VTechWorks Repository :: Browsing by Author "Lamb, Fred M."

Browsing by Author "Lamb, Fred M."

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Acoustic emission based control of wood drying
Honeycutt, Robert Mahone (Virginia Tech, 1991-11-29)
Drying is one of the most critical process steps in converting trees to a marketable material for use in high value wood products. The primary reasons for drying wood are to prevent biological deterioration and to improve mechanical strength and dimensional stability. The purpose of this research study was to develop an approach to the control of drying red oak lumber that monitors acoustic emission as the basis for setting environmental conditions throughout the drying process. Northern red oak (Quercus sp.) was chosen for this study because it is one of the more difficult woods grown in the United States to dry without inducing defects. This study was limited to end drying of short lengths of full sized red oak lumber.
Adoption of Scanning Technology in the Secondary Wood Products Industry
Cumbo II, Danny Wayne (Virginia Tech, 1999-10-04)
A mail survey of wood cabinet, furniture, dimension, and flooring manufacturers was undertaken across the US to assess the market potential for automated lumber grading technology in the secondary wood products industry. Two hundred and nine usable responses were received providing information related to the identification of adopters of scanning technology, the optimum benefit bundle to increase the marketable success of automated lumber grading technology, and the best methods of promotion to this industry. The results indicate that potential adopters of automated lumber grading technology will most likely be larger companies both in terms of annual sales and number of employees. In addition, adopter companies will be more likely to market their products in international markets. Results show that dimension and flooring manufacturers perceive this technology as more beneficial to their industries than cabinet and furniture manufacturers. Analysis showed that significant differences existed between the four industry sectors on various machine attributes. In addition, dimension and flooring manufacturers rated machine attributes higher than cabinet and furniture manufacturers where significant differences were detected. This indicates that dimension and flooring manufacturers place more importance on various machine attributes than cabinet and furniture manufacturers when considering the adoption of automated lumber grading technology. Optimal benefit bundles were characterized for each industry sector. While these benefit bundles differed among sectors, the differences where slight. Machine accuracy, simplicity of operation, technical support, and reduction in labor costs were important attributes to most sectors. The best methods of promotion to the secondary wood products industry included trade shows, peer discussions, and plant visits. In addition, these three methods were most effective in promotion for the individual industry sectors as well. Advertisements, meetings and symposiums, scientific journals, and unsolicited sales literature were not rated as highly effective methods of promotion to the cabinet, furniture, dimension, and flooring industries.
Analysis of Calcutta bamboo for structural composite materials
Ahmad, Mansur (Virginia Tech, 2000-08-11)
Land use issues have dramatically changed the timber supply outlook for our nation's forest products industry. Since demand for wood products shows no sign of abating, alternative products must be developed. Bamboo is a very promising alternative raw material for the manufacture of structural composite products. It is fast growing, economical, renewable and abundant throughout the world. Bamboo has physical and mechanical properties that are comparable to many commercial timber species, and thus, may easily be processed using existing technology from the wood-based composites industry. Bamboo can be cultivated in the U.S., and thus has the potential to relieve some of the harvesting pressure from our nation's forestlands. However, the use of specific bamboo species for structural composite products will require a thorough investigation of the material as well as its interaction with other components. Thus, the primary objective of this dissertation is to determine the properties of Calcutta bamboo and its interaction with adhesives. The properties investigated were relative density, dimensional stability, equilibrium moisture content, bending strength and stiffness, tensile strength, pH, buffer capacity, wettability and the adhesive penetration. In addition to this, a prototype bamboo parallel strip lumber (BPSL) was manufactured and tested for its physical and mechanical properties. The relationships among the properties of Calcutta bamboo and the prototype bamboo composite were also investigated. As the result of these investigations, it is concluded that Calcutta bamboo is technically a suitable raw material for structural composite products. This result may also be applicable for the utilization of other bamboo species, thus aiding companies in decisions regarding investment in bamboo plantations and manufacturing facilities in the U.S, Malaysia and other parts of the world. The primary benefits from this research may be the development of new products to serve growing markets, and thereby relieving some of the pressure to harvest forestlands.
