Taking Stock of the LEAN ROUGH Mill

摘要

Designing robust rough mill systems with high-processing speed capabilities was a significant challenge in the development of optimized rough mills a decade or two ago. Fast forward and we now see processing speeds of more than 600 linear feet per minute commonly advertised. Other recent developments include built-in databases, which compile Lumber characteristics and processing data, allowing for simulations to optimize cutting solutions. Some systems are even equipped to allow off-site diagnosis and-repair of software-based problems through an Internet connection. Many rough mill improvement initiatives - technology focused or otherwise - while helpful in improving rough mill efficiency, rarely consider the dynamic nature of downstream demand for parts produced in the rough mill and the impact of that changing demand on the rough mill system. In other words, it is possible to achieve an overall high part yield while the parts produced may or may not supply any real or immediate demand, which negatively affects manufacturing flexibility downstream. It becomes increasingly difficult to supply changing customer demand if resources are occupied producing Low demand parts, regardless of overall yield measurements.