate technical innovations to industry. Finally, active involvement of both undergraduate and graduate students in the Center's efforts promises to produce future job candidates with unmatched technical and business savvy - an important contribution to an industry faced with a shortage of talent.

    The Center has recently completed a project to develop the research agenda for the hardwood industry for the next ten years. Other current projects include an assessment of the decision rules used by veneer log buyers, consumer assessment of furniture character marks, lean manufacturing workshops, diversity management workshops, and the creation of a virtual forest industries community.

    The Center is currently in the process of developing a series of best practices databases to meet companies' benchmarking needs. For example, one database will track the flow of materials from forest to consumer, identifying key activities through the supply chain. This product will allow businesses to measure their own supply chain effectiveness as compared to those of leading companies and identify areas for improvement.