HARDWOOD RECORD 



33 



I have only touched on a few of the many instances where savings 

 can be made, iu the handling of labor only. 



We will now consider for a few minutes the combination of labor 

 and appliances, beginning at the log yard. The value of log pil- 

 ing devices has been demonstrated in many instances, not only in 

 the greater safety to men, but in the rapidity of action and economy 

 of operation. I saw in one yard a whole day consumed in unloading 

 three gondolas, by five men and one team; and in another yard not 

 two months later, two gondolas unloaded in a little over three hours, 

 and, better yet, the logs sorted and piled by means of a log piler 

 run by steam and operated by three men. With a yard properly laid 

 out, they will pay for themselves in a year at the most. It will pay 

 many of you to look over your present yard with such a plan in 

 mind. 



Another veneer manufacturer has installed an air hoist for taking 

 bolts out of steam vats and can accomplish not only this, but the 

 system of overhead trolley can place bolts in convenient position for 

 easily placing in machine, without the lost time occasioned by many 

 of the hand-operated lifts. 



Another point I would like to bring up for consideration by you 

 gentlemen is the method of laying out your yards for the proper 

 sorting and grading of your logs. Some have thoroughly efficient 

 methods for this. Some have the use of ponds, but this is an excep- 

 tion nowadays. The majority are cramped for room. Much valuable 

 time is lost by not having proper facilities for grading. Very few 

 of you can buy just what you want when you want it, but must unload 

 and sort. 



Continuing on appliances. There is a great opportunity for increas- 

 ing efficiency in the drying of veneers. In the first place, they are 

 usually not sorted as carefully from the clippers as should be, and 

 this additional wet material is a hindrance to the rest. Another 

 thing — there is quite frequently an enormous waste of steam, espe- 

 cially in the older kilns, due to leakage. In one that I have in mind, 

 I believe there was as much steam around the kiln as in it. Eight 

 here, I might say that no one factory would likely offer all the 

 opportunities for savings that I am giving, or will give, but I am 

 sure some of you wiU find food for thought from some of these sug- 

 gestions. Each plant needs individual study for best results. 



There are very few plants that have been laid out with the proper 

 consideration for routing of goods in process to save heavy trucking 

 expenses. It is a pleasure to find one now and then that shows 

 thought and study along this line. No one not familiar with this 

 phase of efficiency work can possibly realize the value of an adequate 

 routing plan with plenty of aisle space for use of trucks. You wiU 

 find in some places the aisles very poorly laid out, so that it is often 

 necessary to move things out of the way when it is necessary to push 

 through with a truck. Eunways should be definitely laid out and 

 kept open. A trucking account in one place was reduced over one- 

 half by attention to these details. There are so many interesting 

 problems to study in connection with factory efficiency that I can only 

 give you just a hint of the possibilities. 



I want to take up the question of material conservation, as well 

 as the efficiency side of factory operation, and wiU now give you a 

 few specific instances where economies can be effected in a large 

 number of veneer plants today. 



In the first place, too many of you make the mistake of using poor 

 timber. I will grant that the kind you want may be hard to obtain 

 at times, but it pays in the long run. 



Taking poor material — logs, for instance — you jeopardize your pro- 

 duction, your quality of veneer, and your machines. A great many 

 times have I seen a bolt come up to the lathe, only to have a cut or 

 two taken off, and then the roller consigned to the fire room, too poor 

 to work up. This occurs not only once, but many times a day. Waste 

 at this point is not quite as bad as after the veneer is cut and dried, 

 but it represents labor and expense as well as original material cost. 

 This is something often forgotten. 



You have your raw material cost, say, $30 per M. To get this 

 log-piled, skidded to drag-saw, cut to bolts and out of steam vats, 

 takes labor and expense, and it piles up rapidly as the veneer pro- 

 gresses through the factory. 



Every manufacturer should have costs obtained in such a way that 

 he can determine these elements of labor and expense by departments 

 or machines rather than apply in one lump sum. Good raw material 

 made a difference of twenty-five per cent in cost of veneers in one 

 veneer factory, even after taking into account the advanced raw mate- 

 rial cost. 



The percentage of waste will vary widely for different kinds of 

 woods; hence the necessity for records by kinds. The percentage 

 is easily affected by the clipper, who, if inexperienced or careless, 

 may give you a lot of high-priced fuel. All cuttings from both the 

 clippers and the sorters after the veneers are dried, should be sub- 

 jected to investigation by the superintendent. You will say this 

 is impossible for lack of room, time of superintendent, and for various 

 other causes. Try it for even a short time, and you will be surprised 

 at results. 



The sorting room is one that needs careful supervision when look- 

 ing for a reduction of waste. Some manufacturers make the mistake 

 of sorting and resorting, not realizing that in time, the labor of han- 

 dling is worth more than the material itself. Where a business com- 

 bines veneers and panels, there are certain definite stock sizes that 

 all veneers received from dryer should be cut into. Stock should not 

 be piled in stock sheds until after it is sorted and sized. Waste is 

 elemental in not rehandling time after time to get out a certain size 

 from a pile of veneer of varying size. 



The cost of all veneer should be figured to the glue room ready to 

 lay, for panel plants. It is the best division line between the two 

 industries. 



There is a waste on purchased veneers in case a plant is buying 

 veneers. This waste depends on several factors, chief of which is 

 care in handling and sorting, provided, of course, the car is up to 

 specifications. 



Before I close, I must bring up the possibilities of conservation of 

 glue, knowing what is being used on the different kinds of panels. 

 This is a question that demands individual study. It has offered 

 great opportunities for savings in several veneer and panel factories. 



One of the points I want to bring out very clearly is the necessity 

 for adequate and comprehensive records, both in striving for labor 

 eflieiency and waste reduction. It is only by comparison of true 

 figares that the best progress can be made. 



Today it is the man with definite and indisputable records at his 

 command who is making a success. It matters not whether it is the 

 veneer and panel business or any other line requiring the handling 

 of men and material. 



Those of you who are operating with these facts set down in black 

 and white would never go back to the old method of working. It is 

 to be hoped for the good of the industry that all members will 

 eventually see the necessity for systematic records, and will act upon 

 the experience gained by others in reducing all records to permanent 

 form, and not depend so much on memory. 



Efficiency worthy the name can be gained only by a study of the 

 particular conditions in each factory based upon dependable records. 

 This will apply to all phases of operating expenses, which are mate- 

 rial, labor and overhead expense. 



Lake Commerce for October 



There was very little falling off in the aggregate tonnage on the 

 Great Lakes between October of this year and that of last. The 

 total was 10,153,473 short tons for the month, and the little shortage 

 noted over a year ago was occasioned by a lighter movement of coal 

 and iron ore, while the shipments of grain, lumber and unclassed 

 freight were heavier than a year ago. 



The shipments of lumber by lake during October were 159,365,000 

 feet, and were heavier than for any other month of the year, and 

 exceeded by more than 20,000,000 feet the corresponding 1910 ship- 

 ments. 



The ten months' lumber shipments aggregated over a billion feet, 

 which is a little below the 1910 record. The larger receiving ports, 

 including Chicago, North Tonawanda and Buffalo, show smaller trans- 

 actions during the year. 



