Furniture Manufacturing Research Articles

Financial Management for MSMEs and Farmer Groups in the District of Kamang Magek

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and farmer groups are a source of the community's economy in Kamang Magek District. SMEs are engaged in various fields such as food and processed products, crafts and carvings, furniture, agricultural and animal husbandry products, while farmer groups in Kamang Magek District also vary from horticultural crops, food crops and plantation crops. In the Livestock sector, there are also poultry livestock, both broiler and laying eggs, small and large ruminants as well as processed agricultural and livestock products. Several SMEs and farmer groups in the Kamang Magek sub-district raised the local wisdom of Kamang Magek, such as kamang crackers, kamang coffee, Kamang duck, Kamang mangosteen, embroidery, and kamang special furniture. Currently, SMEs and Farmer Groups are experiencing difficulties in developing their businesses due to business capital constraints and most of them are even trapped in loans with high interest rates. SMEs have not been able to determine the amount of working capital they need for business development, they do not take into account the size of the loan with their production capacity or business results, so the amount of loans made does not match the actual funding or working capital needs. This has resulted in the amount of the loan submitted being too large in excess of requirements or the amount of the loan being too small so that it is not sufficient for business needs. To overcome this problem, it is necessary to provide counseling to SMEs and farmer groups regarding financial management.

Pemanfaatan Digital Marketing untuk Memperluas Strategi Pemasaran Produk Furniture dari Bahan Kayu Rubber

The COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected Indonesia for the past three years, has had a significant negative impact on a number of industries, including the Micro, Medium, and Small Enterprises (MSME) sector, which has been particularly hard hit. Pekanbaru City has 105,445 MSMEs, with data indicating that there are as many as 1,034 MSMEs, which produce a range of goods used by the community, including furniture products and various wood-based office and home furnishings. Of course, if development is carried out for MSME wood craftsmen, this is a potential aspect for the City of Pekanbaru. UMKM Furniqa Woodcraft as a raw material to create furniture items like chairs, tables, cabinets, and various other handicraft products uses rubber wood. However, there has been a significant drop in sales since the Covid-19 pandemic, so a solution must be found. In an effort to increase product marketing, service activities performed include training and assisting with managing Digital Marketing. This activity is implemented using a variety of approaches, including the Interview and Discussion Method, the Training Method, and the Evaluation Method. The evaluation of the implementation of digital marketing training and mentoring showed that employees at Furniqa Woodcraft had increased knowledge competence by 75.875%.

Innovative and Cost-effective Upcycling of Thermoset Plastic Waste for Sustainable Household Furniture Production

The current study aims to address the persistent challenge of recycling thermoset plastics, which are renowned for their inherent properties that render traditional recycling methods impractical. It proposes an innovative solution by repurposing thermoset plastics as reinforcing agents in non-critical load-bearing components of household furniture, thereby reducing reliance on new raw materials. The proposed approach involves customizing furniture designs to integrate upcycled thermoset plastics for reinforcement, departing from conventional recycling practices thereby, mitigating environmental impact and simultaneously offering a practical alternative to traditional recycling methods. Through the integration of upcycled thermoset plastics into furniture production, this study demonstrates a tangible reduction in the demand for virgin plastic materials. This not only fosters environmental sustainability but also addresses the challenge of managing non-recyclable thermoset waste, contributing to a cleaner environment. The innovative strategy outlined in this paper not only paves the way for a more eco-friendly and economically viable future in household furniture production but also presents additional ideology for sustainable material utilization and waste reduction, such as exploring composite options like plastic decking using upcycled thermoset plastic and sawdust.

