Archived News Article

Furniture Industry Research Association help organisations embrace ‘Industry 4.0’

This news article has been archived for reference only. It should not be relied upon for up-to-date information

The Furniture Industry Research Association has published new guide entitled ‘Improving UK Productivity and Industry 4.0’, authored by Bruce Lovell, Consultant at FIRA International. The guide aims to assist Research Association members across all sectors of the furniture industry to better understand the potential for Industry 4.0 to improve their productivity.

Whilst not limited to the furniture industry, the Bank of England has suggested a number of reasons contributing to weak productivity over the last ten years (since the 2008/2009 recession). These factors include weak demand conditions resulting in labour hoarding, a strong labour market, under investment, high firm survival rates and slowing innovation. These factors have led to the emergence of Industry 4.0 (the fourth industrial revolution) in manufacturing whereby computers are connected and communicate with one another to ultimately make decisions without human involvement.

Speaking on the publication of the new ‘Improving UK Productivity and Industry 4.0’ guide, author Bruce Lovell said “The Furniture Industry Research Association have been aware of the emergence of Industry 4.0 for some time, and felt it was now right to support members in understanding more about its potential and start thinking about what elements of 4.0 they can embrace within their organisations.

“The UK furniture industry boasts proportionately higher employee numbers than many other sectors and, whilst this is important to government in terms of helping to reduce unemployment, it also means that productivity per man hour, will have a tendency to be low. This is where Industry 4.0 can make a difference, and this new publication is there to offer guidance and ideas.

“Not all furniture manufacturers are at the same stage of knowledge about what Industry 4.0 will mean for their business. Many will be at the start of the journey, or still getting to grips with the subject, but by implementing smart factory concepts of Industry 4.0, improvements can be made across the production process.”

Sections within the 44 page guide include:

  • UK Productivity Conundrum, including reasons for weak productivity, manufacturing Sector Productivity and factors affecting productivity performance
  • Industry 4.0, industrial revolutions, industry 4.0 origins, industry 4.0 building blocks, industry 4.0 production system and stepping stones to Industry 4.0
  • Useful technologies / concepts to consider in the smart factory including cloud solutions, capital equipment with networked control systems, multi-purpose production lines, capital equipment with embedded data analysis and sensors, rapid additive manufacturing/ 3D printing, universal data integration networks, fully autonomous robots, 3D simulation of manufacturing processes and predictive maintenance
  • ‘Smart’ furniture factory of the future, including vertical networking - optimisation of back office and supply chain processes and horizontal networking - optimisation of production processes

Members of the Furniture Industry Research Association can access the guide here, while non-members can purchase a copy for £125+VAT from here

You may be interested in
entries related to...

Information
45 Entries

  • Latest Furniture Industry Statistics Digest published

    Latest Furniture Industry Statistics Digest published

    News March 2024

    Includes statistics on furniture manufacturing, consumer spend, furniture and furnishings retail and international trade

  • Statistics Digest for the Furniture Industry 2023

    Statistics Digest for the Furniture Industry 2023

    Knowledge Hub

    Includes statistics on furniture manufacturing, consumer spend, furniture and furnishings retail and international trade...

  • Lean Manufacturing Training Toolkit - Part 5 - 7 Measures of Quality, Cost and Delivery

    Lean Manufacturing Training Toolkit - Part 5 - 7 Measures of Quality, Cost and Delivery

    Knowledge Hub

    The ‘7 Measures of QCD’ methodology involves measurements and metrics that support and facilitate achieving the goals of...

  • Lean Manufacturing Training Toolkit - Part 4 - Standardised Work

    Lean Manufacturing Training Toolkit - Part 4 - Standardised Work

    Knowledge Hub

    The Lean Manufacturing principle of Standardised Work involves setting standards for work procedures to stabilize proces...

  • Lean Manufacturing Training Toolkit - Part 3 - Visual Management

    Lean Manufacturing Training Toolkit - Part 3 - Visual Management

    Knowledge Hub

    Visual management is a Lean Manufacturing principle that aims to ensure quick and simple communication at all levels of ...

