Value recovery and production control in bucking, log sorting, and log breakdown

This study investigates how value recovery and production control are affected by the measurement techniques used in bucking and log sorting. The study was approached using simulation techniques. A database of 48 well-described young softwood stems (Pinus svlvestris L.) served as the wood supply, and a sawmill simulator able to read and process the stems was used to predict the outcome of the sawing process. In the simulations, five bucking alternatives and three log-sorting alternatives were evaluated. In addition, combinations of production control were employed in bucking, log sorting, and log breakdown with the target set to produce a given volume share of four specific products. In total, 28 simulations were carried out. The results indicate that the bucking method has greater influence on value recovery than the method of log sorting has. Results also indicate that the more process stations involved in production control, the better the demand targets are met (the degree of apportionment), but the lower the value and volume recovery become. Production control in bucking, log sorting, and log breakdown had almost equal effect on the degree of apportionment.