The optimum benefit bundle and promotion strategy for automated lumber grading systems

Four secondary wood products sectors were surveyed to identify the "benefit bundle" that would increase the overall marketability of an automated lumb er grading system (AGS). These sectors included the cabinet, furniture, dim ension, and flooring industries. The benefit bundle is defined as the set o f system attributes and machine capabilities to be adapted by the secondary wood products industry for an AGS. This information is important to manufa cturers of scanning technology in identifying viable markets and determinin g the requirements of potential customers. This research is important to th e wood products industry in providing suppliers with information specific t o their businesses such that manufacturing innovations can move more readil y into the industry. The study found the ability to increase yield and prod uction efficiency to be important system attributes. In addition, technical support and equipment warranties were found to be important attributes to the secondary wood products industry. Trade shows were found to be importan t to the four sectors of the industry in learning about new technology. In addition, companies expressed interest in observing a working system in an industrial setting before investing in this technology.