An analysis of factors influencing quality perceptions and purchase of office furniture
Hansen, Bruce G. (Virginia Tech, 1990-04-26)
This dissertation presents an in depth investigation of the office furniture industry and of the factors that influence selection and purchase of office furniture. It also utilizes data obtained in a national survey of nearly 270 office furniture buyers to investigate several general conceptual marketing issues. The industry-specific investigation includes a look at the history of the office and at events during the past 2-1/2 decades that have impacted the market for office furniture. It also includes a comparative look at the relative performance of wood (SIC 2521) and metal (SIC 2522) industry sectors. The performance of the office furniture industry is also compared with the wood household furniture industry (SIC 2511). This report includes a detailed look at the industry's changing product mix and use of wood-based materials. While the total use of wood-based material inputs by the industry was at record levels for all material categories in 1987, use on a per unit of output basis declined in several material categories. Material preferences, as expressed by survey respondents, indicated that solid wood is still rated highly and is the material of choice for interior and exterior applications in conventional office furniture manufacture. Twenty-six attributes of office furniture and of dealer/manufacturer services were rated on dual 7- and 5-point Likert scales for importance and difference, respectively. The most important attribute was the ability of the dealer manufacturer to provide products free of defects. However, when differences in the performance of suppliers or products were taken into account, the top determinant attribute was the ability to deliver on schedule. Comparisons of quality and selection and purchase ratings suggested that respondents tended to rate attributes on the bases of their use in selection and purchase higher overall than they rated their use in assessing quality. However, the relative ranking of attributes within the two sets of ratings were highly correlated. Respondent ratings of the 26 attributes were utilized in a multivariate study of quality dimensions employing confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses. Results of these analyses supported operationalization of most of Garvin's eight dimensions of quality.
An analysis of hardwood lumber and other wood-based materials use in the wood furniture industry
Forbes, Craig L. (Virginia Tech, 1992-06-05)
U.S. manufacturers of wood household, wood office and upholstered furniture were surveyed to (1) assess wood material use for 1990 and estimate use for 1991, and 1992, and (2) to examine consumer perceptions of certain hardwood lumber and supplier attributes in order to ascertain which are most influential in consumer purchase decisions. This study also provided information about the respondents, RTA and unfinished furniture, and green lumber purchases. Total 1990 hardwood lumber used in wood furniture was estimated at over 2.4 billion board feet. Use was expected to increase 13% from 1990 to 1992. Softwood lumber used in wood furniture in 1990 was estimated at over 839 million board feet. A 6% increase in softwood lumber use was expected from 1990 to 1992. Red oak was the most commonly used hardwood species and southern pine was the most used softwood. Furniture manufacturers indicated a decrease in particleboard and MDF use, and an increase in hardboard and OSB/softwood plywood use from 1990 to 1992. Product consistency was the attribute which most influenced the purchase of hardwood lumber, followed by accurate grading, supplier's knowledge of lumber, correct orders, and shipping on time. The least influential attributes were square end trimming, square edges, protective wrapping, end coating and supplier's ability to surface. Just over 20% of the respondents manufactured Ready-to-Assemble furniture and just over 15% manufactured unfinished furniture. Overall, 26% of respondents purchased green hardwood lumber, most being larger firms. Most firms' purchases of green lumber either have not changed, or have increased, over the last 5 years.
An analysis of the retail customer of CCA pressure treated lumber, timbers and plywood
Smith, Paul M. (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1988)
Professional builders (PRO's) and do-it-yourself (DIY) households throughout the U.S. were surveyed individually to assess their overall knowledge/awareness, product and service attribute preference and the general product quality and risk perceptions of CCA pressure treated lumber products. Primary data were acquired via two separate nationwide mail surveys; one included 3,361 PRO's, the other was administered to 3,224 households. Findings indicate that each of these retail customer groups is comprised of distinct subsegments that may be distinguished in various ways. These meaningful PRO segmentation strategies emerged from analysis of 543 PRO respondents portraying treated lumber customers according to the following: (1) geographic region as characterized by product and service attribute preferences, opinions, knowledge and demographics, (2) quality perceptions in terms of the relationship between benefits sought and product quality perception opinions and (3) physical risk or safety perceptions based on a risk personality type as delineated further according to three sets of psychographic predictor variable sets. The 491 responding DIY'ers were segmented according to risk perception orientation similarly to the builders. In addition, the DIY'er was profiled with regional breakdowns for treated lumber usage, applications and purchase intent, the husband/wife involvement in treated lumber buying decisions, knowledge, and product and service attribute importance. Consumer knowledge and awareness of pressure treated lumber products, in general, is very low. Only one-third of PRO's and 21% of DIY'ers could recall, unaided, at least one brand of treated lumber. Moreover, approximately one-third of all PRO and DIY respondents are knowledgeable about the preservative chemicals and a mere 38% of the 436 PRO respondents and 23% of the DIY respondents who have used treated lumber products from 1985-1987 could successfully identify the correct response from a multiple choice question which described the contents of Consumer Information Sheets (CIS's). Primarily through reading materials, Permanent Wood Foundations (PWF's) are well known among builders with 70% aware. However, only one-fourth of DIY'ers have ever heard of PWF systems.
