Early Planning Proved the Path

To Prof its was Via

IIIGHTEEN M0NTHS o{ surveY and ! planning went into the original construction and layout of American Forest Products Corporation's Stockton Box Company division millwork plant at Stockton, Calif. Design of the plant was to achieve the ultimate in efficiency for lumber materials moving through various phases of manufacture.

During original planning stages (196263) it was difficult to predict with e,omplete accuracy just what production faciliiies would be needed to keep the entire operation functioning on a well-rounded program throughout the entire year.

This spring, after two full years of operation, a working study was made of production within the plant to determine what changes, if any, would be necessary to furth"er increase plant efficiency and product quality. Upon its completion, the study indicated that with only two exceptions the plant was operating at l0o/o efficiency.

To bring the 127,000 sq. ft. plant up to optimum performance a second automatic selective multiple gang rip saw was installed this summer (approximate cost$65,000). The new saw replaced two band rip saws which had been used to rip all moulding stock. Because shop stock is sur' faced in the planing mill before ripping, and moulding stock is ripped from rough, kiln dried lumber, the two multiple gang rip saws run shop stock during the day shift and one saw rips moulding stock on the night shift. Working in this fashion the two multiple gang rip saws easily supply enough material to keep the entire pl.ttt ott a two-shift basis as required for several months each year.

In keeping with the additional working material made availa.ble through use of the added multiple gang rip saw, two more cut-ofi saws were added to the original line of eight in order to maintain the constant flow of stock through the Plant.

Rough, kiln dried lumber upon arrival at the Stockton plant is run through an automatic sticker/stacker in preparation for its second trip to the dry kilns. In the kiln, the lumber is brought to uniform moisture content so that it can enter the climate-controlled plant at peak workability.

Shop lumber enters via the planing millThrough the multiple gang rip saws, then sorted from the dry chain and moved to the cut-off line by a 7r/2'ton overhead bridge crane. From the cut-ofi line the (now) different lengths of lumber are con-