Infrastructural support for the foreign economic activities management of enterprises of the Ukrainian woodworking industry

Effective foreign economic activity contributes to the reproduction of the country's export potential, increasing the competitiveness of Ukrainian products of the woodworking sector on world markets, forming a rational structure of export and import, attracting foreign investments on mutually beneficial terms, ensuring the economic security of Ukraine.The article examines the peculiarities of the realization of the export potential of Ukraine on the world market of furniture and wood products. An analytical assessment of the current state and competitiveness of Ukrainian woodworking products on foreign markets was carried out. On the basis of statistical analysis, the trends of Ukraine's export potential in the wood industry were revealed. An analysis of the international wood market and export prospects for Ukraine was performed. Strategic directions for improving the efficiency of Ukrainian wood exports have been determined.The need for the formation of proper infrastructural support for the management of the foreign economic activities of woodworking industry enterprises based on the creation of a cluster structure as a form of cooperation between authorities, institutions of critical infrastructure (transport, logistics, innovation, information, industry, etc.), institutions and organizations of the business, scientific and educational environment is substantiated.The practical significance of the obtained research results is that substantiated scientific and methodological provisions and recommendations can be used in the development of export strategies and mechanisms for their implementation by enterprises and various categories of stakeholders – participants in foreign economic activity, which would correspond to the modern conditions of their management, as well as in the finalization of the Strategy recovery and resilience of the national economy.

Designing Environmentally Sustainable Furniture Products: Furniture-Specific Life Cycle Design Guidelines and a Toolkit to Promote Environmental Performance

As awareness of the serious environmental impact of the furniture sector increases, design is increasingly recognized as a crucial lever for innovating towards sustainable furniture products. This acknowledgment was emphasized by the European Union in the Circular Economy Action Plan in 2020 and is further emphasized in the forthcoming Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation in 2024. To address the environmental issues stemming from the life cycle of furniture products, which constitute the fundamental part of the furniture system, specific design knowledge and know-how are developed within this study. Although Life Cycle Design (LCD) is a systematic approach to reducing environmental impacts, its application within the furniture system remains limited. This paper adopts a design-based research approach with three research stages and employs various methods including a literature review, case study, workshops, interviews, questionnaires, and a focus group to develop furniture-specific LCD guidelines and a toolkit. As a result, this paper presents furniture-specific LCD guidelines (comprising 7 strategies, 21 sub-strategies, and 154 guidelines), 41 environmentally sustainable furniture case cards, and a toolkit (comprising 4 tools). These guidelines provide comprehensive principles for designers to address environmental impact throughout the furniture’s life cycle. The toolkit guides sustainable furniture LCD, promoting low environmental impact and high design efficiency. These outcomes address the existing gaps in knowledge and tools in this field.

IDENTIFICATION AND WASTE REDUCTION IN THE FURNITURE INDUSTRY THROUGH LEAN OFFICE

Objective: This study aims to investigate the identification and elimination of inefficiencies within the furniture industry, with the overarching goal of enhancing operational effectiveness and productivity. Theoretical Framework: Drawing upon principles from Lean Manufacturing and Lean Office, this research emphasizes the critical role of waste reduction and process optimization within organizational contexts. Key theoretical underpinnings include Lean Thinking, Value Stream Mapping, and Strategies for Waste Elimination. Methodology: Employing a case study approach, this research examines the implementation of Lean Office principles within a small-scale furniture manufacturing company. Data collection methods encompass document analysis, direct observation, and interviews with key stakeholders. Specifically, the study focuses on analyzing ten projects undertaken over the past 18 months, assessing their complexity and impact on operational efficiency. Results and Discussion: Findings reveal a substantial 82.5% reduction in waiting time following the adoption of Lean Office principles. This reduction translates to enhanced customer service, improved product quality, and cost savings. The discussion section contextualizes these findings within the theoretical framework, highlighting implications and identified relationships, while also acknowledging potential discrepancies and limitations. Implications of the Research: The practical and theoretical implications of this study provide valuable insights into strategies for operational enhancement within the furniture industry. These insights extend to areas such as process optimization, waste reduction, and organizational efficiency, with potential applications across various sectors. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the existing literature by demonstrating the effectiveness of Lean Office principles in addressing inefficiencies within administrative environments. Its innovative approach to operational improvement underscores its relevance and potential impact on organizational practices.