Assessing the Availability of Wood Residues and Residue Markets in Virginia
Alderman, Delton R. Jr. (Virginia Tech, 1998-03-22)
A statewide mail survey of primary and secondary wood product manufacturers was undertaken to quantify the production and consumption of wood residues in Virginia. Two hundred and sixty-six wood product manufacturers responded to the study and they provided information on the production, consumption, markets, income or disposal costs, and disposal methods of wood residues. Hardwood and pine sawmills produce approximately 66 percent of Virginia's wood residues. Virginia's wood product manufacturers produce three primary residues: chips, bark, and sawdust. These three residues comprised nearly 83 percent of Virginia's total residue production in 1996. Approximately 200,000 tons or 6 percent of Virginia's wood residues appear not to have adequate markets. A second survey was directed to all municipal waste, construction and demolition, and "other" waste facilities in Virginia. The focus of this survey was to quantify the volume of solid wood residues received at the facilities. In addition, the study was conducted to ascertain tipping fees, did the landfill(s) actively market wood residues, were wood residues recycled, were wood residues restricted from being landfilled, and disposal methods for wood residues. Additionally, the survey was conducted to determine the type of waste facility operated, the quantity of all wastes directed to each landfill, and tipping fees. Seventy-five respondents provided information on the total and solid wood waste volumes received at their respective facilities, recycling efforts, and disposal practices. Approximately 689,000 tons of solid wood, or 8 percent of all wastes, was received at Virginia's landfills in 1996. Virginia's waste facilities reported processing or recycling approximately 406,000 tons or 59 percent of the solid wood received in 1996.
An assessment of manufacturing quality variation and an SPC handbook for the pallet and container industries
Gales, Teresa Leigh (Virginia Tech, 1988-09-01)
Today, American industries are in a highly competitive international market. To achieve the competitive edge, manufacturers are demanding excellence from their vendor/suppliers. The pallet and container industries are the suppliers to the other companies. Statistical Process Control (SPC) is one-way to prove to the buyer the quality level of their products. One part of the this thesis is a handbook, which explains a step by step process of implementing an SPC program for the pallet and container industry. In addition, the thesis examines the quality levels of materials that goes into the pallet including the finished product such as raw material, cut-stock, fasteners, and workmanship. The raw material proved quite variable from the different sawmills. The between board variation was greater than the within for both the thickness and width. The cut-stock had less size variation in thickness than width. The workmanship of the finished pallets showed that the number of nail splits and uniformity of deckboard spacing to be a problem. While the number of missing nails, protruding nail points and heads, and the "out of squareness." It was not a problem. The physical characteristics of the fasteners proved extremely variable from one characteristic to another. There are a number of fasteners being produced outside of the NWPCA criteria for wire diameters. The most popular fastener gauges are the 11 and 11.5. In addition, the most popular fastener length is 2.25 and fastener flute number is 4. The MIBANT angle variation is higher for the stiffstock fasteners then the hardened fasteners.
