Expanding Markets and Industrial Practices for Thermally Modified Wood

Thermally modified wood (TMW) contains no toxic components and is recommended for its durability, levels of equilibrium of moisture content, and dimensional stability performance. A limitation of TMW is the lack of market acceptance and products due to insufficient information regarding the performance of commercially available products. The goal of this project was to improve the market penetration and industrial processes of TMW. The first objective was to study the perception of TMW products from architects in North America using a survey instrument. Results revealed that information regarding TMW is not reaching the audience for TMW, and that providing knowledge regarding technical and marketing aspects of TMW is essential to increase the market share. The second objective consisted of the evaluation of the variability of the physical and mechanical properties of three thermally treated species manufactured in North America. Results showed that the performance of the commercially produced material was similar among the three companies, where only in seven out of 24 properties had statistical differences. Properties that were significantly different, did not have large enough differences in means to be realistically noticed by customers and all were highly different from untreated wood. The final objective involved the implementation of Lean thinking to the manufacturing process of TMW with the goal of improving the process with a direct impact on cost and waste reductions. Three companies were used as case studies for the production process. The implementation of Lean thinking in the process proposed a reduction in lead times from 55.47 days to 23.20 days, with an increase in value-added activities from 1% to 6%. Most of these gains were obtained through a reduction in inventory levels.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Forest Products

Department dc:contributor.department

Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

2020

Author dc:creator

• Gonzalez, Juan Jose

Chairs dc:contributor.committeechair

• Quesada, Henry Jose
• Bond, Brian H.

Committee member dc:contributor.committeemember

• Ellis, Kimberly P.

• Thermally Modified Lumber
• Yellow Poplar
• Red Maple
• Ash
• Hardwoods
• Lean Thinking
• Mechanical and Physical Testing
• Durability
• Market perception.

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Dc Identifier Other

vt_gsexam:26229

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/99059