Newsletter: Center Focus Fall 2011

To see the full newsletter, click on the image below.  It is starting to cool off, the students are taking all the parking spots, and the Hokies won their first football games of the season. Therefore, it must be fall in Blacksburg and classes are in full swing. We had an earthquake and hurricane hit … Continue reading “Newsletter: Center Focus Fall 2011”

To see the full newsletter, click on the image below. 

It is starting to cool off, the students are taking all the parking spots, and the Hokies won their first football games of the season. Therefore, it must be fall in Blacksburg and classes are in full swing. We had an earthquake and hurricane hit the state within one week, which many believe has something to do with our proximity to Wash-ington, D.C. The old Chinese saying, “May you live in interesting times,” is considered both a blessing and a curse. One thing is for certain, these are in-teresting times.

It is starting to cool off, the students are taking all the parking spots, and the Hokies won their first football games of the season. Therefore, it must be fall in Blacksburg and classes are in full swing. We had an earthquake and hurricane hit the state within one week, which many believe has something to do with our proximity to Wash-ington, D.C. The old Chinese saying, “May you live in interesting times,”  is considered both a blessing and a curse. One thing is for certain, these are in-teresting times.

I wrote in our center annual report that if we listen to the media long enough, we should either hide in a cave or jump off a cliff. However, working with students on campus is refreshing, and they provide hope for our future. In my sales courses, I teach a section on staying positive, and here is a fact that I share during my presentations. Statistics (those numbers we make up to give creditability to what we are about to say) indicate that the average child smiles or laughs 300 times a day before the age of five. The average adult smiles less than 30 times a day. Why the disparity? I believe that children don’t read the news and are not impacted by those around them as much as adults. I personally think this reduction in enjoyment is something we should be extremely concerned about. Of all the indicators of successful leadership, having and showing a positive atti-tude is one of the highest ranked traits (yes, more statistics).

Continue reading “Newsletter: Center Focus Fall 2011”

WORSHOP: Maintaining a Sustainable Business in Today’s Market

 The Department of Wood Science and Forest Products at Virginia Teach announces the upcoming workshop “Maintaining a Sustainable Business in Today’s Market” to be prsented during the 2012 Expo Richmond. Program Description Today’s wood products business environment is more challenging than ever before. The markets have changed, changes to business occur faster, and competition is … Continue reading “WORSHOP: Maintaining a Sustainable Business in Today’s Market”

 The Department of Wood Science and Forest Products at Virginia Teach announces the upcoming workshop “Maintaining a Sustainable Business in Today’s Market” to be prsented during the 2012 Expo Richmond.

Program Description

Today’s wood products business environment is more challenging than ever before. The markets have changed, changes to business occur faster, and competition is fierce. This program will focus on how to maintain a sustainable business in today’s market by providing a brief insight into future conditions, providing strategies to increase effectiveness and competitiveness, and reduce costs. This course is designed for anyone involved with the operation and management of a wood products business.

Tentative Agenda

  • A glimpse of the Future.
  • Product Costing for Wood Products Firms.
  • Supply Chain Management Update
  • Lean Supply Chain
  • Energy Savings
  • Energy Consumption in the Hardwood Industry                
  • Sustainability: A Threat or an Opportunity?
  • Buying into Sustainability

 A brochure can be downloaded here Education Session VFPA 2012

Registration

 Investment to attend the workshop is $60. This includes materials and two coffee breaks. Lunch is on your own. Please follow this link to register for the workshop: http://www.cpe.vt.edu/reg/msbtm/

 

Center for Forest Products Business 2010-2011 Report Available

Letter from the Director I always enjoy sitting down and writing this letter. It reminds me of why I joined higher education after 15 years in the private sector, and why I love coming to work every day. It’s about the friendships we have established over the years and the hope that our work at … Continue reading “Center for Forest Products Business 2010-2011 Report Available”

Letter from the Director

I always enjoy sitting down and writing this letter. It reminds me of why I joined higher education after 15 years in the private sector, and why I love coming to work every day. It’s about the friendships we have established over the years and the hope that our work at the Center has positively impacted your businesses. Some of you have graduated from the department and now are leaders in your companies.

Some of you have used our research to make improved products to serve your customers better, and some of you have been supporters to help students meet their financial or educational needs. Whatever the reason, we greatly appreciate this great partnership which is now 20 years old. We are the oldest active industrial center in the college, and have changed over the years to meet your needs and our students’ needs for the 21st Century.

Continue reading “Center for Forest Products Business 2010-2011 Report Available”

UNECE/FAO 2010-2011 Forest Products Annual Market Review is available

The UNECE/FAO Forest Products Annual Market Review, 2010-2011 provides general and statistical information on forest products markets in 2010 and early 2011 in the UN Economic Commission for Europe region (Europe, North America and Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia) The Review begins with an overview chapter, followed by a description of the economic situation of … Continue reading “UNECE/FAO 2010-2011 Forest Products Annual Market Review is available”

The UNECE/FAO Forest Products Annual Market Review, 2010-2011 provides general and statistical information on forest products markets in 2010 and early 2011 in the UN Economic Commission for Europe region (Europe, North America and Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia)

The Review begins with an overview chapter, followed by a description of the economic situation of forest products markets in the region. It then presents the policy implications of market developments in the region .

Market developments in five standard sectors, based on annual country-supplied statistics, are described for wood raw materials, sawn softwood, sawn hardwood, wood-based panels and paper and paperboard.

Regular chapters discuss markets for wood energy, certified forest products, carbon, value-added wood products and tropical timber. There is also a special chapter with a brief review of market developments in China.  In each chapter production, trade and consumption are analysed and relevant development on specific markets and policies are included.

Tables included with the text present summary statistical information. Additional statistical tables are available below.

The above publication is available in PDF format. To read documents in PDF format you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. This software is free-of-charge and is available from the official Adobe  website.

Taller: Valor Agregado en la Industria de la Madera

                                         Este taller está diseñado para que empresas tanto del sector primario (aserrío, productos arquitectónicos, y compuestos) como secundario (muebles) se pueden familiarizar con los procesos más importantes de la cadena de valor de producción de productos forestales. El curso pretende establecer las bases para entender el comportamiento de la madera como material biológico, … Continue reading “Taller: Valor Agregado en la Industria de la Madera”

                      

                 

Este taller está diseñado para que empresas tanto del sector primario (aserrío, productos arquitectónicos, y compuestos) como secundario (muebles) se pueden familiarizar con los procesos más importantes de la cadena de valor de producción de productos forestales. El curso pretende establecer las bases para entender el comportamiento de la madera como material biológico, técnicas apropiadas para elevar los rendimientos y disminuir los costos en los procesos de manufactura, así como dar a conocer herramientas necesarias para la planificación estratégica, mercadotecnia, y cadena de abastecimiento.

 Objetivo

 Brindar los conocimientos más importantes para la correcta administración de los procesos de la cadena de valor agregado en la producción de productos forestales.

Temática

Estado actual y futuro del sector forestal costarricense: Esta charla tiene como objetivo el presentar el estado actual del sector forestal costarricense, así como el camino a seguir para los próximos 20 años. Se cubrirán aspectos relacionados con administración forestal, política, y estructura del sector productivo forestal.

Rendimientos en aserrío. El objetivo de esta charla es presentar las técnicas de aserrío más apropiadas para elevar los rendimientos y disminuir costos operativos. Se expondrán ejemplos utilizando diferentes especies, diámetros de trozas, y en varios tipos de aserraderos.

Continue reading “Taller: Valor Agregado en la Industria de la Madera”