Centrol Colif. Dry Kiln Club Stqrts Yeor With lmportont lleeting of USP's Plqnt

The first 1958 meeting of the Central California Dry Kiln Club n'as held at the Bear Creek division of U.S. Plyu'ood Corporation, Anderson, Calift-rrnia, January 10. The all-day meeting was organized by Bob Keeling, of tl-re host company, and the Western I)ine Association, Portland, Oregon. James C. Anders<-rn, industrial engineer of the W.P.A., u,as in charge.

The morning classroom session was held in the conference room in the offices of U.S. Plyrvood, rvhen Mr. Anderson talked on "The Application of the Fundamentals of Quality Control to Lurnber Drying." At this session, Mr. Anderson also outlined the procedure to be follorved during the afternoon r,vhen electrical moisture content readings r.vere taken of lumber on the dry chain.

During the afternoon classroom period, the rnoisture control readings n'ere recorded in prepared charts to show "Cumulation F-recruencv Percent of Lumber Less Than Given Moisture Conteni." The electrical moisture content figures rvere also recorded on clata sheets for use in Control Charts. These figures rvere then entered in Control Charts to shorv Average (X) moisture c<>ntent of each sample and the Range (R) of moisture content.

Western Pine Association Research Note No. 4.412 nas used as a text. This Research Note and a supply of suitable forms for starting a quality control program are available from the Portlancl office.

Appll.ing the Control Chart Method to lumber clrying ri'ill aid the kiln operator in controlling the drying process rvithin acceptable prescribed limits and in presenting this information to Nlanagement in a clear but brief manner. The use of control charts enables the kiln operator to predict trends and thus anticipate and correct "the lack of control" before it becomes serious.

Kiln drying can be more than loading and unloading kilns, and opening and closing valves. The Control Chart Method helps the operator raise kiln drying to a science.

The U.S. Plyrvood company provided a sumptttotts primeril> "lunch" at the Chuck \\''agon, I{edding, after rvhich a motion oicture on the use of plvu'ood in a modern home was shown by Doug \IcClary'.rf L'.S. Plyrvood Corp. Ken Morrolv, general manager, u'elcomed club members to Anderson and invited them to inspect their net', modern sau'mi1l.

Future meetings of the CCI)KC are scheduled as follorvs: Sacramento Lumber and Ilox Co., Woodleaf, betu'een late Spring and early I.'a11, perhaps the July or September meeting; I'aul Bunyan Lumber Co., Anderson, sometime be{ore or after tl.re hot stlmmer r,veather, probably the May or November n.reeting.

President Elmer Johnson, Winton Lumber Co., adjourned the meetir.rg at 5 :0o p.m. a{ter the class-room exercise on the use of Control Charts, reports Harvey H. Smith, SecretaryTreasurer, Central California Dry Kiln Club.

The Southern California Lumber Seasoning Assn. rvill host the annual meeting, I\Iay 8 and 9. The program being olanned u'ith the Southern California Retail Lumber Assn. and the Furniture l{anufacturers Assn. of California will be buiit around furniture manufacture and tl're lumber retailer's viervpoint.

tMA Enrolls Compbell Yqrd

The Campbell (Calif.) Lumber Comparry has been enrolled in the ranks of the Lurnber Nlercirants Assn. of Northern California. E. M. Arencls o\\:ns the retail yard.