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Executive Summary THE STATUS OF AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR BUSINESS CLUSTERING WITHIN THE FOREST PRODUCTS SECTOR IN THE U.S. Executive Summary 2009 Prepared for the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, Inc. Individual Contributors: Francisco X. Aguilar1, Stephen M. Bratkovich2, Kathryn Fernholz2, Amy Garrard3, Robert K. Grala3, Liam Leightley3, William Martin3, and Ian A. Munn3 1 Department of Forestry, University of Missouri 2 Dovetail Partners, Inc. 3 Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Mississippi State University EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 3 Concept of an Industry Cluster ...................................................................................................................... 3 Potential Benefi ts to Firms Located in Industry Clusters and Local Economies .............................................. 3 Types of Industry Clusters .............................................................................................................................. 4 Successful Industry Cluster Development ....................................................................................................... 4 Targeting Successful Cluster Development ..................................................................................................... 4 Experience from Successful Forest Business Clusters ....................................................................................... 4 What U.S. Forest Sector Stakeholders Th ink About Forest Business Clusters .................................................. 5 Factors Leading to the Successful Development of Forest Business Clusters Perceived Advantages of Forest Business Clusters Perceived Disadvantages of Forest Business Clusters Should Additional Collaboration Within the Cluster be Encouraged? Factors Aff ecting Clustering Within the Wood Products Industry in the U.S. South ..................................... 6 Recommendations .......................................................................................................................................... 6 Online Registry of Forest Business Clusters .................................................................................................... 8 Literature Review on Business Clustering Within the U.S. Forest Sector ........................................................ 8 References ...................................................................................................................................................... 8 2 Introduction in the U.S. South; Experience from successful forest business Th is project examined the status of and opportunities for clusters; Recommendations; Online registry of forest business business clustering within U.S. forest products and closely- clusters; Literature review on business clustering within the related natural resource-based sectors. Th e project identifi ed U.S. forest sector; and References. business cluster models adopted in the forest sector, explored partnerships among cluster entities, and examined policies, Concept of an Industry Cluster strategies and support mechanisms that could facilitate An industry cluster is a group of fi rms and institutions successful business clustering. Information collected during located in close proximity whose businesses are interlinked the summer and fall of 2008 was also used to develop a through value and supply chains, labor, and use of similar template for a national registry of forest business clusters. Th e inputs, technology, and complementary products. Companies project constituted a comprehensive research eff ort comprised locate close to each other because they have similar of the following components: production interests and needs, and consequently depend on • A Literature Review: to examine adopted business each other in achieving success as a group. Industry clusters cluster models, determine benefi ts and challenges are attractive to related companies because they create new associated with business clustering, and identify business opportunities that would not be available if the forest business clusters within the U.S. forest sector companies operated in isolation. reported in the literature. Th e project reviewed over 100 scientifi c articles, industry reports, and assessment Potential Benefi ts to Firms Located reports (available at in Industry Clusters and Local www.fwrc.msstate.edu/cluster/bibliography.asww.fwrc.msstate.edu/cluster/bibliography.asp). Economies • A Nation-wide Online Survey: to seek opinion By locating their production and services in the cluster, from U.S. forest sector stakeholders on major drivers, companies gain ready access to trained workers, infrastructure advantages, and disadvantages of business clustering in and specialized suppliers. Th e result is that companies the forest sector, and determine needed support. Th e participating in a cluster can lower their costs compared to survey was also used to identify existing forest business non-clustered ones. Some of the specifi c benefi ts to industry clusters for inclusion in the cluster registry. and local and regional economies include: Easier and Less Costly Recruitment of Workers: • Geospatial and Econometric Analyses: to examine clusters create a pool of workers that often are trained and socio-economic conditions and resources aff ecting specialized to work for specifi c companies in the cluster. clustering among wood-using mills in the U.S. South. Consequently, this reduces the risk of not being able to Th is study analyzed the reasons behind clustering that recruit qualifi ed workers and reduces recruitment costs. It also can be used to guide regional economic development reduces the cost and time of training such workers. in the industry. Easier and Less Costly Access to Production Inputs: • Phone Interviews with Stakeholders by locating production in an industry cluster, companies Knowledgeable of Forest Business Clusters in the gain access to specialized inputs and their suppliers. Th is Public and Private Sectors: to develop case studies reduces costs associated with transportation, inventory, and illustrating clustering approaches in various regions of potential delays. Close proximity to suppliers improves both the U.S. Th is component helped identify conditions communication and access to support services provided by specifi c to a given cluster that could not be captured in these suppliers, and allows for faster product modifi cations. the econometric analysis. Better Understanding of Suppliers and Consumers: • A website featuring a registry of forest business companies participating in clusters acquire knowledge clusters in the U.S. was created and launched in 2009 and experience that is crucial to individual company (available at success. Interactions among companies facilitate exchange www.fwrc.msstate.edu/cluster/cluster_search.asww.fwrc.msstate.edu/cluster/cluster_search.asp). Th e of expertise and help solve production problems. Closer registry allows entry of new clusters. interaction with suppliers and consumers permits greater effi ciency in the production of goods and services that better In the following paragraphs we review some key fi ndings meet the needs of consumers. of this project. Complete details are presented in a full report Companies Provide Complementary Products and available at www.usendowment.org and Services: many companies produce products that are www.fwrc.msstate.edu/clusteww.fwrc.msstate.edu/cluster. Our fi ndings are summarized complementary and, thus, do not compete directly with as: Concept of an industry cluster; Potential benefi ts to fi rms each other. However, collective success of cluster companies located in industry clusters and local economies; Types of and their productivity depends on the performance of each industry clusters; Successful industry cluster development; individual fi rm. Targeting successful cluster development; What U.S. forest Improved Access to Public Institutions and Goods: sector stakeholders think about forest business clusters; collectively, cluster companies are better able to attract Factors aff ecting clustering within the wood products industry government investments in infrastructure and various 3 educational and training programs. Th ey also can compete parks developed by universities or state governments can more eff ectively for funding. serve as examples. Better Motivation for Continuous Improvement: by participating in clusters, companies continuously Successful Industry Cluster compare their achievements with others in the cluster, Development which stimulates positive competition, innovativeness, and Cluster success is based on advantages of location increased productivity. such as availability of raw materials and qualifi ed workers, Higher Wages: industry clusters decrease costs and positive business environment, research expertise, education, lead to increased productivity and employment. Cluster infrastructure, and innovativeness. Often, clusters develop employers, competing for skilled workers, are willing to pay as the result of local entrepreneurship. For example, higher wages than non-cluster employers. the Marine trade cluster in Washington and log home Improved Employment Opportunities: cluster manufacturing cluster in Montana started with several workers tend to specialize in specifi c jobs, improve their small fi rms established by local entrepreneurs. Over time, skills, and be more
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