The EU’s Sustainable Product Initiative: Enhancing the Readiness of the Furniture Business in Ukraine

This study has been inspired by a set of new rules which are expected to be implemented within the EU’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). Considering the possible market risks for the Ukrainian furniture industry, and that includes both exporters and non-exporters (within the context of the harmonisation of the rules), this research sought to capture and understand the readiness of companies as regards the changes on the EU market, along with those companies’ sentiments and ability to cope with the upcoming inherent challenges. The survey of furniture producers presented in this paper is one of the first devoted to the problem of Ukrainian producers’ adaptability to the ESPR, made all the more challenging due to the burden of the ongoing war. This study has brought to light rather positive industry sentiments regarding furniture production volume and the competitive position of companies within the furniture industry, but there is also a lack of company awareness of the full range of ESPR measures and tools, hence there is a risk of underestimating those measures and tools’ possible impact along with the risk of a delayed response. Environmental sustainability values should be given higher priority than they are currently in companies’ current marketing strategies, and the effectiveness of supply chain management practices will inevitably have to be questioned by company leaders. Possible adaptation measures aimed at circularity are not sufficiently perceived, while attention is focused more on the use of materials, energy, and environmental pollution.

4D Printing of Mechanically Ultrastretchable and Ultrastrength Liquid‐Free Ionoelastomers with Rapid Responsiveness

Abstract4D printing has attracted widespread attention due to its ability to fabricate complex structures capable of responding to specific stimuli. However, existing smart materials used for 4D printing, such as conventional hydrogels, liquid crystal elastomers, and shape‐memory polymers, are constrained in their ability to fulfill both mechanical ultrastrength and ultrastretchability requirements simultaneously due to their water saturation or uneven network structures. This study presents 4D printing of liquid‐free ionic elastomers (LFIEs) that is achieved through photopolymerization of the acrylic acid‐tetramethylammonium chloride‐polymerizable deep eutectic solvent. The transition temperature (Tt) of the high‐fracture‐strength LFIEs is adjusted by introducing phenylphosphoric acid, harboring multiple hydrogen‐bonds, leading to improved molecular chain mobility through softening of the chains. Consequently, the 4D‐printed LFIEs retain their high strength while achieving ultrastretchable properties even under elevated temperatures during heating. Moreover, the 4D‐printed LFIEs demonstrate both a swift response time and a high fixation rate even after undergoing repeated transformation cycles. These outstanding capabilities exhibit by LFIEs present a reliable strategy for advancing their applications in diverse fields, such as smart furniture, robotics, and intelligent manufacturing with remote monitoring, and beyond.

Optimization of benzene exposure risk assessment: An integrated approach utilizing internal and external concentrations with a focus on biomarkers S-PMA & t, t-MA

In the majority of occupational settings within China, the concentrations of benzene are observed to fall markedly below the demarcated detection thresholds. Employing traditional risk assessment models, the presence of exceptionally low airborne benzene exposure concentrations may infuse heightened degrees of uncertainty. Consequently, the necessity arises to investigate risk assessment methodologies more apt for the prevalent exposure environment among employees. In the present study, a pharmacokinetic model premised on urinary benzene metabolites (S-PMA and t, t-MA) was employed to ascertain a more precise daily airborne benzene exposure concentration per individual. This value was integrated into the linear multistage model as the ‘internal exposure concentration’. In conjunction with the U.S National Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) inhalation risk assessment model predicated on the external exposure concentration, the Singapore Ministry of Manpower's (MOM) model, and the linear multistage (LMS) model, the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic effects of benzene were evaluated for 1781 benzene-exposed employees across 76 enterprises in Jiangsu Province. Findings suggest that in the linear multilevel model assessment, the cancer risk levels based on t, t-MA and S-PMA were higher in the printing and recording media reproduction industry, automobile manufacturing industry, general equipment manufacturing industry and the furniture manufacturing industry (median 2.842 × 10−4, 2.819 × 10−4, 2.809 × 10−4, and 2.678 × 10−4), which align more consistently with the actual benzene exposure circumstances of each industry's study participants, with overall risk levels calculated by the linear multistage model exceeding those of the EPA inhalation risk assessment model and the MOM model. This implies that the linear multistage model of internal exposure, based on the reciprocal of benzene biomarkers S-PMA and t, t-MA for airborne benzene exposure, presents enhanced sensitivity and suitability for the current occupational health risk assessment of workers. Without doubt, biomarker-based benzene exposure risk assessment emerges as the optimal choice.

