Expands of the skills previously introduced through the use of more advanced standard grade classifications and methods.  Learners build additional experience in the grading of hardwood lumber and logs and enhance their merchandising knowledge and understanding with emphasis on hands-on exercises and techniques.

Expands of the skills previously introduced through the use of more advanced standard grade classifications and methods.  Learners build additional experience in the grading of hardwood lumber and logs and enhance their merchandising knowledge and understanding with emphasis on hands-on exercises and techniques.

Explores the general overview of plant layout, machine centers, and different product flow in a lumber manufacturing setting.  Learners focus on the mix of species, and how these can be utilized in various product lines, and examine the processing of lumber through sawing, edging, and trimming manufacturing operations.

Explores the entire forest products supply-chain including sectors, current trends, career paths, and environments related to wood manufacturing. Establishes the importance of health and safety practices in the industry and introduces learners to various hazards they will encounter across industry, including sawmills, wood shops, and industrial settings. Learners will develop basic knowledge of OSHA, mills and shops in the forest products industry, and will have the opportunity to earn an NTC Forklift Operator Certificate.

Prepares learners to identify wood species and develops knowledge on the applications for different woods.  Learners will explore these concepts via hands-on experience, and establish basic understanding of wood cell types, identification characteristics, and material features. 

TBD

Introduces participants to the fundamentals of kiln drying lumber. The basics of determining moisture content, preparing samples and operating a dry kiln will be covered as well as an overview of different types of dry kiln equipment.

Establishes the breakdown of logs into veneers, panels and wood composites. Learners identify and explore the basic breakdown processes, uses of these different material types, and their various applications in the woods and manufacturing industries.

Explores the full process of drying wood, including wood structure, the full relationship between different environmental variables, and developing kiln operating schedules.  Learners also examine all stages of drying, how to prevent the material degradation, air drying, and steaming. 

Builds on the safety and sawmill knowledge from previous classes to provide learners with more in-depth working knowledge of sawmills and their related hazards. Examines the need for regular preventive and essential maintenance of equipment, tools, and blades, and the safety challenges related to each, including where maintenance fails. Prepares students to prevent injuries, fatalities and break-downs in a mill environment within a safe and secure dedicated learning facility.

Explores the hierarchy of the forest products industry structure as it relates to sawmill production facilities.  Learners will examine best practices and key performance indicators and apply these concepts in a live mill environment.  Topics that learners will focus on include lumber yield, grade proficiency, optimization of production flow, and downtime mitigation.