Quality control in mills. In these times of high-cost logs, it is increasingly important that both large-log and small-log mills maximize the value of the log and the lumber products through all phases of the manufacturing process.

Because sawmills process so many logs, very small incremental improvements translate into a large revenue improvement for a mill. For example, if a sawmill can reduce the size that they cut the lumber in the sawmill by 0.030 inch, and still maintain final grade requirements, that mill can increase its revenue anywhere from $300,000 to $500,000 per year!

Needless to say, the use of electronic log scanners and computers to measure and saw the first cut has greatly improved the efficiency of sawmills.