Success factors for roundwood truck transport companies in mid-Sweden

Generally, the economic health of Swedish roundwood truck transport companies has not been good. Profitability is important for maintaining the stability in the transport business, which is a condition for long-term transport planning in the forestry sector. The scope of this study was to identify probable factors influencing the profitability of roundwood truck transport companies and quantify the influence of these factors on economic results. \ud The study was carried out at a major roundwood truck transport organisation in mid-Sweden and was implemented in four steps. In the first step economic results from the haulage contractors were collected and a random sample was taken from accounted net margin for the account year 2005/2006. In the second step hauliers were interviewed to identify probable success factors. At the third step data for identified factors were gathered through a questionnaire. In the fourth step correlation- and regression analyses were carried out in order to quantify the influence of identified factors on profitability. Short transport distances had a negative influence on profitability. Short transport distances reduce the possibility for haulage contractors with self-loading trucks to leave the loader at landing, a fact that reduces the cargo weight and increases the fuel cost. Vehicle weight had a great influence on profitability. Increased tare weight reduces the load weight and increases the fuel cost. Limited opening hours for receival at mills and terminals had a negative influence on profitability. Limited opening hours may increase the risk for longer waiting times. The proportion of thinning wood of total transported volume had a negative influence on the carried load weight for haulage contractors with self-loading trucks. The negative influence of thinning wood was greater on lighter self-loading trucks than on heavier. A connection between back-hauls and profitability was not found in this study. There are reasons to ask the question if all back-hauls are profitable for the individual haulage contractor to transport.Generellt har den ekonomiska hälsan bland svenska rundvirkesåkerier varit mindre god. Lönsamhet är viktigt för att åkeribranschen skall vara stabil, vilket är en förutsättning för långsiktig transportplanering inom skogssektorn. Syftet med denna studie var att identifiera sannolika faktorer som kan påverka lönsamheten för rundvirkestransportföretag samt kvantifiera sambanden mellan dessa faktorer och ekonomiska resultat. Studien utfördes inom Skogsåkarna i Mellansverige AB och genomfördes i fyra steg. I första steget sammanställdes ekonomiska resultat för åkerierna och ett slumpmässigt urval av åkerier gjordes utifrån redovisad nettomarginal för bokföringsåret 2005/2006. I andra steget djupintervjuades åkeriägare för att identifiera sannolika lönsamhetspåverkande faktorer. Vid tredje steget samlades data för identifierade faktorer in genom en enkät. I fjärde steget gjordes korrelations- och regressionsanalyser för att kvantifiera samband mellan identifierade faktorer och lönsamhet. Korta transportsträckor hade en negativ inverkan på lönsamheten. Korta transportsträckor innebär för kranbilsåkerier minskade möjligheter att ställa av kranen, vilket minskar lastvikten, samt innebär en högre bränslekostnad. Fordonsvikten hade en stark påverkan på lönsamheten. Ökad taravikt minskar möjlig lastvikt och ökar bränslekostnaden. Begränsningar i öppettider hos mottagare hade en negativ inverkan på lönsamheten. Begränsade öppettider kan innebära att risken för väntetider ökar. Andelen gallringsvirke som kördes hade en negativ inverkan på lastmängden för kranbilsåkerierna. Den negativa påverkan av gallringsvirke var större för lättare kranbilar än för tyngre. Något samband mellan andel returer och lönsamhet kunde inte påvisas i denna studie. Det finns skäl att ställa frågan om alla returer är lönsamma för det enskilda åkeriet att ta

