A QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF A WEIBULL BASED GROWTH PROJECTION SYSTEM

Different error budgets were approximated for a Weibull based growth projection system used to develop short- and long-term management plans for even-aged loblolly pine plantations. These budgets were developed as part of a 'total quality' program for a medium sized forest products corporation in the United States. The purpose of the assessment was to learn in a systematic and comprehensive fashion about the strengths and weaknesses of the overall system, as well as its components. More than twenty sources of error were considered in the development of the budgets through time. It was found in general that the predictions made with the projection system did not meet the precision standards required by the corporation.