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Trends and Challenges for Management in Wood-Based Sector in the...
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Trends and Challenges for Management in Wood-Based Sector in the Digital Age

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Wood Science and Forest Products".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2025) | Viewed by 6203

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jože Kropivšek

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Guest Editor
Department for Wood Science and Technology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Interests: digitalization; management and organization; competencies; leadership; cost and calculations; bioeconomy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Darko Motik

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Guest Editor
Department for Production Management, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: marketing and innovations in wood industry; trade of wood and wood products; wood products market research; cost and calculations of processes in wood industry; bio-economy; circular economy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Branko Glavonjic

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Guest Editor
Faculty of Forestry, University of Belgrade, 11030 Beograd, Serbia
Interests: market research and forecasting of market trends in the forest sector; techno-economic analyzing of production processes in wood-based industries; woody biomass; wood energy and forest products
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The business environment has considerably changed in recent years. The main drivers of these changes are digitalization and concern for the environment and natural resources. Companies (and societies) are integrating digital technologies into all aspects of their business activities with the aim of increasing competitiveness and efficiency and promoting innovation. This includes transforming business models, strategic thinking, and customer relationships, thus enabling companies to adapt the way they work, communicate, and create value. However, these changes also bring with them numerous challenges regarding management. In addition, the requirements for sustainability and the implementation of circular economy concepts in business extend far beyond the boundaries of individual business units. Therefore, these changes must happen throughout the entire value chain, including the forest-wood value chain. Articles addressing the changes in the management of the wood-based sector, focusing on digitalization and sustainability, and offering innovative solutions to these challenges will be considered for this Special Issue. Original papers, reviews, and short communications are all welcome.

Dr. Jože Kropivšek
Prof. Dr. Darko Motik
Prof. Dr. Branko Glavonjic
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • wood industry
  • management
  • digitalization
  • digital competences
  • green economy
  • sustainable management, forest-wood value chain
  • wood products
  • trade