The triad perspective on business models for wood harvesting

Swedish forest companies have outsourced their harvesting operations extensively to contractors. The role of these professionals is increasingly important for wood supply, especially for companies purchasing most of their wood from non-industrial private forest owners, for which harvesting is normally arranged by the company. Contractors are key actors in maintaining owners’ willingness to sell wood, which has become more challenging and requires attractive service offers. As forest owners associations (FOAs) are owned by their members, they have a large responsibility to offer services satisfying owners’ goals, but at the same time they need to satisfy industrial demands. This thesis applies a triad perspective on harvesting services to assess varying needs and value perceptions for FOAs, contractors, and forest owners. The objective is to investigate the possibilities and needs for FOAs to tailor their business models to increase the total success of service triads. Two FOAs with fully outsourced harvesting services were investigated, and research was conducted as two parts. The first part (Paper I) used process mapping to analyze the impact of industrial context on business activities for harvesting. The results revealed both differences in demand uncertainties and different needs for production adjustments due to varying supply responsibilities (own mills vs. no own mills). This caused different needs for capacity flexibility, preferably met by corresponding proportions of short–term contracts. Many managers, however, perceived a shortage of contractors and instead used large proportions (>90%) of long-term contracts and satisfied flexibility needs by requesting the use of less specialized machinery. The second part (Paper II, III) used interviews, surveys and follow-up data to identify and analyze success factors satisfying each group of the triad. Especially large variations were found among forest owners in assigned service values and performance perceptions. Furthermore, results revealed strong discrepancies between currently applied follow-up parameters vs. parameters that respondents actually valued most. Specifically, parameters most important for contractors’ satisfaction were different from parameters important for their profitability. The thesis concludes with a characterization of the tailoring needs for different industrial and local contexts, and also describes general needs and responsibilities for each of the three perspectives concerning service development

The need for flexibility in forest harvesting services - a case study on contractors' workflow variations

In many parts of the world, contractors account for the main share of harvesting work. Harvesting is characterized by innate complexity and volatility, and this can affect contractors' workflow and ultimately their profitability. Thus, there is certainly a need for flexibility in harvesting service provision and procedures, but our current knowledge about contractors' workflow variations are limited. This study investigates workflow variations in harvesting services by comparing monthly variations between contractors' workload in terms of harvested volumes and the time spent on operations. The data originates from 77 machines belonging to contractors and their harvesting of 6.6 million m(3) of roundwood in Sweden during a two-year period. The results indicate differences between contractors' workflow variations which can be attributed to the number of machines, machine sizes, and the workload in harvested volume and hours. These findings are relevant for guiding both the customer and contractor in this business relationship, and they could also serve as a basis for further research on the need for flexibility to effectively increase and decrease volume production in harvesting services

Pathophysiology of extracellular haemoglobin : use of animal models to translate molecular mechanisms into clinical significance

The blood's major gas exchange is carried out by haemoglobin, a haeme protein that binds iron and oxygen and can have potentially dangerous side-effects due to redox reactions. Haemoglobin is a very abundant molecule with a concentration of 150 g/l in whole blood, resulting in almost one kg haemoglobin in an adult human body. Normal turnover of red blood cells results in significant haemoglobin release, and pathological conditions that involve haemolysis can lead to massive haemoglobin levels. To control for the potential threat of extracellular haemoglobin, several protective defence systems have evolved. Many pathological conditions, diseases as well as iatrogenic conditions, such as infusion of haemoglobin-based oxygen carriers, cerebral intraventricular haemorrhage, extracorporeal circulation and the pregnancy complication pre-eclampsia, involve abnormal levels of haemolysis and extracellular haemoglobin. Although quite different aetiology, the haemoglobin-induced damage often causes similar clinical sequelae and symptoms. Here, we will give an overview of the pathophysiological mechanisms of extracellular haemoglobin and its metabolites. Furthermore, we will highlight the use of animal models in advancing the understanding of these mechanisms and discuss how to utilize the knowledge in the development of new and better pharmaceutical therapies

Evidence for rangewide panmixia despite multiple barriers to dispersal in a marine mussel

