Forest Operation Review

The Official Publication of the Forest Resources Association

Wood Supply Research Institute Update

“Marketing and Implementing the Research”

Did you know that you had at your fingertips information with potential for improving your business’s bottom line?

And at no charge?

WSRI has completed 18 Research Projects since it was formed in 2000. The general data for these reports are available to any interested party in a number of ways.

When WSRI was formed, the general concept was for WSRI to provide the research members requested but to leave implementation up to the membership. While this concept remains in place today, the WSRI Board of Directors and the FRA Supply Chain Committee recognized that an extra push would be necessary. The forest products industry has had low awareness of the Projects, and that low awareness has been an obstacle to supply chain partners’ implementing the research.

At its March 1 meeting, the WSRI Board of Directors adopted the following Marketing Plan:

    • • WSRI will produce Webinars about those projects that have generated the most interest, with registration free for members of interested forestry and logging associations. Special log-ins will also be made available at FRA Supplier/Mill relationship workshops, as requested.
    • • WSRI will encourage forestry and logging associations to invite WSRI Project researchers to present their research at annual meetings or other gatherings. WSRI will offer to offset these researchers’ expenses up to $1,000 per engagement.
    • • WSRI will advertise in the RISI publication most viewed by mill managers, and by others not normally exposed to WSRI Research, with Project listings and contact information.
    • • WSRI will have an informational booth at the FRA/ ATPA In-Woods Expo (May 19-21 in Hot Springs, Arkansas), with Reports on display and other information available—and with the opportunity to discuss the Projects with the WSRI Executive Director.
    • • WSRI will encourage its members to distribute research reports to all pertinent company and association members they are involved with—to get the research off the shelf and into the supply chain.
    • • WSRI will invite any company or association, with an interest, to request a researcher to make a presentation of relevant WSRI research. If the request passes WSRI’s review, WSRI will pay up to $1,000 towards the researcher’s expenses for the trip.
    • • WSRI encourages all WSRI—and FRA—members to submit suggestions for consideration for future research. The WSRI Technical Team will review suggestions and, if chosen, will send Requests For Proposals to over 60 qualified research entities.
    • • The web site at www.wsri.org will post Executive Summaries of all projects, with contact information. FRA will keep that web site updated.

WSRI will review these marketing options annually. Please feel free to contact WSRI Executive Director Jim Fendig with questions about WSRI research, or to obtain a Report.

Jim Fendig

WSRI Executive Director

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

921-598-8023

Published in WSRI Update
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