The Log Yard receives
approximately 1000,000 board feet of logs each day.
Care must be taken to assure all information regarding the logs has been
discussed with the trucker as he is the important communication link between
the contractor and Robbins.
The information given is input by voice into the Vocollect Computerized Data
Collection System, which is trade named Talkman. Data such as the
name of the contractor, trucker, landowner, county from which the logs were
cut, and name of driver are entered using the phonetic alphabet
Each log is given a specific destination in the log yard, according to
specie. As logs are off-loaded, Talkman receives from the scaler the
proper grade, length and diameter. Each log scaled is sent by radio
frequency to a computer in the sawmill office. This process of grade,
length, and diameter is repeated for each log until all are scaled.
The
data is then transferred from the Talkman system to our Log
Scaling data base software. This software package, designed for us by
Simply Computing, provides the scale slip for the supplier as well as many
other services for those involved with the load of logs. These services
include an immediate scale as well as dollar value for the load and the
opportunity to track a specific lot with regard to volume (board feet and
number of logs) and dollars generated by species and grade. Log Scaling
can also provide the supplier with an immediate summary of all logs sold to
Robbins Lumber for any period of time such as the last month or the last
year
The data collected is used by Robbins most importantly to pay our suppliers
accurately and timely. The scale slip preparation for payment is reviewed
at the Sawmill office and then transferred by computer to the Accounting
office for check processing. The collected data is also used for
inventory control and managing the product mix into the Sawmill. Examples
of the inventory information available to us are the number of logs in each
stockpile by specie, grade, volume, dollar value, average length, average
diameter, and number of days the logs have been in the yard