SOME PHYSICAL AND MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF COCONUT PALM (COCOS NUCIFERA) STEM IN HAINAN ISLAND, CHINA

The physical and mechanical properties of 40-year-old coconut stem were investigated in different radial directions and height positions. The results showed that in the radial direction, the properties of the number of vascular bundles (NVB), density, shrinkage, compressive strength parallel to the grain (CS), modulus of rupture (MOR), and modulus of elasticity (MOE) decreased continuously from the outer area to the inner area, except for the water absorption (WA) value which increased from the outer area to the inner area. The density and MOE decreased from the bottom to the top in the height direction while NVB and WA increased. The shrinkage, CS, and MOE first increased and then decreased from the bottom to the top. NVB in coconut stem affects the density and determines the main mechanical properties of CS, MOR, and MOE. The analysis of variance (two-way ANOVA) showed a significant difference in density, NVB, WA, CS, MOR, and MOE in radial direction and height position. These findings can be useful for the development of new applications for coconut stems, such as in construction, landscaping, or furniture manufacturing, as well as for improving our understanding of their structural characteristics.

A method of particleboard surface defect detection and recognition based on deep learning

ABSTRACT Particleboard is a material for furniture and other wooden industrial products, directly impacting the service life of the final product. In this study, an innovative dual-attention mechanism, the Dense Connection Idea (DC-DACB), which combines Ganomaly and ResNet networks to detect and identify surface defects on particleboards was proposed. The model demonstrates superior performance in fine-grained direction. Evaluation metrics including precision, recall, average F1Score, and mAP are employed. Comparative analysis with Faster-RCNN and Yolo v5 baseline models reveals a 2.4% and 2.2% improvement in mAP for particleboard surface-defect detection. Moreover, the model exhibits excellent accuracy (93.1%) in recognizing five common defect types: shaving, scratches, chalk marks, soft spots, and adhesive spots. Comparative analysis with SE-Net, SA-Net, the original CBAM, and self-attention further supports its effectiveness in particleboard surface-defect detection. The integration of artificial-intelligence detection technology enables the timely detection of production process issues, reduces wood resource waste, and benefit the production of the enterprise.

ANALISIS PERHITUNGAN HARGA POKOK PRODUK MEUBEL MENGGUNAKAN METODE VARIABLE COSTING DALAM MENENTUKAN HARGA JUAL PADA UD. JATI FLORES

This research aims to determine the calculation of the cost of furniture products in determining the selling price at UD Jati Flores. To find out the difference in calculating the cost of production according to UD Jati Flores and using the variable costing method. The data collection techniques used were observation, interviews, documentation and literature study. The data analysis technique used in this research is quantitative data analysis. The results of the research show that there is a difference in the calculation of the product cost and selling price between UD Jati Flores and the variable costing method, where the calculation using the variable costing method is higher than the company method.

Smart Furniture Application

The Smart Furniture Application allows users to check for various furniture available at the online store and purchase online. The project consists of list of furniture products displayed in various models and designs. The user may browse these products as per categories. If the user likes a product he may add it to his shopping cart. Once user wishes to checkout he must register on the site first. He can then login using same id password next time. Here, we use flutter framework to make the entire frontend. The middle tier or code behind model is designed in firebase and sql serves as a backend to store furniture lists and inventory data. Thus, the Smart Furniture Application project brings an entire furniture shop online and makes it easy for both buyer and seller to make furniture deals. The application provides a user-friendly interface facilitating product browsing, purchase and secure monetary transactions. A key feature enables customers to personalize available furniture items directly within the web application. Through intuitive customization options, users can tailor products to their preferences before placing orders. The integration of smooth transaction capabilities ensures a convenient shopping experience while maintaining financial security. KEYWORDS – Furniture Purchasing Software, Firebase Management, Security And Privacy, Customization of Products.

Consumer behavior based on the SOR model: How do short video advertisements affect furniture consumers’ purchase intentions?

