2025 Hardwood Lumber Benchmarking Study And Competitive Assessment
Survey News
August 2026 Update: data collection has been extended. There are big changes to make it simpler and quicker to collect data.
The association strongly believes in this effort but must have more participation to make the data analysis meaningful to the industry, so the survey has been condenced for quicker response and we are making appointments to connect and assist in the submission. Read more below
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1. We have significantly reduced the quantity of survey data points to only six sections!
2. The Beck Group team can help you enter the data during a scheduled one-hour meeting. Meeting options include virtual, telephone, an in-person visit to your mill, or meeting up during the NHLA convention in September. We will fill out the book with the data your team provides.
3. We have a revised Excel workbook for data collection.
4. The simplified data for calendar year 2025 may be found on reports you already produced have such as:
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Profit /Loss Report = Manufacturing costs
• Payroll report = Hourly/Salary Pay & Benefits, Sawmill Operating hours & Labor hours worked
• Lumber species mix = by % of volume produced
• Staffing levels = number of people per department
• Safety performance: = U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Report
• Log Volumes Purchased, Sold, Used and Log to lumber recovery/yield
2025 Hardwood Lumber
BENCHMARKING STUDY AND COMPETITIVE ASSESSMENT
Project Lead: Bryan Beck Bryanb@beckgroupconsulting.com #503-684-3406
In partnership with The National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA), and with funding support from the US Endowment, the Beck Group will lead an independent, data-driven benchmarking of hardwood sawmills and concentration yards across North America.
The study will compare the participants performance based data from calendar year 2025. Each company will complete and submit a spreadsheet workbook developed by BECK. The data will be organized into categories to allow for comparison and calculation of value for each metric.
Beck’s benchmarking studies allow participating companies to anonymously compare their operation to similar operations on a variety of metrics including costs, staffing levels, yields, sales realizations, and more. Participants will receive a written report summarizing the results and our staff's interpretation of the results with emphasis on the strengths, weaknesses, and opportunity areas for mills.
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Read more about the program plan below.
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Sign up to speak to our team about participation using this form --->
The United States Endowment for Forestry and Communities, Inc. (the "Endowment") is a not-for-
profit corporation that works collaboratively with partners in the public and private
sectors to advance systemic, transformative and sustainable change for the health and vitality
of the nation's working forests and forest-reliant communities.
What is a competitive assessment study? A competitive assessment study compares sawmills against each other on a variety of key financial and operational metrics including costs, staffing, yields, productivity rates, product mix, and more. Since no two companies track information in the same way, BECK has developed a framework so that metrics like costs, staffing, etc. can allow for comparisons among participating mills that are as “apples to apples” as possible.
What year of data will be collected for the study? The current assessment is based on calendar year 2025.
How would my team collect and submit data for the study? BECK has a spreadsheet with questions to answer, and staff will be available to help as needed. We can set up an in person mill visit or a virtual meeting to collect the data.
What are the key metrics the data will be organized into? The categories include Manufacturing Costs, Operating Data, Lumber Volume, Staffing Counts, Safety Case Rate, and Log Usage.
Who else will be in the study? We are hoping to have as many as 70 sawmills and concentration yards participating in the study.
What is the cost to be in the study? ZERO cost to participate!
What will I learn from participating? BECK will provide written reports that include discussion and summarizing quantitative data.
What is the timeline for participation? - Sign up at no obligation now! - Data collection of the calendar year 2025 data for participants is already happening! - Data Analysis performed by BECK in 2026 Quarter 4.