Abstract
Abstract Background: A systematic and continuous product policy management is important for a company's competitiveness and the question is to what extent and in what way companies engaged in the furniture manufacturing sector actually apply them. Objectives: The objective of this paper is to explore to what extent the design profession is involved in the product policy and teams which define market properties of products in the furniture industry. Methods: In order to achieve the objectives of this paper, the Model for Exploring the Role of Design in Defining Market Properties and the Product Policy in the Furniture Industry has been devised. Two surveys have been conducted, measuring the level of involvement of the design profession in the product policy, as well as the involvement of designers in the work of teams which define market properties of products in the furniture industry. Results: The design profession is not systematically and continuously involved in the function of the product policy as the key component in programming a company's development and growth in the furniture industry. Conclusions: Companies engaged in furniture manufacturing should consider the possibility of involving design managers in coordination and management of product development, as well as in communication coordination on the manufacturer - designer level.
Highlights
Wood processing and furniture manufacturing have a significant role in national economy which is reflected in their economic as well as wider social contribution, and which largely contributes to harmonisation of the overall domestic development processes
Such a difference exists due to the fact that companies engaged several designers for product development, whereas certain designer was able to cooperate with several companies
In order to determine whether the obtained results are statistically significant, a chi-square test was conducted which showed that for neither of the above mentioned activities a statistically significant difference exists between a company and a designer: development of product/product line (X2=2,630; p-value=0,622); development of new products/prototypes (X2=5,075; p-value=0,282); redesign of products/product line (X2=5,524; p-value=0,622)
Summary
Wood processing and furniture manufacturing have a significant role in national economy which is reflected in their economic as well as wider social contribution, and which largely contributes to harmonisation of the overall domestic development processes. In production, marketing and in advertising terms, those organisations are incomparably stronger and more capable of offering better financial and delivery-related terms in each tender, they are not necessarily the most appropriate ones for the client. In this respect, a systematic and continuous product policy management as well as adequate definition of furniture market properties is important for company's competitiveness and the question is how to define them properly. Objectives: The objective of this paper is to explore to what extent the design profession is involved in the product policy and teams which define market properties of products in the furniture industry. Conclusions: Companies engaged in furniture manufacturing should consider the possibility of involving design managers in coordination and management of product development, as well as in communication coordination on the manufacturer – designer level
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