Unleashing the Power of AI in the Wood Products Industry
A Conversation with Cory Elliott, Sr. Project Manager, Crow Engineering
- Blog
Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with Cory Elliott from Crow Engineering. Cory is a seasoned leader in the forest and wood products industry with over 30 years of experience. He currently serves as a Senior Project Manager at Crow Engineering Inc. and owns EPS, a consulting company focused on process improvement and lean process implementation. During his career, he’s spent time in hundreds of mills and has held leadership roles at Enviva, Coastal Forest Products, Boise Cascade Company, New River Hardwoods, and Georgia Pacific.
Why Is Artificial Intelligence Important to the Wood Products Industry?
Reflecting on my history in the industry, it’s a perfect question. Automating processes within the wood products industry has always faced barriers. Machines lacked the ability to process tasks as humans do, especially in the labor-intensive environments of sawmills and plywood plants. Historically, automation efforts often resulted in more problems than solutions. Artificial Intelligence (AI) changes that dynamic, enabling intelligent machines to solve problems with a level of dexterity and thought process previously exclusive to humans.
Initially, we thought AI would simply automate tasks like random core feed. But the true value lies in making machines “smart.” AI can now discern which sheets of veneer to process, improving efficiency and decision-making. This proactive approach is a significant leap forward, allowing plants to move from reactive problem-solving to proactive management. It identifies issues before they become problems, shifting decision-making from reactive to proactive.
What Benefits Does the Wood Products Industry Gain from Adopting AI?
There’s a clear hierarchy: safety, environment, quality, production. Focusing on safety enhances all other aspects. If you eliminate safety risks, you improve quality and productivity. By using AI through the lens of safety, we can enhance every dimension of the operational process. Safety improvements naturally lead to better quality and increased productivity. It’s a chain reaction, starting and ending with safety.
Where Do You See AI Being Used in the Wood Products Industry?
The applications for AI, particularly our Sentinel system, are vast. Sentinels are flexible Artificial Intelligence (AI) and sensor systems which can be deployed at any industrial process step to see and predict objects and events, recommend actions to staff, control machinery and report on important metrics. It’s AI can be trained to make human-like decisions consistently and quickly. Sentinel watches over the entire operation, identifying anomalies like double logs on conveyors and preventing potential damages. It shifts from merely providing information to making actionable decisions. Imagine a Sentinel system in a warehouse, stopping a forklift from causing a catastrophic accident. The value of having an intelligent, non-judgmental system watching over operations 24/7 is immense. It’s not just about wood products; Sentinel can revolutionize any manufacturing or distribution process.
Are There Any Downsides to This Technology?
The primary challenge is organizational shock. Many companies aren’t ready to face the inefficiencies that Sentinel will highlight. Smaller, privately-owned companies, in particular, might resist necessary changes. It’s a cultural shift. The key is guiding these organizations through the transition, showing them the long-term benefits of addressing these inefficiencies. Larger organizations, with diverse perspectives, tend to be more open to these changes. It’s about consulting, educating, and sometimes sharing information that the organization may not want to hear. But, knowing that in the long run, this technology will raise the bar for any organization deploying it.
Where Do You See This Going in Three to Five years?
If we approach this correctly, Sentinel could become one of the most fundamental shifts in manufacturing since the invention of the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC). The biggest challenge for many facilities is getting and retaining skilled labor. Sentinel can alleviate this by taking over mundane, repetitive tasks and allowing human workers to focus on more complex issues. This continuous improvement tool has applications beyond wood products, extending to automotive, mining, pulp and paper, and steel industries. The potential is vast and transformative.
Final Thoughts
AI and systems like Sentinel are not just about automation; they’re about creating safer, more efficient, and more productive operations. By proactively identifying and addressing issues, AI allows for significant improvements across the board. At RIOS, we are excited to be at the forefront of this revolution, transforming the future of wood products operations and beyond.
