Using flow simulation as a decision tool for improvements in sawmill productivity

Authors

  • Steven E. Thoews
  • Thomas C. Maness University of BC
  • Catalin Ristea University of BC

Keywords:

flow simulation, sawmill manufacturing, production bottleneck, productivity

Abstract

We developed a sawmill fl ow simulation model to identify production bottlenecks and determine where productivity improvements could be made. Sawmills often invest in a new machine center and then find out that the processing bottleneck just moves somewhere else. Our approach was specifically designed to investigate the effects of such changes on the entire system. We determined that the trimmer was the system bottleneck when both the small log and large log lines were running concomitantly. Under base case conditions, the model predicted an average board output of 13,147 boards. An increase in the processing capability of the trimmer resulted in a shift of the bottleneck from the small log line to the large log line (at the edger). This bottleneck shift was further investigated and, by allowing the simulation model to manipulate machine settings for the trimmer and edger, it was able to maximize the modeled average board output to 17,996 boards per shift (when edger set up times were not considered) and 16,708 boards per shift (with edger setup times included). These findings were presented to the sawmill management and subsequently implemented as specific improvements at the trimmer machine center, which in turn resulted in an actual increase of 10% in their sawmill’s lumber volume output.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Steven E. Thoews

Market Analyst, Canadian Forest Products Ltd. Vancouver, BC Canada.

Thomas C. Maness, University of BC

Professor, Dept. of Forest Resources Management, Faculty of Forestry, University of BC, Vancouver. Canada.

Catalin Ristea, University of BC

Project Manager, Dept. of Forest Resources Management, Faculty of Forestry, University of BC, Vancouver. Canada.

How to Cite

Thoews, S. E., Maness, T. C., & Ristea, C. (2014). Using flow simulation as a decision tool for improvements in sawmill productivity. Maderas. Ciencia Y Tecnología, 10(3), 229–242. Retrieved from https://revistas.ubiobio.cl/index.php/MCT/article/view/1387

Issue

Section

Article

Similar Articles

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.