Character-marked Furniture: Perceptions, Critical Issues, and Barriers to Acceptance Among Manufacturers and Retailers
Bumgardner, Matthew Scott Jr. (Virginia Tech, 1998-08-05)
An important issue in the furniture industry is more widespread use of character-marks. The purpose of this research was to gain an in-depth understanding of the critical issues associated with acceptance of character-marked hardwood furniture. This information was beneficial for developing strategies to increase character-mark use by large furniture manufacturers. Although much has been said about the benefits of including more character in hardwood furniture, few large manufacturers have implemented such changes in their products. Personal interviews were conducted with product development personnel to develop case studies for large furniture manufacturers. The case studies centered on the companies' experiences with character-marked furniture. A follow-up mail survey was conducted to validate the case studies. It was found that decisions concerning character-mark use occur throughout the product development process, and involve the design, marketing, and production functions within the company. Companies that were able to fit character-marks within acceptable product concepts, considering such factors as style, finish, and hardware, appeared to have the most success with character-marked furniture in the marketplace. Conjoint analysis was employed to provide quantitative measures of retailers' perceptions of character-marked furniture products. This information was useful for determining the potential for push-type promotion. The dependent measure stimuli were full product profiles (actual wood samples and pictures), presented to respondents during on-site interviews. Retailers preferred furniture with no knots when evaluations were based on buying consideration and relative price. However, there was a linear relationship between preference and knot size, suggesting that opportunities for use of small knots may exist. It was found that character-marks were quite important to the product evaluations, suggesting that character-marks are a salient product feature. In addition to generating preference measures for tangible furniture product attributes, an investigation of the intangible product attributes associated with character-marks was conducted. Rustic, casual, and antique looks were most associated with character-marked furniture. Promotion of character-marked furniture based on environmental and natural material themes did not appear to hold much potential in the minds of manufacturers and retailers. It appears that promotion of character-marked furniture aimed at retailers will have to be based on what character-marks add to the look of wood household furniture.
Characterization of Wood Features Using Color, Shape, and Density Parameters
Bond, Brian H. (Virginia Tech, 1998-02-09)
Automated defect detection methods allow the forest products industry to better utilize its resources by improving yield, reducing labor costs, and allowing minimum lumber grades to be utilized more intelligently. While many methods have been proposed on what sensors and processing methods should be used to detect and classify wood features, there exists a lack of understanding of what parameters are best used to differentiate wood features. The goal of this research is to demonstrate that by having an in depth knowledge of how wood features are represented by color, shape, and density parameters, more accurate classification methods can be developed. This goal was achieved through describing wood features using parameters derived from color and x-ray images and characterizing the variability and interrelationships of these parameters, determining the effect of resolution and species on these relationships, and determining the importance and contribution of each parameter for differentiating between wood features using a statistical prediction model relating feature types to the parameters. Knots, bark pockets, stain and mineral streak, and clearwood were selected as features from red oak, (Quercus rubra), hard maple, (Acer saccharum), and Eastern white pine (Pinus stobus). Color (RGB and HSI), shape (eccentricity and roundness), and density (gray-scale values) parameters were measured. Parameters were measured for each wood feature from images and parameter differences between feature types were tested using analysis of variance techniques (ANOVA) and Tukey's pairwise comparisons with a=0.05. Discriminant classifiers were then developed to demonstrate that an in-depth knowledge of how parameters relate between feature types could be used to develop the best possible classification methods. Classifiers developed using the knowledge of parameter relationships were found to provide higher classification accuracies for all features and species than those which used all parameters and where variable selection procedures had been used< It was determined that differences exist between all feature types and can be characterized and classified based on two color means, one color standard deviation, the mean density, and a shape parameter. A reduction in image resolution was determined not to affect the relationship of parameters. For different species, the intensity of features was to be related to the intensity of clearwood. The ability to explain classification errors using the knowledge gained about feature parameters was demonstrated. This knowledge could be used to reduce future classification errors. It was determined that combining parameters collected using multiple sensors increases classification accuracy of wood features. Shape and density were found not to provide good classification variables for features when used separately, but were found to contribute to classification of features when used with other parameters. The ability to differentiate between the feature types examined in this research was found be equal when using the RGB or HSI colorspace.
