The present study aimed at evaluating the productive process of panels, using the principles of material balance and the yield of wood raw material, in order to establish a methodology to be applied in other wood industries. This work was carried out in the panel-manufacturing sector of Battistella Indústria e Comércio Ltda, State of Santa Catarina. Data were obtained by means of visits, questionnaire application and office data. In order to represent the material balance some equations and a flowchart were produced. Based on these data, it was possible to conclude that the industry is integrated, fact that represents a competitive advantage. The material balance indicated that the activity with the highest potential to produce waste was wood lath preparation (55,71% from all the waste); the activities with the highest yield were pressing (97,44%) followed by sectioning (93,92%); boarding (93,51%); sandpapering (90,97%) and lath preparation (54,51%). The overall yield of manufacturing was 63,16%. These values were similar to those found in the literature. The methodology developed in this study is simple and may be applied to any other industry of the wood sector.
Material balance; panels manufacturing; wood waste; yield
