Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1990. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 94-100). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M. Eng.)--New South Wales Institute of Technology, 1985.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 2004. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references. Also available online.

Thesis (doctoral)--Göteborgs universitet, 2002. / Extra t.p. with thesis statement inserted. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1996. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [191]-193).

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 1996. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 51-53). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of California. Aug. 1925. / Bibliography: vi p.

Integration in the forest industry of British Columbia is a complex phenomenon. Its history is almost as long as that of the industry itself. The industry is multi-faceted, with many spheres of concern and activity, and the process of integration has necessarily been a highly differentiated one. Characteristically, it has developed at different rates and to different degrees in and between each of the various sectors of activity. This thesis will examine the growth of integration in the forest industry of British Columbia and will inquire into the fundamental factors of influence in the development of this phenomenon. The terminology applied to the various types of integration is reasonably standard and self explanatory. However, for the sake of clarity and since the industry is a complex one, it is appropriate to discuss the precise application of these terms in this thesis. There are four basic components of the British Columbia forest industry—forestry, harvesting, conversion, and marketing. Only the first of these functions remains substantially outside the private domain, and in consequence of this, timber control is generally treated as a function in itself. Within each of these sectors one finds the process of horizontal integration whereby like entities become amalgamated. This is generally referred to as concentration or as consolidation. In the conversion or manufacturing sector, activity is sufficiently differentiated by output that four major product groups may be identified—lumber, shingles, plywood, and wood pulp. Integration between these sectors is vertical integration. Integration between any of the four functions in the industry (e.g. logging, conversion, etc.) is referred to as vertical integration. It involves the inclusion of two or more industry functions within a single corporate structure. Not all integration is corporate however, and various forms of cooperative integration are prevalent throughout the industry. This is an extremely important aspect of industry structure, and it is found in harvesting (contract logging), conversion (log exchange, residue sales), and marketing (consortium selling.) The major environmental forces acting upon the industry lie in three principal areas—the nature of the raw material base, the activities of government, and the nature of the market environment. Their influences upon integration have always been a combination of pressure and facilitation. Government, for instance, has introduced forest utilization regulations and large-scale and semi-permanent tenures. The former development has put great pressure on firms to integrate, while the latter has facilitated the formation of large-scale manufacturing operations. In marketing, competitive pressures have stimulated integration of many types, while the consolidation of channels and growth of markets have facilitated forward integration into this phase of activity. / Business, Sauder School of / Graduate

This study presents a multiregional model of the soft wood forest products industry in the United States, designed to describe the dynamics of interregional competition in the industry and to provide means for policy experimentation and short-term projection of regional market shares. Two products (softwood lumber and plywood), five product supply regions (including Canada), and six product demand regions are recognized. The design of the model is based on a combined top-down/bottom-up approach and consists of three interdependent components: (1) the aggregate product market, (2) regional product markets, and (3) regional factor markets. Model solutions are obtained by the simultaneous determination of national level product prices and quantities and allocation of equilibrium quantities across producing regions on the basis of their relative prices and locational advantage. The model is evaluated in an historical simulation using data for 1950-84. Graphical analysis of simulated series suggests that the model replicates short-run trends as well as cyclical movements in aggregate demand and regional market shares. The results indicate that the short-run impacts of relative prices and locational advantage on regional market shares are generally small. Price responsiveness of regional market shares for lumber appear to be considerably lower than that of plywood, indicating greater degrees of regional substitution in the plywood market. The forecasting application of the model is demonstrated by extrapolating the complete structure for two years beyond the sample period. The projected trend during this two-year period is one of increasing demand for both lumber and plywood. Domestic producers' shares of the lumber market are expected to remain relatively stable. The results show that nearly all increases in demand for lumber in this period will be satisfied by Canadian imports.

A survey of primary and secondary manufacturers of eastern white pine (EWP) was executed within three regions of the Eastern US: New England, Mid-Atlantic, and Lake States. Two hundred ninety-six usable questionnaires were returned in total, with 185 coming from primary manufacturers and 111 from secondary manufacturers of EWP. The data from these surveys was used to identify differences in market characteristics between the three regions producing EWP, and also between primary and secondary industries. It was found that markets for EWP were growing in all three regions. Overall growth among primary manufacturers was estimated at 6.9% during the next 5 years, with 18.9% expected from the secondary industry. Industry members in all three regions reported that they would be able to sell more EWP products if they could get more logs. This theme of log shortage and availability was present in all three regions, and likely has to do with the loggers in those regions and how much importance they place on harvesting EWP. Results indicated that primary manufacturers overestimated how highly secondary manufacturers valued machinability, product range, and the rustic look of EWP, as significant differences were found in all of those categories. This implies that sawmills need not emphasize these aspects as much as they have been, as they are less important to customers than sawmills may have believed. Conversely, primary manufacturers underestimated how highly secondary manufacturers valued on-time delivery, consistent price, JIT delivery, and flexible payment options. These results suggest that EWP sawmills would be able to gain an advantage by putting more effort into providing these services. The effect of imported species appeared to be less than anticipated, with more than one-half of both primary and secondary respondents reporting that imports had had no impact on their operation. However, primary manufacturers were more likely to report a negative effect than their secondary counterparts, with negative response rates at 41% and 20%, respectively. / Master of Science