  • Lean Manufacturing Training Toolkit - Part 2 - 7 Wastes

    Lean Manufacturing Training Toolkit - Part 2 - 7 Wastes

    Knowledge Hub

    In manufacturing, there are typically 7 different types of waste. The concept of eliminating waste is an integral part o...

  • Lean Manufacturing Training Toolkit - Part 1 - 5C Workplace Organisation

    Lean Manufacturing Training Toolkit - Part 1 - 5C Workplace Organisation

    Knowledge Hub

    The Lean Manufacturing technique of 5C Workplace Organisation enables companies to identify unusual conditions and promo...

  • Social and Ethical Audit Guidance and Checklist

    Social and Ethical Audit Guidance and Checklist

    Knowledge Hub

    Guidance for the furniture industry on how to conduct a social and ethical audit, including key questions and evidence n...

  • Upholstered Furniture Design Brief Template

    Upholstered Furniture Design Brief Template

    Knowledge Hub

    Business template to support furniture buyers, retailers and upholstery manufacturers in developing detailed design brie...

  • Mattress Specification Template

    Mattress Specification Template

    Knowledge Hub

    Template to help mattress manufacturers develop their own detailed specification sheets

  • Facility Space Planning Template

    Facility Space Planning Template

    Knowledge Hub

    Resource to help furniture manufacturers with re-designing their facility

  • Leather types, characteristics and maintenance

    Leather types, characteristics and maintenance

    Knowledge Hub

    Leather types and characteristics, the benefits of testing and care and maintenance of leather upholstery

  • Health & Wellbeing Policy Template

    Health & Wellbeing Policy Template

    Knowledge Hub

    Help in developing a mental health and wellbeing policy for your organisation

  • Furniture Products Risk Assessment Guidance and Template

    Furniture Products Risk Assessment Guidance and Template

    Knowledge Hub
  • Sharps and Broken Needle Procedure Template

    Sharps and Broken Needle Procedure Template

    Knowledge Hub
  • Sourcing Furniture Products in the Supply Chain

    Sourcing Furniture Products in the Supply Chain

    Knowledge Hub
  • New Home Office Buyers Guide Published

    New Home Office Buyers Guide Published

    News October 2021

    Free guide to help individuals and companies select fit-for-purpose furniture and accessories

  • Home Office Buyers Guide

    Home Office Buyers Guide

    Knowledge Hub

    To help individuals and companies select fit-for-purpose furniture and accessories to kit out the home office

  • UKCA Marking Guidance updated

    UKCA Marking Guidance updated

    News August 2021

    Changes following the Government announcement to postpone the requirement for manufacturers to adopt the UK Conformity A...

  • Furniture Industry Research Association publish new business support documents and templates

    Furniture Industry Research Association publish new business support documents and templates

    News August 2021

    The suite is designed to support members in being compliant with various regulations

  • BFC Calls on Chancellor to Extend Help to Furniture Industry

    BFC Calls on Chancellor to Extend Help to Furniture Industry

    News February 2021

    Calls for the Chancellor to extend government help to the sector in his March 3 budget

  • Specifying Furniture Guide

    Specifying Furniture Guide

    Knowledge Hub
  • Recorded Training Sessions

    Recorded Training Sessions

    Knowledge Hub

    Helping members navigate regulations, directives and standards

  • Pressure Mapping: Review of Validity to Assess Comfort - Guidelines for Best Practice

    Pressure Mapping: Review of Validity to Assess Comfort - Guidelines for Best Practice

    Knowledge Hub
  • Ergonomic Home Working – Guides for Employers and Employees

    Ergonomic Home Working – Guides for Employers and Employees

    Knowledge Hub

    Setting up an ergonomic workspace in the home is more important than ever.

