CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT PROTOCOL TO INCREASE THE QUALITY OF WOOD DRYING

Abstract

A drying method proves its effectiveness as there is a coincidence between the final moisture content and what is expected, always related to the use that the final product will have; that is, it is an essential link in wood processing and the first added value which is applied to the productive chain. In the actual paper is described a protocol to optimize the performance of human resources and materials available for kiln wood drying, a process that is performed in a “traditional” way: lumber is placed in the kiln and drying is accomplished by using the programs specified by the manufacturer of the equipment. proposed protocol is based on three fundamental criteria: stacking, operation of the kiln and drying program. The workers that got involved performed an assessment of the development of the changes that were proposed (continuous improvement), at different times, with the evaluation of the variables that were defined at different moments. The modification of variables was detected ever since the second measurement was made. Labor uneasiness emerged as tasks become slower as they must be made more carefully, and, as payment responds for what is made, there is no economic advantage for workers that return to their traditional ways. It is proposed to create a quality control policy in which workers are rewarded as they report improvements to the drying process.