Logging company saves millions optimizing inventory quality control process

Cogniac’s AI solution provides a more accurate, efficient alternative to traditional load inspections.

One of the largest logging and milling companies in North America was dealing with a common problem in their industry: how to make the load inspection process faster and more consistent.

Typically, human inspectors — known as scalers — evaluate a load by inspecting each log individually; however, scaling is an inexact science and subject to human interpretation. With facilities that accept thousands of truckloads of logs each day, the logging company needed to find a better way.

Cogniac was deployed to evaluate the quality of the wood received, including the curvature, internal condition, length, and diameter of each log. By using AI-trained evaluation, scaling standards were applied more consistently, resulting in more accurate evaluations, a better yield from each load received, and greater value for the logging company’s inventory overall. 

Cogniac helps manage logging operations across multiple facilities, which accept thousands of truckloads of logs every day.

With the use of computer vision, the company is able to identify potential issues early on, allowing for a more efficient resolution. The Cogniac solution has significantly reduced the amount of time required for load inspections, which allows the company to process more logs and improve overall production efficiency. The client has estimated that Cogniac will help save money across all priority mills due to more consistent evaluations, time-saving, and fraud reduction.

Additionally, their suppliers are happier to work with them as they know they will receive a consistent and fair price for the logs they deliver. This, in turn, strengthens the relationship between the company and its suppliers.