Browsing by Author "Hansen, Bruce G."

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    An analysis of factors influencing quality perceptions and purchase of office furniture
    Hansen, Bruce G. (Virginia Tech, 1990-04-26)
    This dissertation presents an in depth investigation of the office furniture industry and of the factors that influence selection and purchase of office furniture. It also utilizes data obtained in a national survey of nearly 270 office furniture buyers to investigate several general conceptual marketing issues. The industry-specific investigation includes a look at the history of the office and at events during the past 2-1/2 decades that have impacted the market for office furniture. It also includes a comparative look at the relative performance of wood (SIC 2521) and metal (SIC 2522) industry sectors. The performance of the office furniture industry is also compared with the wood household furniture industry (SIC 2511). This report includes a detailed look at the industry's changing product mix and use of wood-based materials. While the total use of wood-based material inputs by the industry was at record levels for all material categories in 1987, use on a per unit of output basis declined in several material categories. Material preferences, as expressed by survey respondents, indicated that solid wood is still rated highly and is the material of choice for interior and exterior applications in conventional office furniture manufacture. Twenty-six attributes of office furniture and of dealer/manufacturer services were rated on dual 7- and 5-point Likert scales for importance and difference, respectively. The most important attribute was the ability of the dealer manufacturer to provide products free of defects. However, when differences in the performance of suppliers or products were taken into account, the top determinant attribute was the ability to deliver on schedule. Comparisons of quality and selection and purchase ratings suggested that respondents tended to rate attributes on the bases of their use in selection and purchase higher overall than they rated their use in assessing quality. However, the relative ranking of attributes within the two sets of ratings were highly correlated. Respondent ratings of the 26 attributes were utilized in a multivariate study of quality dimensions employing confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses. Results of these analyses supported operationalization of most of Garvin's eight dimensions of quality.
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    An Examination of Appalachian Forest Products Exports
    Parsons, Brigitte A. (Virginia Tech, 2003-04-17)
    The primary goal of this study was to identify value added export opportunities for the hardwood products manufacturing industry. By studying current industry practices and trends, we can better understand the opportunities hardwood lumber businesses have exploited in the past and could do so today. The study found that opportunities exist for businesses with the right initial mindset preparing them for exporting, the proper equipment, and the appropriate educational experience. Surveys of hardwood lumber manufacturers in 1989 and 2002 addressed similar objectives and helped better understand export participation of hardwood lumber manufacturers in the Appalachian Region. The objectives of this research project included determining current export experience, access and use of export development programs, key export markets, and mill production, marketing, equipment, personnel and other attributes of the region's hardwood lumber industry. Other objectives included determining if any significant changes in the region's hardwood industry had occurred, and in particular, what was mill export market experience in the past 15 years. The key was to identify key factors that lead to export marketing participation. This study showed that export market participation is growing as forest sector businesses consolidated during this period. Businesses were found to seek assistance from multiple government agencies, trade associations, and most importantly from their customers. While the largest export market continues to be Canada, little information is available on other businesses purchasing Appalachian hardwood lumber, indicating the need for more research on markets and their size. Important species for exporting are red oak, yellow-poplar, white oak, and maple, and higher grades of hardwood lumber continue to be the top three. Owning a kiln is essential to exporting, and having an above average size marketing staff was found to be helpful. The most important attribute of exporters is an open-minded management that sees the benefits of exporting.
