Suomen mekaanisen metsäteollisuuden tuotekehityksen suunnat tulevaisuudessa

By interviews of the marketing personnel in the industry,a marketing scientist and representatives of the building industry we clarified in which direction the environment was developing and the consequent requirements imposed on mechanical forest industry. The emphasis of construction industry shifts from erection of new buildings to repairs of old ones. In addition components are used to a large extent. The role of the builder is now a leader of assembly. As a result the use of basic products is reduced. The producers are expected to provide system products as well as service activities needed in their use. The mechanical forest industry should rapidly meet these expectations as the competitive industry has already done, by developing strongly the building component industry to a link between basic industry and construction industry. The main individual wishes from builders include sound structural applications, suitable goods sortiments, information of the products' technical properties and applicability as well as product responsibility of the manufacturer. Finally the builder expects new products, product solutions and applications. The companies in mechanical forest industry have several alternatives in meeting the expectations of the society. Even specialisation in bulk production is possible. Then only the most profitable products are effectively produced for large customers. Other alternatives include specialisation in sales and service, production of system-products, customer oriented production and finally development and production of innovation products requiring very large product development input. The measures and prospects of product development depend on the company strategy selected, and so the top management in the company is in key position. Without strong measures, we can expect permanent reduction in the demand of the products of the Finnish mechanical forest industry.