Oceanographic features shape the distributional and genetic patterns of marine species by interrupting or promoting connections among populations. Although general patterns commonly arise, distributional ranges and genetic structure are species-specific and do not always comply with the expected trends. By applying a multimarker genetic approach combined with Lagrangian particle simulations (LPS) we tested the hypothesis that oceanographic features along northeastern Atlantic and Mediterranean shores influence dispersal potential and genetic structure of the intertidal mussel Perna perna. Additionally, by performing environmental niche modelling we assessed the potential and realized niche of P. perna along its entire native distributional range and the environmental factors that best explain its realized distribution. Perna perna showed evidence of panmixia across > 4,000 km despite several oceanographic breaking points detected by LPS. This is probably the result of a combination of life history traits, continuous habitat availability and stepping-stone dynamics. Moreover, the niche modelling framework depicted minimum sea surface temperatures (SST) as the major factor shaping P. perna distributional range limits along its native areas. Forthcoming warming SST is expected to further change these limits and allow the species to expand its range polewards though this may be accompanied by retreat from warmer areas.Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT-MEC, Portugal) [UID/Multi/04326/2013, IF/01413/2014/CP1217/CT0004]; South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) of the Department of Science and Technology; National Research Foundation; South African National Research Foundation (NRF); Portuguese Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT) [SFRH/BPD/85040/2012, SFRH/BPD/111003/2015]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The Impact of Industrial Context on Procurement, Management and Development of Harvesting Services: A Comparison of Two Swedish Forest Owners Associations

Increasing demands to harvesting production and quality require improved management practices. This study’s purpose was to analyze the impact of industrial context on procurement, management, and development of harvesting services. Using interviews, functions were modeled at two forest owners associations (FOAs) with outsourced harvesting services. One FOA had its own sawmills, requiring frequent harvesting production adjustments to meet varying volume demand in the short-term. The long-term uncertainty was however low because of good visibility of future demand (>6 months). The other FOA did not own mills and produced wood according to fixed six-month delivery contracts. This meant few short-term production adjustments, but long-term uncertainty due to low visibility of future demand. Demand uncertainty resulted in corresponding needs for harvesting capacity flexibility. This could have been met by a corresponding proportion of short-term contracts for capacity. In this study, however, a large proportion (>90%) of long-term contracts was found, motivated by a perceived contractor shortage. It was also noted that although contractor investment cycles (4–6 years) matched the FOAs’ strategic horizons (3–5 years), contractors’ investment plans were not considered in the FOAs’ strategic planning. The study concludes with a characterization of different FOA contexts and their corresponding needs for capacity flexibility

Characterization of forestry contractors' business models and profitability in Northern Sweden

Forestry contractors have doubled their share of work in Swedish forests since the 1990s and have thus become important actors in the industry's supply chain. Yet, their profitability has often been low. It is essential for a firm's success to have a well-functioning business model. Therefore, the aim of this study was to characterize business models currently used by forestry contractors and identify differences in the contractors' financial performance in relation to a chosen business model. A survey was sent to all limited liability companies in northern Sweden that were registered to carry out logging or silviculture. One hundred and ninety-eight contractors responded, and their financial performance was analysed based on information in financial statements. The study highlights that there are clear differences both within and between contractor categories in relation to several business model components, as well as their financial performance. Logging contractors had the lowest profitability, measured as return on assets, and also a lower solidity and liquidity compared to silvicultural and mixed service contractors. The largest logging contractors tended to have a better and more stable profitability than small ones, although the differences were small and varied between years. However, a negative trend in profitability was identified for all contractor groups

Key drivers and obstacles for performance among forest harvesting service contractors - a qualitative case study from Sweden

The extensive outsourcing of forest harvesting operations means that the operational performance of contractors has an immense impact on the forest industry supply chain. This study describes perceived drivers and obstacles for strong performance in harvesting service based on semi-structured interviews with four production supervisors and eight contractors. The analysis of interview data revealed a wide array of factors considered to drive or hinder the performance. The factors were categorized into five types: Capability, Incentives, Commitment, Involvement and External factors. Factors concerning Capability, especially resources and competence, were most frequently considered by production supervisors as both drivers and hinders. The contractors considered most commonly Incentives to affect performance, especially motivation and strategy, as drivers and the economy as hinder. Both parties considered lack of resources as hinder to performance. For competence, relationship and collaboration interface, on the other hand, the two parties had different views on whether they acted as drivers or hinders. The knowledge presented in this paper is of interest to researchers or practitioners who wishes to understand the complexities underlying successful harvesting service performance. The insights can contribute to the reshaping of business practices to better target and leverage the mechanisms that most strongly affect performance