Aligning and prioritizing corporate R & D

Providing Weyerhaeuser with strategic options for dealing with fundamental change within the forest products industry if a critical role for Weyerhaeu ser R&D. Business success in general is increasingly tied to the developmen t and implementation of the right technology. For Weyerhaeuser, that includ es technology that is well aligned with the needs of its core businesses ov er the long term. Key elements of a well-aligned technology program process ave an effective technology intelligence effort, combined with knowledge o f future customer needs, strong business participation to define their tech nology needs, engagement of businesses in developing the needed research pr ogram, and a commercial development process that brings valuable new produc ts to market quickly. Weyerhaeuser has developed a program planning and pri oritization process that focuses on providing the necessary competencies an d products to meet business strategic needs.