  • Latest performance of the furniture industry for 2019

    Latest performance of the furniture industry for 2019

    News June 2020

    Decline in exports subdues overall positive growth performance by manufacturers

  • Statistical Digest for the Furniture Industry 2019

    Statistical Digest for the Furniture Industry 2019

    Knowledge Hub
  • UV Pine lacquer free colouration

    UV Pine lacquer free colouration

    Knowledge Hub

    Adding colour to pine the natural way

  • Improving UK Productivity and Industry 4.0

    Improving UK Productivity and Industry 4.0

    Knowledge Hub

    43 page guide to assist all sectors of the furniture industry to better understand the potential for Industry 4.0 to imp...

  • BREXIT - The Importance  of Planning Ahead

    BREXIT - The Importance of Planning Ahead

    Knowledge Hub

    64 page guide for the furniture sector

  • Kitchen Layout Design Guide

    Kitchen Layout Design Guide

    Knowledge Hub

    Guide to assist designers and manufacturers across the kitchen sector

  • Statistical Digest for the Furniture Industry 2018

    Statistical Digest for the Furniture Industry 2018

    Knowledge Hub
  • BFC Manifesto for the Furniture Industry 2019

    BFC Manifesto for the Furniture Industry 2019

    Knowledge Hub

    The BFC Manifesto has been developed in response to an industry-wide survey it conducted soon after the EU referendum wa...

  • Furniture Industry Research Association release latest 'Statistics Digest' - highlighting growth for the industry

    Furniture Industry Research Association release latest 'Statistics Digest' - highlighting growth for...

    News January 2018

    The Furniture Industry Research Association has today (8 January) published its annual ‘Statistics Digest for the UK Fur...

  • Statistical Digest for the Furniture Industry 2017

    Statistical Digest for the Furniture Industry 2017

    Knowledge Hub

    Furniture industry statistics, including facts, figures and commentary covering furniture production and international t...

  • Childcare product classification

    Childcare product classification

    Knowledge Hub

    Help with identifying the difference between a childcare product and an item of children's furniture, as the standards a...

  • Furniture Retail Quality Group - glass furniture response

    News July 2017

    In response to the recent news stories the Furniture Retail Quality Group would like to reassure consumers regarding the...

  • Government’s latest PRODCOM data confirm furniture manufacturing’s strong 2016 performance

    Government’s latest PRODCOM data confirm furniture manufacturing’s strong 2016 performance

    News July 2017

    Latest statistics on the production of manufactured goods reveal that the UK furniture industry continued to grow despit...

  • ​Strong pre-election performance by UK furniture manufacturers

    ​Strong pre-election performance by UK furniture manufacturers

    News June 2017

    Government’s latest manufacturing and export figures, summarised in its recently published ‘Turnover in UK production an...

  • Mind the Gap conference tackles skills shortage

    Mind the Gap conference tackles skills shortage

    News November 2015

    ​The biggest challenge facing the furnishing industry over the next decade is a skills shortage, and to ensure our indus...

  • Mind The Gap -  Skills and Training in the Furniture Industry

    Mind The Gap - Skills and Training in the Furniture Industry

    Knowledge Hub

    This report aims to fuel the development of industry-wide initiatives to ensure that the skills agenda is fully addresse...

  • Furniture Design Toolkit: Domestic Furniture

    Furniture Design Toolkit: Domestic Furniture

    Knowledge Hub

    Guide to assist designers and manufacturers of bedroom, living room, dining room and home office furniture

  • ​Report on 'Real-life' UK kitchen study findings

    ​Report on 'Real-life' UK kitchen study findings

    Knowledge Hub

    Findings from a three year study into the way UK consumers use kitchens

  • Furniture Design Toolkit: Office and Contract Furniture

    Furniture Design Toolkit: Office and Contract Furniture

    Knowledge Hub

    Guide to assist designers and manufacturers of office and contract furniture

  • Competitiveness of the UK furniture manufacturing industry

    Competitiveness of the UK furniture manufacturing industry

    Knowledge Hub

    UK furniture manufacturing makes a significant contribution to the UK economy. Factory gate sales of over £8.3 billion p...