FURNITURE INDUSTRY IN RESTRUCTURING : SOLUTIONS & TOOLS
FIRST - FIRST TOOLS
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FIRST DIAGNOSTIC TOOLThe globalization is changing the structure of labor intensive industries such as the furniture industry. Increased imports at lower prices force the European manufacturers to look for competitive edges and if necessary to restructure their operations. Some looked at their business model, other at the product, the production, productivity or the relation with the final consumer or a combination of some or all of these different aspects.The solutions, some more successful than others they come up with are multiple. The FIRST project has looked into this subject and has formulated some recommendations that may serve as inspiration to manufacturers. The work resulted in the formulation of eight guidelines around specific activities: product development and innovation, supply chain management, industrial co-operation, outsourcing, management of change, market-oriented behaviour, human resource management and electronic communications. To set up a new successful strategy through the implementation of a selection of these recommendations/guidelines and, it is preferable to answer to 30 basic questions (less than 10 minutes). The analysis of your answers and their comparison with those of similar companies in our database will permit us to give you a short list of top priority guidelines among the full list, and even parts in some guidelines focusing on most probable successful strategies.
GUIDELINESIt is not meant to suggest that European furniture manufacturers should follow the strategies described, but the booklet wants to contribute to the reflection on this subject by those manufacturers who feel that it might fit into their business model. We hope it serves them well.
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