Evaluation of Oak-Specific Consumption, Efficiency, and Losses from an Aesthetic Veneer Factory

Featured Application The results obtained in this paper can be applied practically in any aesthetic veneer factory, in this sense with the working methodology and also the values of the losses, efficiency, and specific consumption obtained in the case of oak logs being important. The paper aimed to investigate the losses on the manufacturing flow of an aesthetic veneer factory, in order to know their value and to take measures to limit or use them efficiently. For the analysis, the oak species (Quercus robur) was taken into account, through 25 analyzed logs. Statistical investigation has used the Minitab 18 program, for a 95% confidence interval. Minimum values of losses were obtained for the sectioning-grooming operations with 0.6% and debarking with 4.9%, and the highest values were obtained when cutting veneers with 15.9% and formatting veneers with 22.8%. Based on the losses on the manufacturing flow of 67.3%, the specific consumption index of 2.75 m(3)/m(3) or 1.84 m(3)/1000 m(2) of veneer was determined when the average thickness of the veneers was 0.67 mm. The paper highlights the methodology and the values resulting from the investigation of the technological losses and of the specific consumption from an aesthetic veneer factory.