Competitive determinants of technology diffusion in the wood household furniture industry
West, Cynthia D. (Virginia Tech, 1990)
Adoption of manufacturing technologies have been cited as an important competitive strategy for successful firms. This study assessed the wood household furniture industry for its current level of technology adoption, examined the impact of competitive variables on technology adoption and strategy formation, as well as, characteristics of innovators or early adopters within the industry. The results provide both insight into the technological direction of this industry and factors influencing the adoption of innovations by industrial organizations. The U.S. wood household furniture industry was surveyed concerning their recent equipment purchases, future purchase plans, and adoption of a list of 21 innovative technologies. Respondents listed recent equipment purchases within the finish machining area of the mill, particularly with automatic controls, as providing them with the most important benefits of increased efficiency and product quality. Respondents indicated that the functional areas of finish machining and the rough mill will receive the majority of new equipment over the next five years with automatic controls increasing in importance over time. A competitive-policy contingent model of technology adoption was developed and empirically tested. Innovativeness of firms was accessed by the number of technologies adopted from a set developed by industry experts. Empirical results suggest that organizational policy is dependent on the competitive conditions under which it was formed and that policy has an important effect on the innovativeness of an organization. Communication variables (signal frequency, cosmopliteness, and professionalization) were found to exhibit greater direct and indirect effects on innovation than industry structural variables with the exception of firm size. Characteristics of early adopters were contrasted with those of later adopters of technologies within the furniture industry based upon their adoption of thirteen processing technologies. Early adopters were found to differ significantly from later adopters on firm size, technological expertise, technological progressiveness, opinion leadership, information sources, and cosmopolitanism of the decision making group. The influence of technology push versus marketing pull strategies on firms was examined in an empirical study. Results of cluster analysis indicate that firms do align themselves along these strategic dimensions and can be contrasted on key characteristics; such as, demographics, company performance and environmental uncertainty.
Competitive strategy and structure in the United States wood household furniture industry
Forbes, Craig L. (Virginia Tech, 1995-02-05)
A multivariate measure of Porter's (1980) dimensions of competitive strategy was used to determine the competitive structure of the U.S. wood household furniture industry. Firms were categorized into strategic groups using hierarchical agglomerate cluster analysis based on factor scores. Cluster analysis resulted in a differentiation, an overall low cost, and a focus group (which appeared as a sub-group of the differentiation group). No differences (based on MANDOVA) were found between strategic groups based on performance (ROA or growth), or between firms with a distinct strategic orientation and those that appeared to be "stuck in the middle" (Porter 1980, p.41). Firms were asked to predict changes in their strategies over the following five years (1993 to 1998). The overall low cost group predicted increased emphasis primarily on the differentiation dimension, the differentiation group predicted increased emphasis on the focus dimension and the focus group predicted greater emphasis would be placed on the overall low cost and differentiation dimensions. Three firms chosen based on their close proximity to strategic group centroids were studied through case analyses to detennine how these firms operationalize their intended strategy. The firm classified as a differentiation strategist: emphasized product style and company image, and was very customer-oriented. The overall low cost firm's strategy involved manufacturing generic products exhibiting mass appeal and offering these products at the lowest cost. The focus firm aggressively targeted a particular market segment to achieve competitive advantage. The structure of the industry was investigated based of value of shipments during 1993. Over 60% of reported shipments were targeted toward a medium price point. Nearly 85% of shipments were from the largest 25% of responding firms. The majority of furniture shipped by respondents was bedroom furniture, followed by dining room furniture (19%) and occasional tables (11 %). Over one third of reported shipments were through local and regional full line furniture stores. Other important channels of distribution were national furniture chains (20% of total shipments) and discount chains, department stores and mass merchants (14%). Of the total reported value, 6.0% were exported, 15.6% were consumer ready-to-assemble (RTA) furniture and 16.9% were new products.
Determining the Financial Feasibility of a Wood Products Industrial Park
Walters, James T. (Virginia Tech, 1998-05-05)
A methodology was developed for determining the economic feasibility of a wood products industrial park. The methodology consists of twelve steps that address the goals of park owners, the feasibility of secondary manufacturing alternatives, the feasibility of the development corporation, and the financial areas needing management attention. Prerequisites to the financial analysis include market and technical analyses. Community impact analysis was also acknowledged as an important component of an overall feasibility analysis. A case study was performed that consisted of an economic feasibility analysis for a wood products industrial park in Southwest Virginia. The case study assumed private ownership and found that the best mix of park tenants included: an edge-glued dimension panel manufacturer, a solid dimension lumber manufacturer, a custom millwork manufacturer, and a pallet manufacturer. Primary manufacturing and marketing services were included in the preferred park formation as subsidiaries of the park development corporation. The park was predicted to have a strong positive impact on the regional economy.
