Computerisation

Identified many years ago as a necessary evil we cautiously entered the computer era and found there was very little that catered for our business type. We had a custom point of sale package written which served us well for 12 years. In 1992 we began developing our own programs.

Purpose built "Back Office" to monitor all operations.
All programming work is done on site with minimal interruption to the front office.
Staff play an important role in testing and suggesting the future direction.
All data is automatically up loaded off site twice daily.

It has always been a high priority to us to market a superior product. To achieve this goal it is imperative that every intricate step of the growing, harvesting, production and marketing be broken into distinct categories and monitored accordingly. Computer programs now play an important part of the recording process.

Our first programs designed in house were Maintenance type programs. A need was identified to get all stationary and mobile equipment onto a preventative maintenance program to:

• Minimize down time,
• To meet our obligation to Workplace Health and Safety requirements and
• To ensure delivery deadlines set by clients were met.

We followed quite closely the aviation type mentality where components / inspections were "lifed" and had to undergo procedure to clear the item for further use. The most difficult part of the project was training staff to interact so closely with a computer.

Today our staff feel at ease with the technology realizing that the computer did not put anyone out of work but in fact opened up a whole new era of information exchange that had been missing between Administration and mill staff. Staff regularly come forward now with "new ideas" to improve a report or procedure. Maintenance personal now enjoy maintaining their own system.

Mill and Vehicle Maintenance – Records all items of both stationery and mobile plant
from as small as a vacuum cleaner up to a Twin Saw Rig.
Components are lifed for inspection, lubrication and so on.

A multitude of reports are on menu including:
Specification report, Daily and Weekly Maintenance, 10 day in detail maintenance schedule, History, Jobs outstanding, Oil survey, Filter and other Part Numbers.

Page from a weekly report showing detailed maintenance required.
Note under Saw Grinder special silicon spray has been highlighted to complete the task.

Log Tracking menu showing key areas of management.
System caters for logs purchased from the State Government as per their complicated guidelines.
Recent development has incorporated a simpler purchasing system for dealing with private landholders.
Milled log section records Green Mill daily throughput and current log stock in yard by specie.

Kiln Recording System.
Records all activity within the Kiln.
Up to 15 moistures content tests are recorded against each pack number.
Stock reports show stock in yard, in kiln and in dry shed awaiting transfer to the dry mill.
Power usage is monitored.

Dry Dress Stock
Records all pack ID's produced in the Dry Mill.
Each finished pack holds moisture content tests and a certificate.
Tally sheet capability to record mixed packs.
Finished packs are linked back to the original Kiln pack for quality assurance program.

Green Stock
Records all green off saw stock e.g. Studs, Pallet timber and so on.
Pack date and details insure stock is turned over regularly.
Tally sheet capability to record mixed packs.
Weight conversion module allows packs to be calculated by their weight.

Point of Sale
Sophisticated Timber system incorporating:
– Quoting
– Invoice, Delivery and Credit notes
– Job Tracking through production line
– Load out reports
– Price lists
– Client spending analysis
– Quote follow up maintenance
– Archive maintenance

Purchasers
Designed originally to track part numbers, value and creditor to assist with mill maintenance.
Later it was expanded to include:
- Order and Quote only reports
- Sophisticated analysis reports by Date, Creditor, Machine Item
down to sub groups of filters, Belts, bearings and so on.

Time Recording
Staff time tracking database with analysis reports:
- Overtime
- Sick days
- Sawmill diary
- Production per man hour
- Daily time sheets
Takes time data right up to pay role input stage.

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