In this study, a South African pine saw-timber mechanised cut-to-length harvesting operation was analysed with the main objective of describing and modelling productivity development learning curves of beginner operators in both clear-felling and thinning operations. Results obtained should be helpful in managing fully mechanised operations that are associated with large capital expenditures and that therefore need operators to produce timber effectively and efficiently in the shortest possible time; i.e. shortening the so-called “learning curve”. By being able to track operators’ performance over time, from their initial selection to being fully operational, an understanding of this productivity learning curve is facilitated.