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 1349 KB  
Article
The Impact of Supply and Demand Shocks on Chinese Wood Market
by Yeheng Jiang, Haiying Su and Weicong Qian
Forests 2025, 16(8), 1231; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16081231 - 26 Jul 2025
Viewed by 502
Abstract
China’s timber market is very complex and heterogeneous, and is experiencing the impact of the construction of national reserve forests and the downturn in the real estate sector. By setting up a partial equilibrium model which reflects the heterogeneity of China’s wood market, [...] Read more.
China’s timber market is very complex and heterogeneous, and is experiencing the impact of the construction of national reserve forests and the downturn in the real estate sector. By setting up a partial equilibrium model which reflects the heterogeneity of China’s wood market, not only difference among domestic timber groups can be identified, but the dissimilarity of imported timber can also be differentiated from the aspects of species and sources. This model is capable of capturing the effects of macroeconomic conditions, forestry sector policies, and trade cost variations on China’s timber market structure. According to simulations of supply shocks, China’s large-diameter log capacity enhancement will have a noticeable crowding-out effect on imported timber, suggesting the diameter of logs is an important factor for market entities to make trade-offs between domestic and imported timber. Amidst both supply and demand shocks, the equilibrium quantity changes in China’s domestic small-diameter logs and imported timber are dominated by demand shocks, whereas the equilibrium quantity change in China’s domestic large-diameter logs is dominated by supply shocks; moreover, only domestic large-diameter logs realize quantity increase in double shocks; this improves China’s domestic timber supply structure, and is a good example of “opportunities in crisis” in the face of negative demand shocks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends and Challenges for Management in Wood-Based Sector in the Digital Age)
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21 pages, 964 KB  
Article
Innovation in Timber Processing—A Case Study on Low-Grade Resource Utilisation for High-Grade Timber Products
by Sebastian Klein, Benoit Belleville, Giorgio Marfella, Rodney Keenan and Robert L. McGavin
Forests 2025, 16(7), 1127; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16071127 - 8 Jul 2025
Viewed by 647
Abstract
Native forest timber supplies are declining, and industry needs to do more with less to meet growing demand for wood products. An Australian-based, vertically integrated timber manufacturing business is commissioning a spindleless lathe to produce engineered wood products from small logs. The literature [...] Read more.
Native forest timber supplies are declining, and industry needs to do more with less to meet growing demand for wood products. An Australian-based, vertically integrated timber manufacturing business is commissioning a spindleless lathe to produce engineered wood products from small logs. The literature on innovation in timber manufacturing was found to generally focus on technical innovation, with relatively little use of market-oriented concepts and theory. This was particularly true in the Australian context. Using a market-oriented case study approach, this research assessed innovation in the business. It aimed to inform industry-wide innovation approaches to meet market demand in the face of timber supply challenges. Interviews were conducted with key personnel at the firm. Data and outputs were produced to facilitate comparison to existing research and conceptual frameworks. The business was found to empower key staff and willingly access knowledge, information and data from outside its corporate domain. It was also found to prioritise corporate goals outside of traditional goals of profit and competitive advantage. This was shown to increase willingness to try new things at the mill and increase the chances that new approaches would succeed. Thinking outside of the corporate domain was shown to allow access to resources that the firm could not otherwise count on. It is recommended that wood processing businesses seek to emulate this element of the case study, and that academia and the broader sector examine further the potential benefits of using enterprise and market-oriented lenses to better utilise available resources and maintain progress towards corporate goals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends and Challenges for Management in Wood-Based Sector in the Digital Age)
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15 pages, 3525 KB  
Article
Digitization and Virtualization of Wood Products for Its Commercial Use
by Ladislav Odstrčil, Peter Valent, Vladislav Kaputa and Marek Fabrika
Forests 2024, 15(12), 2263; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15122263 - 23 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1114
Abstract
Augmented reality (AR) offers several advantages in the commercialization of wood products, increasing both the efficiency and the attractiveness of the process of presenting and selling them. The digitization and virtualization of wood features/products for the purpose of their economic valorization represent a [...] Read more.
Augmented reality (AR) offers several advantages in the commercialization of wood products, increasing both the efficiency and the attractiveness of the process of presenting and selling them. The digitization and virtualization of wood features/products for the purpose of their economic valorization represent a significant advance in technology and its application in traditional industries such as wood processing and trade. We present a concrete process of digitization and virtualization of wood features through AR for the purpose of its commercial valorization. Three methods of object scanning are tested: convergent photogrammetry, LiDAR scanning using an iPhone, and handheld scanners. Wood samples with different textures, shapes, and surface properties were used for the research, while each method was tested on a trio of models. The methods showed specific limitations: convergent photogrammetry is time-consuming and prone to human error, LiDAR iPhone scanning provides lower output quality and struggles with reflective surfaces, while handheld scanners are expensive and require additional tools for capturing color. Convergent photogrammetry was evaluated as the optimal and available method for the widest range of users. The 3D models were integrated into the Virtual Wood Market application, created in the Unreal Engine environment. The use of augmented reality in wood product commercialization offers significant benefits, including enhanced material efficiency, improved design and fabrication processes, better supply chain management, and increased customer engagement. These advantages can lead to more sustainable practices and higher customer satisfaction, ultimately driving the success of wood product commercialization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends and Challenges for Management in Wood-Based Sector in the Digital Age)
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20 pages, 707 KB  
Article
Evaluating Alternative Transformation Pathways of Wood-Based Bioeconomy: Application of an Input–Output Model
by Domen Arnič, Efstratios Loizou, Špela Ščap, Peter Prislan and Luka Juvančič
Forests 2024, 15(12), 2084; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15122084 - 26 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1259
Abstract
The wood-based bioeconomy is one of the main pillars of sustainable transformation and decarbonisation of the economy, as it promotes the use of renewable resources, reduces reliance on fossil fuels, and supports the development of eco-friendly industries. The paper provides quantitative insight into [...] Read more.
The wood-based bioeconomy is one of the main pillars of sustainable transformation and decarbonisation of the economy, as it promotes the use of renewable resources, reduces reliance on fossil fuels, and supports the development of eco-friendly industries. The paper provides quantitative insight into the potential impacts of transformation of the wood-based bioeconomy in Slovenia, a small, export-oriented economy with ample, but sub-optimally used, forest resources. The analysis uses an input–output (I-O) model to estimate I-O multipliers of sectors representing the wood-based bioeconomy and to capture their direct and indirect impacts on the Slovenian economy. The baseline performance of the wood bioeconomy sectors and their potential to induce economic activity (Scenario A) are estimated with an adjusted I-O model (based on the national I-O table for 2015), in which hybrid sectors are divided into conventional and bio-based segments. Alternative transformation pathways are translated into four additional scenarios. While Scenario B foresees progress in efficiency and integration within the existing structure of transactions, Scenario C (increased energy use of wood biomass) and Scenarios D/D+ (technology- and capital-intensive restructuring) represent two extreme restructuring pathways of the sector. The results of scenario analysis with the I-O model show that the changes in the input requirement structure of the Slovenian wood-based bioeconomy could result in up to a 17% increase in total output, up to a 20% increase in the number of employees, and up to a 16% increase in incomes, all of them attributed to the most optimistic scenario (D+). The results of the study provide quantified assessments underpinning strategic planning for the wood-based bioeconomy, both in the industry and public policy spheres. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends and Challenges for Management in Wood-Based Sector in the Digital Age)
16 pages, 1559 KB  
Article
Environmental Assessment of Forest-Based Industry Products with CAD-Integrated LCA Tools: A Comparative Case Study of Selected Software
by Katarina Remic, Leon Oblak, Manja Kitek Kuzman, Teja Bizjak Govedič and Bojan Dolšak
Forests 2024, 15(11), 1909; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15111909 - 29 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1696
Abstract
The study evaluates how the environmental impacts of wooden products could be assessed in the early stages of product development using CAD-integrated life cycle assessment (LCA) tools. Focusing on a wooden chair design, the study compares the environmental impact results derived from LCA [...] Read more.
The study evaluates how the environmental impacts of wooden products could be assessed in the early stages of product development using CAD-integrated life cycle assessment (LCA) tools. Focusing on a wooden chair design, the study compares the environmental impact results derived from LCA tools integrated in SolidWorks, NX and Fusion against a traditional LCA analysis performed using SimaPro. Methods involve analysing a chair model to measure the environmental impacts across different life cycle phases, such as material extraction and manufacturing. The results reveal that manufacturing processes, particularly electricity use, significantly contribute to environmental impacts, especially marine and freshwater ecotoxicity. Comparisons between LCA tools integrated into commercial CAD software and SimaPro 9.5.0.1. showed that while the tools deliver comparable results for global warming potential and other categories, they struggle with certain impact categories. The main distinguishing features of the results were methodological. Overall, the results aligned the most with the impact values calculated in Solidworks Sustainability. The study concludes that CAD-integrated tools are useful for early-stage environmental assessments but have limitations, particularly in their material databases and life cycle scope. For a comprehensive assessment, combining these tools with more detailed analysis methods may be necessary. The research suggests improvements for CAD-based tools to enhance their effectiveness in evaluating the environmental impact of wooden products. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Trends and Challenges for Management in Wood-Based Sector in the Digital Age)
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