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TECHNICAL REPORT

Project 433/06 R3 (I) - PIMADS

“Sustainable Model for the Brazilian Wood Flooring Production Chain”

“First Quality Audit in Flooring Producers and Suppliers”

Ariel de Andrade and Natalie Ferreira de Almeida

National Hardwood Flooring Association - Brazil

Summary

This study aimed to analyze the current quality of the wood flooring that are

being marketed seeking effective alternatives to improve the quality of products. For

the analysis of the quality standard of the flooring were used information of audits in

industries and suppliers of wood flooring. For all items analyzed none reached the level

of compliance with the standards of quality. The insertion of these companies in the

ANPM Quality Certification Program can promote improvements in manufacturing

processes and maintaining the quality of products, generating global benefits for the

industries.

1 Introduction

The wood flooring requires a minimum standard of quality in order to be

marketed and used. Products not properly prepared may present problems

discouraging the use and commercially harming the entire industry.

Because of this, the ANPM (National Hardwood Flooring Association - Brazil) is

developing a Quality Certification Program seeking precisely the improvement of

product quality from manufacturing industries wood flooring.

Therefore, the objective of this Technical Report was to analyze the current

quality of wood flooring companies that are not part of the ANPM Quality Program and

seek alternatives for effective improvement in product quality.

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2 Applied methodology

For the analysis of the quality standard of the flooring were used information of

audits in industries and suppliers of wood flooring. In total, five audits were performed

in wood flooring produced by five companies not part of ANPM Quality Program.

All procedures and standards used in audits were developed within the Quality

Program for wood flooring, coordinated by ANPM.

The lots were randomly selected, and to the total were sampled 125 pieces of

wood flooring for each audit. In the audit, the sampled pieces were placed on a flat and

regular table where they were performed the marking, visual analysis and

measurement of dimensions and defects.

For the determination of moisture content were selected at random, 25 pieces

of the lot sample. The moisture of the pieces was obtained using electrical meter and

also by gravimetric method.

The figures 01 to 16 contain a sequential summary of the procedures performed

in the audit:

Figure 01 - Selection of lots Figure 02 - Selected lot

Figure 03 - Withdrawal of pieces Figure 04 - Material used in audit

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Figure 05 - Marking the pieces Figure 06 - Length measurement

Figure 07 - Width measurement Figure 08 - Thickness measurement

Figure 09 - Panel Mounting Figure 10 - Evaluation of defects

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Figure 11 - Moisture measurement for electrical meter

Figure 12 - Withdrawal of samples for moisture measurement by gravimetric method

Figure 13 - Sample storage in plastic bags Figure 14 - Removal of loose fragments for weighing the samples

Figure 15 - Weighing of samples Figure 16 - Drying of the samples in the laboratory

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According to ABNT NBR 15799 "Wood flooring prefinished and unfinished -

Standardization and quality grades” for the companies obtain qualifications in their

products must comply the following criteria:

� Obtain above 95.0% of conformities in the items defects, thickness, width and

moisture.

3 Presentation of the data

Figure 17 - Average results of the audits performed

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Table 1 - Evaluation of conformity (%) - average, maximum and minimum values.

(%) of Compliance Average (%) Maximum (%) Minimum (%)

Defects 81,4 86,4 78,4 Thickness 81,8 95,2 60,0

Width 67,4 94,4 11,2 Moisture 37,6 66,7 4,0

Figure 18 - Defects in wood flooring

4 Analysis and interpretation of the data and results

Of all the analyzed items none of them achieved 95% of conformity established

by the NBR 15799, as can be seen in Figure 17 and Table 01.

Moisture is the item that showed the highest number of non-conformity,

indicating that is the more difficult to control.

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Considering all the analyzes performed for the five audits were detected 116

pieces of wood flooring with defects considered non-conformities and which represent

about 20% of the total analyzed, which is quite significant. Figure 18 presents a Pareto

chart with the results related to the defects found. It is found that 80% of the defects

are caused by: face defect, varnish defect, twist, broken, squaring defect and surface

check.

5 Conclusions The companies analyzed did not meet the requirements of the Quality Program

for Wood Flooring of ANPM.

6 Recommendations

• Regarding the moisture of the parts is necessary analyze drying procedures,

moisture meters and storage.

• For the width and thickness is important to check the adjustment of equipment

to improve the uniformity of the dimensions of the wood flooring;

• In the case of defects is suggested analyze production processes, handling and

classification of the pieces;

• Is necessary suitability of production processes of the wood flooring according

to ANPM Quality Certification Program.

7 Implications for practice

The insertion of these companies in the ANPM Quality Certification Program

can promote improvements in manufacturing processes and maintaining the quality of

products, generating global benefits for the industries.

Bibliography

ASSOCIAÇÃO BRASILEIRA DE NORMAS TÉCNICAS. ABNT NBR 15799: Wood flooring prefinished and unfinished - Standardization and quality grades. Brazil, 2010.