Industry Courses and Training Opportunities
The National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life will be offering industry a range of courses with leading international and national experts on a range of topics of interest to the forest and wood products industry sector.
If you would like to find out more about upcoming courses and training please email FRIAdmin@usc.edu.au your interest and if there is particular training or information you are after for yourself or your team.
Statistical Process Control (SPC) Course - 2019 - Mount Gambier
From Monday 29 July to Friday 2 August a course focused on statistical processes, their application in process controls and their broader use in the application and compliance with Australian softwood standards was held in Mount Gambier at the University South Australia Campus.
The course was jointly sponsored by the University of South Australia Mount Gambier Timber Hub and the National Centre for Timber Durability and Design Life with support from Forest and Wood Products Australia.
Resources and Material from the SPC Course
To access resources and information from the SPC Course please click here.
Statistical Process Control (SPC) Overview
SPC refers to measurement and analysis of properties or attributes of a population of timber products using robust statistical methods, and to give guidance for processes management aiming to keep properties within nominated (acceptable) bounds.
SPC provides the framework that will help companies reduce variation and save money, while improving product value. In the solid wood processing industries, SPC can help companies reduce variation and improve log yield, which has significant positive financial implications.
This course brought together three nationally and internationally recognised experts who examined the use of SPC processes in meeting Australian grading and treating standards and development of lean methods to improve outcomes.
The course was designed for supervisors and technical staff in sawmills across Australia, but was also of interest to those working in composites manufacturing. The course had 20 attendees from across Australia who are part of the forest and wood products industries.
Sampling, Measurement and Australian Timber Standards
Australian standards require timber to meet a range of criteria that determine whether a timber is fit for purpose. Australian Competition and Consumer Act 2010, promotes competition, fair-trading and provides protection for consumers. There is a legal requirement that the timber product sold matches the description or standards.
Sawmills collect a range of data and have various methods of sampling, measuring and analysing it, with the view of determining if the variables tested are within the specifications outlined in the Australian standards. This course will assist in deepening the understanding of the data, analysing it and the use of the results.
Topics Covered
- Characterising a population
- Sampling - identify the different statistical outcomes achieved by the use of the different (random and biased) sampling techniques used across the various mills in Australia and the applicability of their results to their circumstances
- Variability in timber and treatments
- Australian sawmill data will be used to exemplify the concepts and varying outcomes achieved by different sampling techniques
- Does the result fit with expectations? Sensibility checking and retesting
- Anomalies – dealing with rogue results
- Standards history of development and the application of current standards and quality control measures
- Legal obligations
- Timber Treatment with particular reference to the draft AS1604.2. Discussion around the following:
- Variables which influence outcomes
- Variable control limits and confidence internals
- Variable interaction and impact
- Understand how SPC methods can help manufacturers quantify and reduce variation
- How to apply controls charts on key process metrics (eg thickness, moisture, etc.)
- How to quantify the cost of variation at their facilities, ie, benefits of target size control/optimisation/reduction
- How to conduct a capability analysis
- Understand tools for root-cause analyses
- How to apply lean methods at their facilities
- How to track and sustain the continuous improvement efforts using the above methods
- How to develop Excel spreadsheets using the above methods
More information
Please contact FRIAdmin@usc.edu.au