International Wood Supply EconomicsLaajuus (9 op)

Osaamistavoitteet

The students will be able to plan, organize and develop large-scale wood supply operations extending over countries borders. They know the general logistical principles and the special features of timber supply logistics. They understand the needs of the customers (woodmills) and how they influence the logistical chain of wood supply. They know how wood import changes the logistical processes in wood supply. The students will be able to use different data sources in managing and developing timber transport and harvesting
The students will be able to recognize different situations and purposes for profitability calculations when assessing the cost structure of harvesting systems. They will be able to assess different overhead cost allocating methods and be able to choose the right method in different cases. The students will be able to use different calculations methods when estimating the profitability of different investments or choosing an economically most optimal harvesting system. They will also be able to independently recommend different calculation methods to be used when planning wood supply chain and logging operations in international contexts.
The students will be able to develop the environmental management practices in the enterprises they are working in. They know the principles and criteria of quality and environmental management and the most common environmental management systems used in forestry sector globally. The students will be able to evaluate and organize forest certification practices at enterprise level and continuously improve operations. The students know the principles and objectives of forest certification and the most common forest certification systems (PEFC, FSC). The students know the main obligations of EU timber regulation and WTO agreements on timber trade. They will be key persons in implementing the enterprise´s environmental policy.

Sisältö

The course focuses on logistics and especially large-scale wood supply operations logistics . The students will be introduced to the topic by lectures and exercises. Guest lectures from different enterprises will be used
The course provides an overview on different calculations methods that are used in determining cost structure of harvesting systems and wood supply chain. Different investment calculation methods are being evaluated and suitable applicable calculation situations are compared when choosing an appropriate machinery. The students will familiar themselves with cut-to-length method principles and activity-based costing, for instance. The students will recognize different calculations contexts and be able to justify the improvement of the economical use of certain forest machines in logging operations. Different reporting and analyzing methods, for instance in allocating overhead costs will be developed in co-operation within the financial department of each participant.
The course gives an overlook on quality management systems, environmental management systems, forest certification systems (PEFC, FSC and others), chain of custody certification, EU timber regulation and WTO requirements, due diligence process in timber products export and environmental annual report analysis. Visiting lecturers from different organizations will be used and the students will have their own case study of the enterprise they are working in.