Evaluation of a direct processing system for converting no. 3 grade red oak logs into rough dimension parts
Lin, Wenjie (Virginia Tech, 1993)
The primary objective of this study was to assess the economic feasibility and profitability of the direct processing system for converting No.3 grade red oak logs into rough dimension parts. In the first part of this study, the cutting yields of green dimension parts and dollar value recovery from No.3 grade red oak logs by the direct processing system were estimated. A combination method of actual log sawing and simulated cutting was used to obtain the dimension yields. Two sawing patterns (live-sawing and five-part-sawing) and two cutting sequences (rip-first and crosscut-first) were tested for their effects on dimension yields, cutting lengths, and dollar value recovery. It was found that live-sawing resulted in significantly higher dimension yield than five-part-sawing. If followed by rip-first, live-sawing also resulted in higher dollar value recovery than five-part-sawing. Rip-first and crosscut-first has no significant differences in dimension yield, however, rip-first can recover more dollar value than crosscut-first if longer cuttings have higher value. The results of this study indicated that the combination of live-sawing and rip-first has the highest dimension yield and dollar value recovery if longer cuttings have higher value. In the second part of this study, the mill designs of the direct processing system for the various sawing patterns and cutting sequences were developed. The computer simulation/animation models for these designs were built using SIMAN IV/CINEMA. These models were used to predict the dynamic performances and production rates of the various mill designs. Based on simulation results, the direct processing system with one headrig saw can process from 17.8 to 20.5 MBF No.3 grade red oak logs and turn out 11 to 14.3 MBF Clear-two-face, 4/4 random width green dimension parts per shift. In the third part of this study, a financial analysis using discounted cash flow methods was conducted over a ten year planning horizon to determine the economic feasibility of the direct processing system that processes No.3 grade red oak logs directly into rough dimension parts. Under the assumptions of this study, measured by both Net Present Value (NPV) and Internal Rate of Return (IRR), all of the six designs evaluated are economically acceptable. With the highest NPV of $4,193,700 and the highest IRR of 29.6 percent, the design that uses live-sawing and rip-first with manual chop saws was found to be the most economically attractive selection. The profitability of the direct processing system, measured in ROS (Return on Sales), was estimated and compared with the reported profitability for the hardwood dimension and flooring industry. The results indicated that the direct processing system are more profitable than the conventional processing system for making dimension parts. The sensitivities of NPV and ROS to the changes in dimension part price, log price, labor cost, overhead cost, capital investment, weighting factor for part lengths, green cutting yield and drying and remanufacturing loss were analyzed. Dimension part price, green cutting yield and drying and remanufacturing loss were found to be the most important factors that affect the economic feasibility and profitability of the direct processing system.
Evaluation of color-based machine vision for lumber processing in furniture rough mills
Widoyoko, Agus (Virginia Tech, 1996)
This research study examined the potential application of a color-based machine vision system under development at Virginia Tech for lumber processing in the furniture rough mill. The evaluation was done by conducting a yield study using 134 red oak boards. ROMI-RIP, a rip-first simulation program by Thomas (1995), was used to simulate yields for both the manually digitized lumber data and the machine vision scanned lumber data. The color-based machine vision system was evaluated by comparing the optimum yield obtainable when using lumber data derived from the automatic scanning system to: (1) observed yield from an existing state-of-the-art rip-first rough mill and (2) the optimum yield from manually digitized lumber data. Overall, the color-based machine vision system resulted in about 17 percent lower yield than was measured in the rough mill and 20 percent lower than the optimum, based on manually digitized lumber data. An analysis of the yield percentage point difference between the machine vision-based yields and optimal yields indicates: (1) approximately 11.5 yield points were lost due to errors in defect detection accuracy, (2) 7.3 yield points were lost due to errors in the machine vision material handling system, and (3) 1.3 yield points were lost due to data digitization and truncation errors. Since material handling, data digitization, and truncation problems are solvable with current technologies, future research should focus on developing systems that can improve the accuracy of feature recognition in lumber.