Short video advertisements are a novel and influential medium for promoting furniture products, but their effects on consumers’ purchase intentions remain underexplored. This study applies the extended stimulus-organism-response (SOR) framework, a psychological theory that elucidates how stimuli (short video ads), organisms (consumers), and responses (purchase intentions) are interrelated. This study quantitatively examines these relationships using structural equation modeling (SEM). The results reveal that the Flow experience and Telepresence experience significantly affect purchase intentions, indicating that consumers who experience high levels of engagement and immersion while viewing short furniture-related video ads are more likely to exhibit buying behavior. This study also identifies three critical antecedents of the Telepresence experience: social influence, perceived entertainment value, and perceived interactivity. These factors may enhance the effectiveness of short-form video advertising by increasing consumer interaction and engagement. Moreover, convenience conditions, perceived entertainment value, and media richness significantly influence consumers’ flow experience. This suggests that these factors should be considered when designing short video advertisements to optimize consumers’ flow experience and thus increase purchase intentions. This study provides empirical evidence for the SOR framework, investigates the impact of short video advertisements on furniture consumers’ purchase intention, and offers practical implications and recommendations for marketing practitioners.

Thermo-Hydric Study of Wood-Based Materials under Thermal Comfort Conditions.

This paper tackles the issue of moisture variation in wood-based materials, explicitly focusing on melamine-coated particleboard (hereafter referred to as melamine) and medium-density fiberboard (MDF) used in the third phase of wood industry transformation. The approach involves a comprehensive strategy for predicting moisture content variation, incorporating numerical simulation, experimental testing, and the application of artificial neural network (ANN) technology to enhance accuracy in furniture manufacturing. The developed ANN models are tailored to predict moisture content changes under specific thermal comfort conditions. Remarkably, these models demonstrate high precision, with an average error margin of only 1.40% for 8% moisture content (MC) and 2.85% for 12% MC in melamine, as well as 1.42% for 8% MC and 2.25% for 12% MC in MDF. These levels of precision surpass traditional models, emphasizing this study's novelty and practical relevance to the industrial context. The findings indicate that ANN models adapt to diverse environmental conditions, presenting a robust tool for optimizing moisture management in wood-based materials. This research contributes valuable insights for improving the reliability and efficiency of moisture content predictions in the wood industry.

Application of multi-attribute decision-making method based on fuzzy influence diagram in green supplier selection

The external business environment exhibits many uncertainties with the continuing changes in technological progress, political environment, and consumption behavior. This has made companies recognize the significance of addressing environmental issues to remain competitive in the modern global market. Thus, much attention is given to the supply chain to ensure environmental factors are considered during supplier selection. However, the process of selecting the right suppliers to enable green supply chain management is proving difficult. This paper presents a novel approach using fuzzy influence diagrams to identify key green supplier selection criteria, combined with multi-criteria decision making to evaluate alternatives. The fuzzy influence diagram derives priority supplier capabilities by modeling interrelationships and uncertainties. The multi-criteria technique then ranks suppliers based on prospect values. A case study of furniture manufacturer supplier selection validates the proposed method. Compared to existing models, this integrated approach reduces subjective weight bias and improves handling of complex criteria dependencies and uncertainties. The results demonstrate state-of-the-art performance in identifying ideal green suppliers. This technique can enhance sustainability efforts across supply chains.

Elucidating the challenges to Bumiputera entrepreneurs’ participation in the domestic furniture and wood products market in Malaysia

The limited market share and growth of Bumiputera entrepreneurs in domestic furniture and wood product industry in Malaysia remains a long-standing challenge. Therefore, a study to examine the market factors that contribute to the failure to thrive among Bumiputera entrepreneurs, registered with the Malaysian Timber Industry Board, was conducted. The results revealed that most of the respondents were micro- and small-sized enterprises, with sales focused on the domestic and contract markets. They were mostly producing sofa and kitchen cabinets, made to order, and sold in domestic markets within the vicinity. The respondents also indicated that the major challenges that impeded their ability to penetrate and capture market share include the limited production volume, lack of product diversity, limited government contract, and inter-ethnicity business collaboration. The Chi-square and Pearson Product Moment Correlation tests found that the significant challenges were only the limited production volume due to small company size, lack of product diversity, and the limited inter-ethnicity business collaboration among Bumiputera entrepreneurs. Therefore, policymakers should take heed that despite the many years of targeted and affirmative assistance to expand the domestic market share of Bumiputera entrepreneurs, the results remain poor, and inevitably, a new approach to Bumiputera entrepreneurs’ development must be adopted.

