The Sorting of Sawmill Lumber

The cost of sorting lumber is a major expense at all sawmills. It is a relativey inefficient process by present methods, but it has received little analytical study. A model is developed here to show how the manpower requirements vary with the relevant parameters for any particular sawmill sorting-chain. This relation is useful in determining the best manual sorting system and in determining the most profitable sorts to mechanize. A questionnaire survey of sawmills in British Columbia and the Western United States shows a considerable scope for improvement by application of the technique developed. Specific applications have already been made to some sawmills and the predictions of the theory validated.