Leveraging system-integrator for better wood supply chain coordination through advanced planning
研究评估了系统集成商使用运筹学高级规划工具对木材采购决策的效益，基于一家林业公司11家工厂的真实数据，发现可减少运输成本15.44%，每立方米节省2.16美元，并提升规划质量。
Natural and extensively managed forests supply raw materials to a diversified forest industry, requiring close coordination among mills when sharing the same procurement areas. One approach to enhance procurement planning process is by employing a system-integrator, a third-party organisation responsible for collaborative, fair, and neutral planning within the supply chain. Advanced planning and scheduling tools employing Operations Research methods can significantly improve wood procurement planning performance. This study aims to quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate the benefits of advanced tools on system-integrator’s decision-making. A Design Science Research approach was developed and tested with real data from a forest management company executing the annual procurement plan for 11 mills. Results indicate potential time reduction to harvest block selection and volume allocation, and transportation costs reduction by 15.44%, saving $2.16 per m³. Interviews with stakeholders confirmed that the proposed approach enhanced plan quality, planning process quality and system-integrator’s roles and characteristics.