The Forest Products Laboratory 



ganization to disseminate as much of the accumulated information as 

 has useful application among the industries. 



The re-establishment of many of the contacts, which Mere broken 

 during the war, was undertaken, and fundamental researches, tem- 

 porarily laid aside, were resumed. Plans were perfected for further 

 study of several new lines of research undertaken during the war. and 

 for rounding out the investigative program of the laboratory. 



Orc;axizatiox 



The laboratory is organized upon a basis intended to yield the 

 greatest measure of scientific results with the minimum amount of 

 time and energy devoted to the mere mechanics of operation, and the 

 routine of the organization is centered almost entirely in separate 

 service sections; so that the research men may be relieved, as much as 

 \ possible, from everything except the planning and execution of re- 

 search investigations. This type of organization has proved itself 

 verj^ well adapted to research institutions, since, in the final analysis, 

 the success of a research institution depends in greater measure, than 

 is the case with most organizations, upon the individuals composing 

 its staff. Research is most individualistic; and while it is possible for 

 the leaders in the organization to plan and direct the research of the 

 various men, the success of each project depends to an unusual degree 

 upon the man immediately in charge of it. 



The technical w^ork of the laboratory is divided among seven 

 sections, each of these units devoting its investigations to certain well 

 defined fields. In addition to the research sections there are four 

 service units carrying on the many functions, such as finance, engi- 

 neering, maintenance, personnel details and so fortli, essential to the 

 smooth working of an organization of the size of the laboratory. In 

 these service units is grouped for convenience the office that handles 

 the editorial work, and to this office is assigned the responsibility for 

 the general dissemination of the results of all the laboratory's re- 

 search. Every effort is made to reach the entire wood industrial field 

 through a variety of mediums. Coordination of research activities 

 is handled through a small subdivision, tributary to the director's 



