Updated by "Forest Circular Economy" Editorial Board on April 16, 2025, 1:36 PM JST
Editorial Board, Forest Circular Economy
Forestcircularity-editor
We aim to realize "Vision 2050: Japan Shines, Forest Circular Economy" promoted by the Platinum Forest Industry Initiative. We will disseminate ideas and initiatives to promote biomass chemistry, realize wooden cities, and encourage innovation in the forestry industry in order to fully utilize forest resources to decarbonize, strengthen economic security, and create local communities.
Mori Mirai, an IT company that develops businesses related to forests, forestry, and lumber, has recently begun in-house operation of a comprehensive lumber database that integrates and structures more than 10,000 pieces of lumber information. The database contains information on more than 10,000 timber products, mainly interior materials, including certified timber and local timber from various regions, and is maintained in a form that enables the person in charge to immediately refer to and estimate specifications, prices, delivery dates, and other information.
The most significant feature of this database is the standardization of specifications, units, and notation methods, which dramatically improves the accuracy and speed of searches and price comparisons. For example, units such as cubic meters and square meters have been standardized, and information from different suppliers can be compared across the board, allowing for the immediate presentation of products with the same specifications that are less expensive or have a shorter delivery time. As a result, a system has been established that enables sales and procurement staff to complete the work of estimating on the spot, which used to take an average of about three days.
In addition, in order to maintain the freshness of information, regular information updates are structured with partner companies, enabling information management that is linked in real time to the actual conditions of the distribution market. Timely and accurate estimates and proposals are directly linked to enhanced responsiveness and competitiveness to customers.
The "All Wood Database Concept (AWD)" promoted by Mori Mirai aims to realize an integrated database covering all information in the forest, forestry, and lumber fields. The wood database developed as the first step in this process is intended to contribute to the development of the entire wood industry in the future, while starting with internal use, with a view to collaboration within the industry and broader utilization.
In the future, Mori Mirai plans to utilize AI and analysis tools to improve supply chain efficiency and further visualize traceability, leading to the sustainable use of forest resources. The introduction of the timber database is a basic infrastructure development for this purpose, and is expected to encourage DX in the information distribution of the industry as a whole.
