Surveying Quality Management Methodologies in Wooden Furniture Production

Abstract

Furniture production is a specific industrial sector with a high human labor demand, a wide range of materials processed, and short production runs caused by high customization of end products. The difficulty of measuring the aesthetic requirements of customers is also specific to furniture. This review of academic papers identifies and explains effective quality management strategies in furniture production. The reviewed literature highlights a range of quality management methodologies, including concurrent engineering (CE), total quality management (TQM), lean manufacturing, lean six sigma, and kaizen. These strategies encompass a variety of pro-quality tools, such as 5S, statistical process control (SPC), quality function deployment (QFD), and failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA). The strengths of these quality management strategies lie in their ability to enhance efficiency, reduce waste, increase product diversity, and improve product quality. However, the weaknesses concern implementation challenges and the need for culture change within organizations. Successful quality management in furniture production requires tailoring strategies to the specific context of the furniture production industry. Additionally, the importance of sustainability in the furniture industry is emphasized, which entails incorporating circular economy principles and resource-efficient practices. The most important finding from the literature analysis is that early detection and correction of poor quality yields the most beneficial outcomes for the manufacturer. Therefore, it is essential to strengthen the rigor of quality testing and analysis during the early stages of product development. Consequently, a deep understanding of consumer perspectives on required furniture quality is crucial. The review identified two research gaps: (1) the impact of unnecessary product over-quality on the efficiency of furniture production and (2) the influence of replacing CAD drawings with a model-based definition (MBD) format on quality management in furniture production.

Enhancing Furniture Manufacturing with 3D Scanning

“…From the literature review and the four case studies presented, it can be concluded that 3D scanning and reverse engineering have become integral parts of today's industry in cases where new product development and design are needed. It is used in almost all development, design, manufacturing, and quality control aspects [6]. In the case of Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is used extensively in the furniture industry, especially for reverse engineering and design and development of new products.…”

“…In the furniture industry, constantly creating products with complex shapes and forms presents a challenge for engineers, especially when dealing with prototypes of designer concepts [6]. The prototyping, from concept to final product, often involves multiple iterations due to difficulties in translating the designer's vision into a physical form [7,8].…”

Roadblocks in Integrating Lean Six Sigma and Industry 4.0 in Small and Medium Enterprises

“…Paperwork is outdated in VSM due to the advent of sensors, software, and real-time data. I4.0 provides high-level integration of lean processes that further contributes to organizational development [24].…”