Performance of softwood plantation sawmills: the volume vs. value sawing strategy

Abstract Sawmill performance is anchored on three indicators: timber volume recovery, timber value recovery and log throughput. Traditionally, sawyers use the volume sawing strategy aimed at maximizing timber volume recovery. The question is, does the volume sawing strategy result into better performance or an alternative strategy or a hybrid of strategies would yield better results. To answer this question, this study determined timber volume and timber value recovery under the volume and value sawing strategy. Data were collected from logs randomly selected from four sawmills and grouped using cluster analysis. PHP programming language was used to determine sawing patterns that maximized timber volume and/or value from each log. The difference in timber volume and value recovery between the volume and value sawing strategy was tested using a paired t-test at 5% significance level. The value sawing strategy yielded significantly (p < 0.05) higher timber volume than the value sawing strategy except for in smaller logs (10-20cm). Timber value recovery was significantly higher (p < 0.05) under the value sawing strategy than volume sawing strategy for all log sizes. Mean reduction in timber volume recovery was 2% whereas the increment in timber value recovery was 12% under the value sawing strategy. Adoption of the value sawing strategy by the sawmills was recommended since it indicated a potential for improved sawmill profitability.