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    Wood Material Use in the U.S. Cabinet Industry: 1999 - 2001
    Olah, David F. (Virginia Tech, 2000-09-01)
    A combination of fax and mail questionnaires were used to estimate consumption of wood based products by the U.S. cabinet industry and evaluate current management issues affecting the cabinet industry. Group 1 companies (>$20 million in sales) were contacted and sent a fax questionnaire. A random sample of 1034 Group 2 companies (<$20 million in sales and >10 employees) were sent a mail questionnaire. A total of 19 usable questionnaires were received from Group 1 companies and 217 usable questionnaires were received from Group 2 companies. Group 1 respondents averaged 1,108 employees and $125.81 million in sales. Group 2 respondents averaged 27 employees and $2.31 million in sales. A shortened questionnaire (questionnaire 2, one page) was sent to half of the Group 2 sample frame resulting in twice the response rate as that of the long questionnaire (questionnaire 1, three pages). Results indicated that the cabinet industry used an estimated 484 million board feet of hardwood lumber. Nearly 95% of the hardwood lumber purchases were grade 1 common or better. The most common used species were red oak (44%) and hard maple (24%). An estimated 58 million board feet of components and 68,344 doors were also purchased by cabinet manufacturers in 1999. Softwood lumber use was estimated at 25 million board feet, consisting primarily of white (49%) and southern yellow (36%) pine. The most commonly used panel products were particleboard and hardwood plywood, at an estimated 1,044 million square feet (1/2 inch basis) and 279 (3/8 inch basis) million square feet respectively. Other panel products used by the industry were medium density fiberboard, hardboard, and softwood plywood. Approximately 156 (any thickness) million square feet of veneer was used. Lumber purchases were primarily direct from sawmills (66%) for Group 1 companies and from wholesalers/distributors (53%) for Group 2 companies. Panel product purchases followed the same trend with Group 1 companies buying primarily direct from manufacturers (44%) and the majority of Group 2 purchases coming from wholesalers/distributors (84%). Group 1 companies sold their products through factory sales people (54%) and to home improvement/building supply centers (37%). Group 2 companies sold their products through factory sales people (77%) and to builders and remodelers (62%). The largest proportion of cabinet types sold by both Groups 1 and 2 were face frame kitchen cabinets (74% and 38% respectively). Companies from both groups reported producing certified (green) products. The majority of companies indicated they purchased some parts from outside sources. Companies from both groups reported considering alternative materials to substitute for wood. Products that were mentioned include strawboard, urban waste MDF, and plastic mouldings. Concerns rated highest by cabinet companies were finding qualified employees, increasing raw material prices, keeping qualified employees, and wood quality.
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    Wood Use Trends in the Pallet and Container Industry
    Bejune, Jeffery J. (Virginia Tech, 2001-05-25)
    This study was undertaken to determine the use and quantities of new and recovered wood materials utilized by the United States pallet and container industry in 1999. Wood use trends were identified by comparing the results of this study with that of three previous studies (1992, 1993, and 1995) conducted by Virginia Tech and the United States Forest Service. Also, information was gathered on firm employment, plant operations, and production. A mail survey of 3,507 manufacturers of wood pallets and/or containers in the United States was used to obtain primary data. It was found that the pallet and container industry consumed an estimated 6.54 billion board feet of solid wood in 1999, of which 4.41 billion was hardwood and 2.13 billion was softwood. It was further estimated that 3.7 billion board feet of the hardwood was purchased or processed as lumber and cants, and an additional 707 million board feet as hardwood parts. Approximately 51% of the hardwood consumed was a mixture of hardwood species. Oak accounted for 31% of the hardwood used by the industry. For softwood, an estimated 1.52 billion board feet was consumed in the form of lumber and cants, and another 610 million board feet as parts. Southern Pine (48% of the total softwood volume) and Spruce-Pine-Fir (25%) were the solid softwoods most commonly used by the pallet and container industry. Of the estimated 289 million square feet of wood panels that went into the production of pallets and containers, nearly 208 million square feet of it was softwood plywood, followed by oriented strand board (77 million square feet), and hardwood plywood (5 million square feet). The pallet and container industry produced approximately 429 million new pallets in 1999. Approximately 80% of these pallets were stringer type and 12% were block type. The pallet industry was responsible for the recovery of 299 million pallets in 1999. Furthermore, it was estimated that the pallet industry returned to service nearly 218 million pallets through either repair or recycle. Of the wood use trends identified, the most significant are the large increases in pallet recovery, repair, and recycling during the 1990s. The production of landscape mulch has become the leading use of ground or chipped pallets. A small increase was seen in new pallet production. Increases in new wood use were modest, and primarily limited to softwood parts and oriented strand board. The use of Southern Pine by the pallet and container industry continues to grow relative to other softwood species and in terms of total volume used.