6. Evaluate Result

In most cases evaluating the result becomes a judgement between achieving a balance between contradictory goals. The obvious two contradictory goals are:

• Drying quality versus drying time.

• Evaluate the best way to use the existing equipment in the most profitable way. This is very much related to improving drying schedules.
• Evaluate the best way to invest in future upgrades, kilns, predryers, fansheds etc. This is more related to evaluating how capital investment can be put to the best use possible.

The first type of evaluation has a short distance from collecting the data to its usage and implementation; in addition, a bad change can easily be undone for the next kiln charge. The second type of evaluation is more the kind where you have collected data and information for some time, which you will look back upon to determine the most efficient use of upgrades and expansion.

The decision about expansion and upgrade are generally non-reversible. If you have purchased a kiln that was poorly designed at a high price you are normally stuck with it.

In the end all the changes you decide to enact should increase the profitability of the kiln operation. In some of the more precious species avoiding drying degrade becomes one of the most important goals, whereas on construction pine some degrade can be justified. This does not mean in the latter case that significant degrade can be accepted when looking down the road. It could very well be that an investment in additional kiln capacity could reduce the degrade by increasing the drying time, for example by 25% and this reduction in "wasted" lumber/degrade could pay for the new kiln in 18 months. You would have to run the number and make trial kiln charges to make an educated estimation and generate the information needed for a cost/benefit study.

Re-evaluation of earlier results may also be beneficial in changing market conditions. Consider as an example that a slow down in the lumber market allows you to increase the drying time on an average of 10%. You could slow the drying process across the board. However, you would probably benefit by looking at earlier collected data and determine that it is more profitable to pick a few species and only change these few schedules. Again, profitability is the key to deciding when and what changes should be enacted.