1. The document summarizes the Technical Expert Service of the Asian Productivity Organization on furniture manufacturing in Bangladesh from August 22-29, 2004. 2. It covers six main topics: furniture design and marketing; materials, fittings, and cost management; finishing materials and processes; machinery types and use; quality systems; and workforce development. 3. The final section discusses continuous improvement opportunities in knowledge, research and development, production methods, productivity, and processes.

1. TECHNICAL EXPERT SERVICE
(TES)
OF
ASIAN PRODUCTIVITY
ORGANIZATION
FURNITURE MANUFACTURING
BANGLADESH
22-29 AUGUST 2004
TES - Asian Productivity Organizationurniture Manufacturing: Bangladesh
Furniture
F 1

2. Consultant: Zaini Ithnin Hj. A. Rajak
 Dip. In Wood  Senior Lecturer, Univ.
Technology, UiTM, Technology MARA,
Malaysia, 1986 1990-1995
 B.Sc. Wood Technology,  C.E.O., Furniture Ind.
Univ. of Maine, Orono, Tech. Center, (FITEC),
ME, USA, 1987 UNIDO – Malaysian
 M.Sc. Furniture govt. 1995-1997
Engineering &  C.E.O., Wisdom Mgt.
Technology, Purdue Svc. (M) SB, 1997 -
Univ., W. Lafayette, IN, present
USA, 1989
TES - Asian Productivity Organization
Furniture Manufacturing: Bangladesh
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3. 1. Furniture designs, effective marketing and
customer services
 design: ergonomic, functionality & beauty
 design: market segmentation, demography
 product design: chair, table, wardrobe, cabinet
 product category: dining, bedroom, living room,
children, baby, garden, etc
 product approach: knock-down, loose & built in
(fit out)
 market value: world, regional, country and
domestic
 marketing strategy
 customer services: continuous improvement
TES - Asian Productivity Organization
Furniture Manufacturing: Bangladesh
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4. 2. Furniture accessories, fittings,
resourcing and cost management

furniture constructions: strength design and
intended uses, internal & external, safety and
furniture standards
 environment of furniture performance
 furniture fittings: connectors and fasteners
 furniture accessories: value added and function
enhancement
 laminates & imbedded: edging, top
 Resourcing: furniture materials, quality
specifications and cost
 Cost management: production design, component
optimization, bill of materials, recovery management
and production engineering
TES - Asian Productivity Organization
Furniture Manufacturing: Bangladesh
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5. 3. Finishing materials, finishing
equipment and finishing processes
 Materials: type of finishes, solid content, adhesion,
solvent, hardener and sand papers
 Material management: procurement, storage, mixing,
shelf life & pot life
 Equipments: spray, brush, electron curing; technology
 Finishing art and process flow in finishing
 Base material: species, color comparison and color
category
 Clear finish (natural), shade and pigmented
 Surface preparation: sanding procedure, environment,
sanding grades, raised grain controlled, surface
conditioning
 Wood fillers / pore filling: powder, putty, wiping
 Base coat, wash coat, sealer;Sanding sealer, finish
sanding; Top coat, polishing; Care of finishes
TES Protection of surfaces and edges Bangladesh
- Asian Productivity Organization
Furniture Manufacturing: 5

6. 4. Type and efficient use of machines
 Machines usage: cutting, ripping, surfacer, profiling,
boring, tenonning, chamfer, lathe, sanding,
assembly, packing etc.
 production capacity: cutting depth, feeding speed
 machine specification: size, weight, watts, volt,
amperes

machine maintenance: preventive, fixing, care

tooling: knife, circular saw, band saw, bits

production layout: process flow, space and safety

standard operating procedure

type of machineries: rough mill, lamination, final mill,
surface preparation, finishing, assembly & packing
TES - Asian Productivity Organization
Furniture Manufacturing: Bangladesh
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7. 5. Quality system to enhance
productivity
• 5S: house cleaning
• Kaizen: practices improvement
• Skill development: operation
• Quality procedure: written and practice
policies
• Standard operating procedures
• Value engineering
• Safety & accident prevention
• Eliminating redo & rejects
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Furniture Manufacturing: Bangladesh
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8. 6. Improvement of workforce competency &
vendor development
 piece rate payment
 target and bonuses
 sense of belonging
 team building
 internal competition and cooperation
 furniture part and components
 internal production and outsourcing
 subcontracting of jobs / process: service
contract
 inventory
 quality assurance
 contingency plan
TES - Asian Productivity Organization
Furniture Manufacturing: Bangladesh
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9. Deliberating continuous
improvement
 Current issues: ways to improvement
 Products enhancement: knowledge
(training), R&D, quality, production
methods, productivity
 Marketing, administration and product
handling
 Production: processes improvement
TES - Asian Productivity Organization
Furniture Manufacturing: Bangladesh
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10. Deliberating continuous
improvement
 Current issues: ways to improvement
 Products enhancement: knowledge
(training), R&D, quality, production
methods, productivity
 Marketing, administration and product
handling
 Production: processes improvement
TES - Asian Productivity Organization
Furniture Manufacturing: Bangladesh
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