PROMOTING INTEGRITY BEHAVIOUR IN FAMILY FIRMS

As the family firms grow, they face the challenges of moral hazard and nepotism. To overcome these challenges, family firms should instill integrity values in their family members and employees so that they behave ethically. Integrity strengthens employee effectiveness, loyalty, and ethical behavior, leading to firm performance. This study investigates the emergence of integrity behavior in employees of a family firm. The aim is to examine the relationship between employees' attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control (PBC), intention, and behavior toward integrity. The study was conducted in an Indonesian public family firm operating as an interior contractor and furniture manufacturer. This study analyzes 433 cases and found a significant positive relationship among these variables. Interestingly, integrity subjective norm is the strongest factor influencing integrity behavior, fully mediated by integrity intention. Considering that integrity attitude should be the most influential factor forming integrity behavior, this study suggests that family firms design a selection process that can recruit candidates with an integrity attitude.

Promising areas for the use of industrial hemp for the manufacture of sheet building materials

The relevance of the study is to identify the potential for creating innovative building materials that can improve the quality and efficiency of construction and furniture production. The purpose of the study is to analyse the market of sheet building materials, explore the possibilities of using plant materials in construction and furniture industry, and compare the properties of the latest building materials with the existing ones. The analysis of literature sources included a search and evaluation of new developments in the construction industry, as well as an analysis of statistical data on the production of architectural materials in Ukraine, using information resources and Internet search services. To evaluate the consumer properties of innovative building materials, the author used quality assessment methods using visual perception and special tools, in accordance with the established regulatory documentation. Important issues aimed at using resource-saving technologies in construction and developing the latest (environmentally-friendly) building materials are considered. The current state of the Ukrainian market of building sheet materials and the properties of industrial hemp are investigated in order to determine the most cost-effective use of hemp raw materials as an effective basis for the creation of building materials for various purposes. The suitability of the raw materials was determined and assessed, experimental samples of chipboards with different fillers were obtained, and the physical, mechanical and aesthetic characteristics of the finished products were investigated. The research will contribute to the development of the hemp processing industry, as well as enterprises that produce goods for various functional purposes from hemp, which will provide conditions for combining the agricultural sector and the construction industry, i.e. building a closed production cycle

The Precious Potential of the Sacred Tree Chamaecyparis obtusa (Siebold & Zucc.) Endl. as a Source of Secondary Metabolites with Broad Biological Applications.

Chamaecyparis obtusa (Siebold & Zucc.) Endl., which belongs to the Cupressaceae family, occurs naturally in North America and Asia, especially in Korea, Taiwan and Japan, where it is an evergreen, coniferous, sacred, ethnic tree. It has many useful varieties that are widespread throughout the world and grown for decorative purposes. It is most commonly used as an ornamental plant in homes, gardens or parks. It is also widely used in many areas of the economy; for example, its wood is used in architecture as well as furniture production. In addition, oil extracted from Chamaecyparis obtusa is increasingly used in cosmetology for skin care. Due to its wide economic demand, mainly in Japan, it represents the largest area of plantation forest. Despite this, it is on the red list of endangered species. Its use in ethnopharmacology has led to more and more research in recent years in an attempt to elucidate the potential mechanisms of its various biological activities, such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, antiasthmatic, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, analgesic and central nervous system effects. It has also been shown that Chamaecyparis obtusa can be used as an insect repellent and an ingredient in plant disease treatment. This thesis provides a comprehensive review of the biological studies to date, looking at different areas of the economic fields of potential use of Chamaecyparis obtusa.