2016 Event Summary

FIEA's Wood Flow Optimisation is an event run every two years in both Australia and New Zealand. In 2016, over 250 forest managers, harvesting contractors and wood transport companies in the region attended. This event provided insights into innovations being developed and employed by leading forestry, wood products and transport companies. The objective, with 30% – 40% of delivered log costs being contributed by transport, was to help drive and improve efficiencies through the wood supply chain.

Local companies were keen on checking out just what innovations had been developed and how these new technologies were being employed in harvesting, loading, and transporting wood – from harvest operations through to the manufacturing plant or port.

New tools and technologies being developed and employed by leading forestry companies in conjunction with the tech providers – from automating log measurement through to loading and transport scheduling, new delivery mechanisms, innovative communication and data exchange systems being used operationally and models for improved collaboration within the wood supply chain were profiled as part of the latest technology series.

Wood Flow Optimisation 2016 again provided an independent platform for local companies. It was a unique opportunity for reviewing the very latest tools & new innovations that have been developed, adopted and used to improve planning, logistics & operations within the wood supply chain.

• Effective tools for collaboration through the wood supply chain
• Remote sensing and real-time tracking of logs and wood products
• Innovative systems to integrate planning, operations, harvesting, transport & sales
• Advances in automated measurement, materials handling, packaging, freight forwarding and distribution
• New innovations around wood harvesting, trucking, rail and shipping
• New mobile communications and options for integrating into local operations
• Developments in information technology and data management
• Impacts of robotics, automation, machine learning, telematics and UAV’s being seen in supply chain management
• Health and safety initiatives around forestry and wood transport operations
• International models that add value to supply chain management