Export marketing decision-making by wood household furniture manufacturers in Malaysia and the United States
Idrus, Roszehan Mohd (Virginia Tech, 1994-07-15)
This dissertation presents export decision-making information meant to complement the array of information available to wood furniture manufacturers, relevant government agencies, and marketers. It utilizes data obtained from a literature search as well as from a national survey of 947 wood household-furniture manufacturers in the U.S. and 310 manufacturers in Malaysia. Personal interviews were also carried out to support as well as to add depth to the quantitative data. This report includes a detailed look at the global export market opportunities for wood household furniture. For U.S. manufacturers, potential markets are its NAFTA partners - Saudi Arabia, the European Union, and the Pacific Rim countries. However, U.S. companies need to focus more on exporting and not be totally dependent on the domestic markets. As for Malaysian manufacturers, the U.S. will remain as the largest market for their products. However, this may change with the competition that Malaysia faces with other Asian nations such as China, Indonesia, and Thailand. Furthermore, Malaysia, a tropical wood producing country, may lose its market share if U.S. consumers start to demand environmentally friendly wood furniture products.
A general purpose machine vision prototyper for investigating the inspection of planar webs
Ng, Chong Teck (Virginia Tech, 1993)
In order for an industrial inspection system to be of utility in manufacturing it must be fast, accurate, and flexible [Chin 1986]. Current machine vision systems are very specialized and inflexible in nature. A reason for the inflexibility of current machine vision systems is the need for real-time processing of image data. Such a need has forced both the use of very specialized image processing hardware as well as the use of rather simple, very specialized computer vision algorithms to do the analysis. On the other hand, most, if not all, of today’s computer vision methods are not general purpose in nature. In the absence of truly robust general purpose methods, developing satisfactory machine vision solutions will continue to involve experimenting with machine vision hardware and software components. Given the current state of machine vision technology, it would seem that the best method for creating flexible machine vision systems is, perhaps, to define a subclass of inspection problems where all the problems within the subclass have a number of common features about them. Such a subclass must be of interest to a number of manufacturers. It must also be “reasonable” to solve, given the current state of the art. Once the subclass has been selected, the next logical step would seem to be to create a device that makes performing all the needed experiments on the various problems within the class easy to perform. Based on the above line of reasoning, this work has four major objectives. The first objective is to define a meaningful subclass of inspection problems that are a) of interest to a number of manufacturers, and b) represent inspection tasks that seem “reasonable” within the current state-of-the-art of computer vision. The subclass of inspection problems selected for this work is the longitudinal planar web inspection problem under the two-dimensional imaging restriction. The second objective of this work is to create a vehicle that will allow the types of experimentation usually associated with the development of machine vision systems to be facilitated. This vehicle created is called a “machine vision prototyper.” The third objective of this work is to use the machine vision prototyper system to attack a particular planar web applications problem. The application considered is the problem of locating and identifying surface defects in surfaced hardwood lumber in a species independent manner. The fourth objective of this research is to indicate how the prototyper system can be used to attack a second planar web application problem. This application problem is the inspection of hardwood parts coming out of a molder. The utility of the machine vision prototyper system as an experimental tool is demonstrated on two of the three possible types of longitudinal planar web inspection problems. The results include the development of a machine vision system for a hardwood surfaced lumber surface feature detection problem, and a discussion of how the prototyper can be used to attack the problem of inspecting hardwood parts coming out of a molder.
The Impact of Environmental Certification on U.S. Hardwood Flooring Manufacturers
Alt, Curt (Virginia Tech, 2001-04-06)
A nation-wide survey of hardwood flooring manufacturers was conducted in the spring of 1998. The objectives of the study were to determine the differences in beliefs towards certification between certified and non-certified hardwood flooring manufacturers and to explore the decision to certify and the implications of that decision. Those objectives were chosen because certification is a developing phenomenon of which there are some aspects that remain unknown. The survey consisted of a mail questionnaire that was sent to more than 250 hardwood flooring manufacturers. The questionnaire was used to collect demographic and attitudinal information from the respondents about certification. The second part of the research used the Analytic Hierarchy Process to model the decision process hardwood flooring manufacturers go through when deciding whether or not to certify. Data were collected as part of the mail questionnaire. The final goal of the research, to explore the experiences of certified manufacturers, was met through the use of personal interviews with the manufacturers. The results from the mail survey indicated that certified hardwood flooring manufacturers tended to be smaller than non-certified hardwood flooring manufacturers. The total amount of certified hardwood flooring produced in the U.S. in 1997 was estimated to be 435,579 bdft, roughly 0.1% of the total reported amount of hardwood flooring produced. The research also indicated that certified manufacturers felt that there was a need for certification in the U.S. and that it was the environmentally responsible thing to do, while the non-certified manufacturers felt that that was untrue. The most important factor in the non-certified manufacturers' decision whether to certify is the profit potential of the product, while the certified manufacturers based their decision to certify on the marketing advantages, image benefits, and access to new markets that the certified product provides. Overall, certified and non-certified hardwood flooring manufacturers hold widely differing views on certification, and those differing beliefs contribute to the choices each group makes.
