Furniture industries continue to adapt in response to customer demands worldwide, thanks to technological innovations and an emphasis on sustainability.
Industries within the Furniture and Related Product Manufacturing subsector create furniture and other articles from wood, metal, glass and plastic materials using techniques like bending metal tubing, cutting wood into shapes and molding plastic into molds.
Size and Specific Function
Furniture manufacturing industries play a vital role in Europe, the US, and most other parts of the world’s economies. Modern furniture production involves mass-scale processes very different from earlier handicraft production, contributing significantly to global economies while leaving its mark for years. The furniture manufacturing industry boasts an enviable longstanding success record.
Furniture makers rely on highly trained artisans to craft their products. Designers create small-scale drawings of their designs before working with draftsmen to create full-size blueprints showing proportions, details and constructional requirements.
Lumber is seasoned, cut to different sizes and distributed to departments where workers build specific pieces of furniture for commercial or residential purposes such as office furniture, bedroom sets, dining tables and chairs, or living room sets.
Furniture manufacturers have responded to an increase in imports from China by emphasizing customer choice and on-time delivery, as well as offering customization.
Machines
Furniture making machines are an integral component of furniture factories, helping workers quickly construct large quantities of furniture throughout the day while saving both time and energy. Due to being complex and costly machines, however, they must be regularly serviced in order for optimal performance – something as simple as applying grease can go a long way in prolonging its life and improving efficiency.
Modern commercial furniture production may be divided broadly into categories such as bookshelves, desks and tables; chairs and upholstered suites; as well as one-off pieces made by hand. Furniture is generally composed of various materials so establishments manufacturing wooden pieces fall under Subsectors 321, Wood Product Manufacturing while those producing metal and plastic pieces fall into Subsectors 332/Fabricated Metal Products or 343/Plastics and Rubber Products respectively – though sometimes this distinction can blur: the techniques for cutting and assembly used on both types can apply equally between wood/metal pieces; while molding/bending/molding of upholstered pieces can often used on other plastic/rubber products too!
Workers
Furniture manufacturing requires many kinds of workers. Laborers use hand tools or operate specialized machines such as those that cut intricate designs into wood veneers to shape wood parts by hand or machine, while some sand down surfaces for smoothness before assembling and painting pieces with varnishes, lacquers or paints to complete production.
Cabinetmakers and other skilled artisans can advance their career by enrolling in an apprenticeship program hosted by a community college or vocational school. Such programs typically combine both on-the-job training with classroom lectures.
Some factories specialize exclusively in one style of furniture production while others manufacture various styles and types. A smaller factory that specializes in antique reproductions may employ skilled workers able to complete detailed handwork while larger facilities that produce modern styles may need experienced workers who are efficient.
Furniture assembly can be time consuming and tedious work, not to mention expensive when shipping products out to distant areas. To cut costs, some companies use “knockdown” furniture pieces that can be disassembled for shipping before being assembled back at their customers’ homes or offices later.
Shipping
Shipping furniture can be costly, and one damaged shipment could affect a company’s standing with customers. With careful planning and budgeting, furniture companies can find cost-effective shipping methods tailored to their individual needs.
Freight carriers are often the go-to solution when it comes to shipping large pieces of furniture. Their pricing models take into account both its dimensions and weight when calculating prices for customers; and when shipping large furniture pieces the resultant cost will then be charged back directly from customers.
Shipping furniture using LTL freight, which is less costly than full truckloads, can save money. By sharing a truck with other shipments and sharing its cost for shipping with others, this method reduces overall expenses of transporting furniture. Furthermore, disassembling it will make shipping cheaper as pieces can be packed more efficiently into smaller boxes while Styrofoam or cardboard corner protectors help protect fragile items such as upholstered furniture during transport – especially important if the pieces need to be packed and unpacked separately before shipment.