2023 Volume 22 Issue 2 Pages 43-50
The production rate and labor productivity of grapple saw processing operations 3 in a secondary hardwood forest dominated3 by Quercus serrata was determined. The production rate was 3.2 m per hour and labor productivity was 1.6 m per hour per person, with one grapple saw operator and one chainsaw operator. The actual time required for processing was highly correlated with tree trunk diameter at breast height, demonstrated by our regression analyses of this association. Assuming 0.6 dry t/m 3 , the production rate demonstrated in this study is lower than that of overseas grapple saw hardwood processing operations, as the production rate in some cases is higher than that in this study despite the small volume per tree. Comparison between grapple and chainsaw processing operations in Japan indicated the possibility of an improved production rate with a grapple saw, despite the difference in tree size. On the other hand, the labor productivity of this study was relatively lower than production rate, because all the comparison cases were one-person operations. Therefore, grapple saw processing should prioritize one-person operations to improve labor productivity and reduce chainsaw use. However, as eliminating high-quality chainsaw processing would likely reduce the production yield percentage, the most efficient method for effective local resource use must be selected.
