Adaptation of Lean in the Wood Industry

Abstract

The U.S. wood products (NAICS 321) and furniture manufacturing (NAICS 337) industries have been greatly affected by economic cycles, rising production, and transportation costs, changing buyer habits, and, arguably, most powerfully, increasing global competition. Tens of thousands of jobs were lost and a large number of companies in the industry experienced bankruptcy, closed operations, or relocated to other countries. However, theories exist stating that the use of management systems, such as Lean management, allows companies to become more competitive and enhance the likelihood of survival. To investigate Lean management practices in the wood products and furniture manufacturing industry, a census survey with all known members of these two industry sectors in the Commonwealth of Virginia was conducted. Findings indicate that a majority of Virginia’s wood products and furniture manufacturing industries have heard about Lean, but few enterprises have implemented or have started to implement Lean principles in their operations.