November 11, 2022 - Six students and two staff from Houghton Lake Adult Ed toured Weyerhaeuser’s OSB plant in Grayling on November 11, 2022. Also present were two Michigan Works! NE Consortium staff members.
The tour started off with a brief history of the company followed by a discussion on the many jobs and careers that are available from entry level to high level positions. The students learned of the skills needed to come in as an operations trainee and how with good work ethics and motivation many opportunities to advance within the company are obtainable.
The students were broken up into small groups and walked throughout the plant learning about how logs are debarked, dried and made into wood panels that are used for flooring, walls, roofs and more.
The students made a very good impression at Weyerhaeuser with all the questions and interest they showed during the tour. A highlight was walking on the many catwalks throughout the plant and watching the operations in motion. Staff members who gave the tour commented on the interest the students showed during the tour with their ability to interact and converse about the plant.
Weyerhaeuser’s Oriented Strand Board (OSB) is a widely used, versatile structural wood panel manufactured from waterproof heat-cured adhesives and rectangularly shaped wood strands that are arranged in cross-oriented layers. The combination of wood and adhesives creates a strong, dimensionally stable panel that resists deflection, delamination, and warping.