Course code MatZ5026

Credit points 7.50

Logistics and Marketing in the Timber Industry I

Total Hours in Course200

Number of hours for lectures48

Number of hours for seminars and practical classes12

Independent study hours140

Date of course confirmation17.02.2015

Responsible UnitInstitute of Civil Engineering and Wood Processing

Course developer

author

Sigita Alksne

Dr. silv.

Course abstract

The course provides the theoretical knowledge what to be used in practical activities, allows to understand and find solution for suplly chain of logistics structure and elements, to made a work plans for logistics systems, to select and analyce global and local changes in the timbers industry, as well as marketing strategic decisions of the wood market, to analyze marketing elements the context of the global wood products markets, to create market research and prepare a marketing plan.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Knowledge - students acquire in-depth practical knowledge in marketing and logistics of timber markets.
Skills - students are able to use the acquired knowledge in practical work, the adopotin os strategic decisions in the fields of logistics and marketing strategies, collect and use market information, organize logistics and marketing management in the company, work in a team anc actively discuss the current probles of timber logistics and wood products markets.
Competencies - are competent to analyze the situation in the fields of logistics and marketing and to evaluate the results, decide on the necessary measures are taken to develop an action plan and analyce its impact on the company.

Course Content(Calendar)

1 Logistics and marketing development (5 lectures)
2 Logistics, marketing strategic planning (goals, types, tasks, etc.) (3 lectures, 1 practical work)
3 Assessment of internal and external environment (3 lectures, 3 practical work)
4 Wood market research (3 lectures, 1 practical work)
5 Logistics systems and chain wood industry (3 lectures, 1 practical work)
6 Marketing information systems (3 lectures)
7 Research methods in the field of logistics and marketing (2 lectures)
8 Market segmentation and target market definition (3 lectures, 1 practical work)
9 Demand and its forecasting, (3 lectures, 1 practical work)
10 Product life cycle and its significance (3 lectures, 1 practical work)
11 Consumer and user markets, their research (3 lectures, 1 practical work)
12 Types of logistics and their essence (supply, production, distribution, general logistics) (3 lectures)
13 Types of logistics and their essence (order processing, execution, transport and stock logistics) (3 lectures)
14 Marketing and its elements (marketing mix) (2 lectures, 1 practical work)
15 Company positioning in the market (3 lectures)
16 Evaluation of logistics and marketing activities (3 lectures)

Requirements for awarding credit points

All practical work must be completed. A report must be submitted and presented. Must have a written test and exam. Final evaluation formed in a 10-point system.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

In practical work students must learn the following topics:
• Analysis and processing of available global forest market and logistics data
• available Latvian forest industry, Central Statistical Bureau and industry association, incl. analysis and processing of business, market and supply chain data;
• available global and European forest and transport statistics (Eurostat and FAOstat);
• analysis of the market environment and logistics system;
• product promotion in the market and analysis of sales channels, incl. organizing the flow of materials in the local and international market, including the timber supply chain and transport flow;
• evaluating the sales prices of resources and finished products, emphasizing the role of marketing and logistics; • segment evaluation, as well as identification of market influencing factors and evaluation of their impact from the market and logistics point of view.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

As a result of evaluation, it is important that the student's attendance is over 70% of all lectures.
In the study course, students' knowledge assessment takes in 3 parts, i.e. during the semester there are:
•complete a theoretical test on the topics taught in the course, where oral or written answers are successful, if at least 40% of the questions are answered correctly;
•prepare a report in accordance with the MF methodological regulations in the development of the final thesis and defend it in the form of a presentation;
•a work (exam) must be written where the written answers are successful if at least 40% of all tasks have been solved correctly. The final grade consists of a weighted average grade (on a 10-point scale) – from a visit (10%), a tests (20%), a report (45%) and an exam (25%).

Compulsory reading

• Kotlers F. Mārketinga pamati. Rīga: Jumava, 2008. 648 lpp.
• Praude V. Mārketings (teorija un prakse). 1.grāmata. 3.pārstrād. un papild. izd.. Rīga: Burtene, 2011. 522 lpp.
• Praude V., Beļčikovs J. Loģistika. Rīga: Vaidelote, 2003. 541 lpp.
• Sprancmanis N. Biznesa loģistika. Rīga: Vaidelote, 2003. 360 lpp.

Further reading

• Juslin H., Hansen E. Strategic Marketing in the Global Forest Products Industries. Corvallis, OR, USA: Academic Press. 2003.
• Wilkinson A., Redman T. Ed Snipe and Mick Marchington. Managing With Total Quality Management: Theory and Practice. Basingstoke, London: Macmillan Press Ltd. 1998. 690 p.

Periodicals and other sources

• Laikraksts „Dienas Bizness” ISSN 1407-2041 Žurnāls „Baltijas koks” ISSN 1407-6667
• Forest Product Sociaty. ISSN 0015-7473
• Holz-Zentralblatt. ISSN 0018-3792

Notes

The study course is included in the master level program Wood Materials and Technology as specialization in the one directions realized by Forest Faculty