Factors Affecting Volume Yield in a Forestry-wood Value Chain – a Simulation Study Based on Ct Scanning

The paper presents the results of a simulation study, where log models based on CT scanned logs of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) was used as input material to a computer simulation model of a generic value chain involving sawing, drying, crosscutting and finger jointing. The aim was to investigate which factors that affect the volume yield in the value chain, be it forestal, log-, processor quality-related factors. The results show that factors related to growth conditions and log size have a large impact on the volume yield in the studied value chain, together with quality requirements on knots. Factors such as sawing positioning and log quality had a much smaller impact. It can be concluded that it is possible to model a forestry-wood value chain, while assessing which input variables affect the result in terms of volume yield, using CT scanning of logs and subsequent computer simulation of the production processes.