Combined Log Inventory and Process Simulation Models for the Planning and Control of Sawmill Operations

Abstract

A log inventory model and a real-time hardwood process simulation model were developed and combined into an integrated production planning and control system for hardwood sawmills. The log inventory model was designed to monitor and periodically update the status of the logs in the log yard. The process simulation model was designed to estimate various sawmill performance parameters taking into account the different static and dynamic features of a sawmill. Besides the log inventory and simulation models, the system also has a front-end spreadsheet-based optimizer for determining optimal log input mix. Thus, the integrated system has the capability to determine the optimal lumber production schedule (including log input mix) which is also operationally feasible on real-time.