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The EU social partners of the furniture industry propose a project to support the numerous SME’s in phase of restructuring. After an enquiry that identifies the best practices among SME’s (for future benchmarking) and the setting up of a database, the partners will develop a set of tools that allows SME’s to identify heir strengths and weaknesses by comparing different criteria referring to what they can do in-house and what they can sub-contract, to reduce their costs with neutral social costs. SME’s can then configure a strategy with the assistance of the partners.
Aims and objectives
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To develop & to offer to furniture manufacturers a methodology that can be implemented through various innovative tools and that allow them to easily enhance their capacities to restructure their activities.
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To restructure the furniture industry through the optimization of the allocation of resources according to the competitive advantages of the respective European countries and especially between the former EU countries and the new member states and enlargement countries.
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A further cooperation through mainly outsourcing and networking should consolidate the European furniture industry and should avoid the fading of some parts of the industry.
Methodologies and activities
- Survey of best practices of restructuring in furniture industry by the social partners
- Development of solutions & tools for the SME’s
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Development of tools
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Testing methodology & tools
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Dissemination & mainstream activities
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Definition of dissemination strategy
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Identification of SME’s needs
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Internal knowledge management
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External knowledge management
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Impact assessment
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Project management & evaluation
Outcomes
- The tools that will be developed by partners will be quite practical and will allow manufacturers to make the right choice - analyzing all costs - and should be a key factor in sustaining companies' competitive advantage.
- Once best practices (during restructuring phases) identified, the projects' partners will develop step-by-step tools (based on best practices and also on innovative management approaches) that address restructuring/outsourcing decisions in a consistent and a structured manner.
- The tools will show how to review all factors for a relevant decision, reveal real and hidden costs (especially when outsourcing), provide case studies, examples, benchmarking with other manufacturers’ experiences/expertises, and, through a specific software, allow manufacturers to analyze data (internal & external) and indicate potential partners for outsourcing.
- The planned tools should be available on-line, on CD-rom and on printed guides and should consist in a concise way (for a SME) to include and interpret a large amount of information, experience and discussion. Conferences, seminars, training sessions as well as personalized assistance is planned in the dissemination activities.
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