Potential for improving sawing performance in low-technology environments: insights for decision-support in Uganda’s plantation sawmills

Abstract

Optimizing sawing decisions in timber processing is a challenge due to the multiplicity of variables involved. This is more pronounced in developing countries, characterized by low-technology environments and reliance on human judgment to make sawing decision, leading to inefficiencies and reduced profitability. This study evaluated the potential for improving timber volume and value recovery in plantation forests through use of decision support tools. A quasi-experimental approach was used, analysing logs processed under normal sawmill operations. Data on log and timber sizes were collected to compare empirical and simulated outcomes, the latter being based on mathematical models that can be integrated in decision support tools. The difference in timber volume and value recovery was tested using an independent t-test at a 5% significance level. Results indicate that the simulated sawing operations yielded improved performance compared to empirical outcomes, with timber volume recovery increasing from 41% to 45% while timber value recovery rose from 218,940 UGX/m³ to 330,135 UGX/m³. This represents potential gains of 10% in volume recovery and 51% in value recovery. These findings demonstrate that there is potential for enhancing plantation sawmilling performance through use of decision support tools. Further research is recommended to validate simulation results and to assess the cost and productivity implications of integrating decision support tools in sawing operations. Key words: sawmilling, decision-support, value-recovery, volume-recovery, developing countries