Forestry logistics and distribution specialists, scientists, policy makers and industry representatives will meet in Melbourne today to discuss how to improve the industry's global competitiveness.
Organised by Ensis and Innovatek, the two-day Value Chain Optimisation 2007 conference will focus on how the efficiency of supply chains impact on the ability of companies to compete in global markets. Practical updates on innovations being used by forest product companies and leading technology providers will also be covered.
Keynote speakers include: Pennsylvania State University's Professor Alan Stenger, the CEO of State Forests NSW Nick Roberts, and Aldo Cerda, Manager of Forest Industries from Chilean forestry organisation Fuundacion Chile, who will describe the synergies operating in the Chilean industry.
Ensis' Wood Processing General Manager, Dr Jamie Hague, says Australia must learn from the experiences of other wood producers around the world, including Chile, and innovate to improve efficiencies and profit.
"There is increasing global pressure for the Australian forestry industry to work together to maximise the overall net return, he says. "We need to become more sophisticated to become globally competitive." he says.
Delegates will also hear about new technologies designed to help improve industry efficiencies. Electronic traceability, which has traditionally been used in the agricultural sector, is one example.
"There is an international demand from consumers wanting to know where wood is produced and under what conditions," Dr Hague says. "Being able to electronically trace each log will become important in the future and we can learn a lot from industries such as agriculture, which have already successfully implemented these types of technologies."
Other technologies and strategies to be discussed include: remote sensing and real-time tracking of logs and wood products; innovative systems that integrate planning operations; harvesting and sales; and materials handling, packaging, freight forwarding and distribution developments.
Ensis is a forestry joint venture between CSIRO and Scion in New Zealand and Innovatek is a New Zealand technology transfer company.
Further Information:
Brent Apthorp, Innovatek +64 3 470 1902;