Influence of site, clone, age, and growth rate on wood properties of three Populus X Euramericana clones
Peszlen, Ilona (Virginia Tech, 1993)
The purpose of this study was to investigate variation in selected anatomical, physical and mechanical properties of three Populus x euramericana (Dode) Guinier hybrid clones grown on two dissimilar sites in Hungary. Six 15 years old trees from three clones on one site and six 10 years old trees from two clones on the other site were sampled at breast height. Anatomical properties, including vessel lumen diameter, area and shape factor, number of vessels per unit area, fiber lumen diameter and area, fiber length, ray area, and cell wall area percent were measured by an image analyzer. Site, clone and/or their interaction significantly affected one or more of these properties except fiber length. Variations were significant among trees within clone and site for all variables except vessel lumen diameter. However, most of the variations was within tree as a result of the effect of age. Statistically significant correlations were found between anatomical properties. For specific gravity, there was no significant differences between sites but there was a significant clone effect with a repeatability of 0.51 indicating genetic control on this property. There were no significant differences among clones for modulus of rupture, crushing strength, maximum tensile strength, and tension modulus of elasticity. Strength properties were significantly higher near the bark than close to the pith except for maximum tensile strength. Specific gravity was not the single most important factor affecting strength properties of the clones. The effect of age and growth rate on specific gravity and anatomical properties were also investigated. Differences among clones for growth ring widths were significant in the "good" years only. Specific gravity was high near the pith, then each of the clones exhibited a different radial pattern. Based on segmented regression, a quadratic model with a plateau proved to be useful for estimating the demarcation between juvenile and mature anatomical characteristics. The ages of maturation were not the same for all properties; however, the order of maturation was the same on both sites. No consistent relationships between growth rate and specific gravity and anatomical properties were found when growth rings of the same age were compared.
An Investigation into Attitudes towards Recycling CCA Treated Lumber
Alderman , Delton R.Jr. (Virginia Tech, 2001-04-12)
This research examines the effects of evaluations, beliefs, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control on the contractor's decision intention to recover used CCA lumber. The purpose of this research was to determine the factors that affect recovery. This research proposes that a contractor's decision intention to recover is affected by evaluations, beliefs, subjective norms, and perceived barriers to recovery. The study included a mail questionnaire that was sent to over 2,800 contractors. The questionnaire was used to collect both demographic data and an evaluation of the factors believed to affect the recovery of CCA treated lumber. Data was collected primarily through the mail survey, where participants rated the factors believed to affect the recovery of spent CCA lumber. Extrapolation indicates that nearly 2.4 million cubic meters of treated lumber were removed in 1999 from the demolition of decks. It was also discerned that only two of the respondents recovered used CCA lumber on a full-time basis. Additionally, there appears to be a lack of knowledge regarding the chemical components of CCA treated lumber, the proper disposal methods, and handling of the product. This has profound strategic implications for not only the wood treating industry but other industries as well. The second phase of the research utilized ordinary least squares regression and a structural equation modeling program to model the factors concerning the contractors' decision intention to recover. The findings indicate that contractor beliefs and components of perceived behavioral control are the primary drivers in the contractor's decision intention to recover. Regarding beliefs, the findings indicate that contractors have a minimal belief that the recovery of the CCA lumber is necessary. This indicates that a marketing communications program should be developed to address the necessity and benefits of recovery. Recovery facilities and programs were found to be nonexistent and will have to be developed in order to facilitate recovery. Concerning programs, the overwhelming response was that some type of financial incentive would have to be incorporated to initiate recovery. In conjunction with the development of programs, recovery facilities will have to be developed that are convenient for the contractor to dispose of the used lumber.

Browsing by Author "Lamb, Fred M."

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