Archived News Article

Research Association publish new guide on sourcing products in the supply chain

This news article has been archived for reference only.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 have opened 2022 with the release of a new guide. ‘Sourcing Furniture Products in the Supply Chain’ aims to support product designers, developers, importers, distributors, retailers and manufacturers of furniture and furniture accessories with all facets of supply chain, from responsible sourcing through to creating technical files.

The 85 page guide was authored by Bruce Lovell, Consultant at FIRA International (the service provider to the Furniture Industry Research Association). Speaking on the publication, Bruce Lovell said “My main aim in authoring the guide was to assist members in having readily available guidance on sourcing and selling furniture for the UK retail market, helping them ensure that best practice is followed. I also wanted to ensure that suppliers, manufacturers and distributors would understand their customers’ requirements.

“The guide can either be considered as a whole document, or readers can focus on certain areas where they want to ensure that best practice is currently being followed, or look to how they can fill gaps and work to compliance across the many regulations and standards that govern certain furniture products.

“We also have the considerations of Brexit in terms of moving away from EU regulations to our new UK equivalents, all of these have to be considered across the supply chain, and I strongly suggest a ‘sooner rather than later’ approach to this.”

Topics addressed by the new guide include:

  • Sourcing responsibly, including EU and UK safety regulations, responsibilities, due diligence, ‘right first time’ approach, critical paths and points of failure
  • Building quality into design, including design briefs
  • Sourcing of raw materials, including specifications, sourcing routes and quality
  • Basic factory assessments, including health and safety, production and controls, independent inspections, packaging and labelling, and social and ethical auditing
  • Process control and procedures, including timber and chemicals
  • Traceability of materials and products
  • Regulations and requirements, including risk assessments
  • Understanding testing and reporting, including safety, stability, strength and durability
  • Creating a Technical File
  • PAS 7100: 2018 Code of practice on consumer product safety related recalls and other corrective actions

Sourcing Furniture Products in the Supply Chain is available to members of the Furniture Industry Research Association below as part of their membership benefits package.

Non-members can purchase a copy for £125, full details available here

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