Information Management in Solid Wood Fuel Order-Supply Process

Abstract

The validity and accuracy of information and its fast distribution is significant in effective wood fuel procurement. The authors' objectives were i) to define the solid wood fuel procurement process of regional power plants, ii) to define a conceptual data model for the wood fuel order-supply process and iii) to create an application for managing the process. They did an interview study for representatives of 38 power plants, their fuel suppliers and subcontractors about wood fuel procurement. They studied further six plants and one major supplier with focus group interviews. It was found that a lot of data is available, but it's not utilized efficiently. The authors used a methodology of designing information systems architecture and use-case derived methodology to determine the conceptual data model for the order-supply process and to develop an application to control it. Altogether, the hypothesis of the significant and wide-ranging role of information in the order-supply process was confirmed. The study gives a basis to further develop the systems to manage this information.