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Title / Demonstrate knowledge of the principles of sawmilling
Level / 2 / Credits / 7
Purpose / People credited with this unit standard are able to: demonstrate knowledge of economic factors impacting on sawmilling operations; demonstrate knowledge of principles of the sawmilling process; demonstrate knowledge of the concepts of timber conversion and grade recovery; demonstrate knowledge of quality requirements of the sawmilling process; and describe safety requirements in the sawmill.
Classification / Wood Manufacturing - Generic Skills > Wood Manufacturing Foundation Skills
Available grade / Achieved
Explanatory notes
1For candidates employed in a sawmill, knowledge must be demonstrated in relation to the sawmill at which they are employed. For other candidates, knowledge must be demonstrated in relation to a typical New Zealand sawmill.
2All evidence requirements must be demonstrated and assessed in accordance with the reference text: Demonstrate Knowledge of the Principles of Sawmilling (Auckland: Competenz, 2000) and available from Competenz, PO Box 9005, Parnell, Auckland 1149.
3Definitions
In this unit standard, the term conversion is synonymous with the term recovery.
Worksite policies and procedures refer to documented policies and to documented or other directions provided to staff. These include, but are not limited to, ways of managing health and safety, environmental considerations, quality, and production, and must conform to legislation. Examples include standard operating procedures, company health and safety plans, on-site briefings, and supervisor’s instructions.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Demonstrate knowledge of economic factors impacting on sawmilling operations.
Evidence requirements
1.1Reasons for matching timber product requirements to log size and quality are described.
1.2Economic drivers for sawmill operations are described in accordance with the reference text.
Rangethree drivers.
1.3Cost components of sawmilling are named.
Rangeevidence is required of six.
1.4Key operational factors in the sawmilling process that impact on operational costs are identified.
Rangeevidence is required of four factors.
1.5Commercial uses and comparative values of sawn product and by-products are identified in accordance with the reference text.
Outcome 2
Demonstrate knowledge of principles of the sawmilling process.
Evidence requirements
2.1Reasons for sawmilling are explained.
2.2The progress of a log through sawmill machine centres is described.
2.3Saw types used in different machine centres are identified in accordance with the reference text.
2.4The differences between production (volume) sawing, grade (value) sawing, and combinations of both are explained.
2.5Further processing steps in the production of green sawn timber are identified in accordance with the reference text.
2.6Further processing options are identified in accordance with the reference text.
Rangeevidence is required of four.
Outcome 3
Demonstrate knowledge of the concepts of timber conversion and grade recovery.
Evidence requirements
3.1Cutting patterns are drawn, and advantages and limitations of each are identified in terms of volume and grade recovery, for round and round sawing, live sawing (through and through), and cant sawing.
3.2Advantages and limitations of taper sawing are identified in accordance with the reference text.
Rangeevidence is required of any two.
3.3Quarter sawn, flat sawn, and rift sawn timber are differentiated from samples and advantages and limitations of each are listed.
3.4Timber conversion is defined and calculated, within five percent, from log volume and volume of timber produced.
Rangeevidence of five calculations is required.
Outcome 4
Demonstrate knowledge of quality requirements of the sawmilling process.
Evidence requirements
4.1The impacts of poor quality on customers, profitability and conformance are explained in accordance with the reference text.
4.2Specifications for a work centre are explained for one product in accordance with worksite policies and procedures.
4.3The purpose and process for recording of quality data is explained in accordance with worksite policies and procedures.
Rangequality data includes – graphs, checksheets, non-conformance reports.
4.4A work centre quality control process is identified and explained in accordance with worksite policies and procedures.
Outcome 5
Describe safety requirements in the sawmill.
Evidence requirements
5.1Safety procedures required of personnel in sawmills are identified in accordance with legislative requirements and worksite policies and procedures.
Planned review date / 31 December 2017Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for AssessmentRegistration / 1 / 5 July 1993 / 31 December 2014
Review / 2 / 24 October 1996 / 31 December 2014
Review / 3 / 10 February 1999 / 31 December 2014
Revision / 4 / 12 December 2000 / 31 December 2014
Review / 5 / 18 December 2006 / 31 December 2014
Review / 6 / 18 April 2013 / N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference / 0173
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMRs). The CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact the Competenz at if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
CompetenzSSB Code 101571 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2019