A Systematic Review on Technologies and Industry 4.0 in the Forest Supply Chain: A Framework Identifying Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

Background: Forestry products and forestry organizations play an essential role in our lives and significantly contribute to the global economy. They are also being impacted by the rapid development of advanced technologies and Industry 4.0. More specifically, several technologies associated with Industry 4.0 have been identified for their potential to optimize traditional forest supply chains. However, to date, there has been limited research that has systematically investigated these technologies and the scientific evidence on their impact on forest supply chains. This research systematically reviews the state-of-the-art technologies applied in the forest supply chain and reports on the current (and/or potential) impacts of technologies on the transformation of the forest supply chain towards ‘Forest Industry 4.0′. Methods: The systematic literature review methodology identified 45 peer-reviewed studies for inclusion that are analyzed, interpreted and discussed in this paper. Results: This study developed a framework on the forest supply chain in Industry 4.0. This framework has three components related to forest supply chains: current supportive technologies, improvements and characteristics of the forest supply chain in Industry 4.0, and the strategic outcomes in economic, environmental and social dimensions. The reported impacts of technologies in different phases of the forest supply chain are interpreted and discussed. Conclusion: The study results confirm that most technologies in Industry 4.0 have real or perceived positive impacts on the forest supply chain and reported obstacles and challenges are identified. The results of this study also contribute insights on the wide range of options in terms of technologies available to decision-makers to optimize the forest supply chain towards ‘Forest Industry 4.0′.

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“…Buôn bán gỗ bất hợp pháp đã được báo cáo ở Mexico, Trung Quốc và Nga cho chế biến và sản xuất các sản phẩm từ gỗ [5,6]. Trong [7] đã xác định rằng việc khai thác gỗ bất hợp pháp đang được chú ý nhiều và các giải pháp kỹ thuật của nó cần được đánh giá. Trong bối cảnh đó, có lẽ không có gì ngạc nhiên khi nhiều khách hàng công nghiệp và người tiêu dùng cuối cùng của các sản phẩm gỗ ngày càng quan tâm đến việc biết gỗ của họ là gỗ có nguồn gốc và được sản xuất theo phương thức thân thiện với môi trường và bền vững [8].…”

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