ZOW 2015: Georg Frey, curator of the special exhibition area "Machines and Processes" to focus on production networking

Lignum Consulting provides possible solutions for the individualisation of serial production

[Bad Salzuflen, November 25, 2014] There has been a significant increase in the number of variants in the furniture industry. Yet the sector is still taking a critical stance towards the shift from "traditional" serial production, especially on account of aspects in connection with production engineering: In the case of medium-sized enterprises, in particular, this leads to new challenges since increased product complexity also requires additional time and effort in order to meet these challenges. A key element in allowing for this complexity is, for instance, smart variant logic", explains Georg Frey, partner of the management consultancy company Lignum Consulting. As curator of the special exhibition area "Machines and Processes" at the forthcoming ZOW, the expert in this sector will be demonstrating how companies can gear their production processes towards customised manufacturing.

The forthcoming ZOW - international fair for suppliers to the furniture and interior design industries - will be highlighting the individualisation of serially produced furniture within the scope of seven ZOW forums and special exhibition areas. At the special exhibition area "Machines and Processes", exhibitors and visitors will discover which methods can be used by companies operating in the furniture sector in order to promote customised manufacturing. Experts on this subject and exhibiting companies will be presenting viable solutions for the various process steps in lectures as well as by means of displays and videos. One of the main focuses of the special exhibition area is production networking: Production processes need to be adapted to individualised serial production as otherwise costs will rise and productivity will fall.

Standardisation in design engineering
Curator Georg Frey remarks that a well thought-out variant logic is frequently missing: "In order to design products with variant compatibility, the furniture industry needs to standardise the principles behind design engineering." As the management consultant stresses, even minor changes in the individual processes can result in an expansion of capacities and application options and generate cost savings. Individualised serial production can be facilitated to a great extent simply by standardising construction elements such as rows of dowel pins, grooves and hole patterns: "As a result, the products are easier to understand, thereby reducing set-up time in the production hall."

Increased efficiency through networking
In order to tap the full potential of production, the other levels of the company also need to be attuned to the new production model. "A higher degree of networking is required to carry out customised orders efficiently. Such networking ensures the smooth flow of data as well as the ability to react in a flexible manner to last-minute order modifications", states the partner of Lignum Consulting GmbH, which has already lent its support and guidance to many companies in the sector in the gradual implementation of individualised serial production. "Integrated processes are required for flexible and fast deliveries. The key factor here is the availability of a standardised data source which is accessed by all of the processes", adds Frey.

A new mode of operation, a new mode of thought
These effects on diverse business processes also make it necessary to rethink corporate strategy. The customised manufacture of furniture frequently goes hand in hand with a specific lot size of the items of furniture and components. Curator Frey regards lean management as one possibility to design the processes involved more efficiently: The objective of this concept is to coordinate all of the activities required for value creation in optimal fashion: "When it comes to the production of specific quantities, the focus must be on process reproducibility - and thus on process stability." However, this does not only concern production, as Frey stresses: "This process stabilisation must be consistently brought to bear in administrative areas as well. The consistent application of these instruments will enable companies to improve product quality, reduce costs and to benefit from the boom in individualisation accordingly."

With its clear focus on the exchange of knowledge and experience along the entire production chain, this year's ZOW will once again be offering exhibitors and trade visitors a high degree of value added - from design to production and logistics through to store presentation. The 21st edition of the international fair for suppliers to the furniture and interior design industries will be held at Bad Salzuflen Exhibition Centre from 9th to 12th February 2015.

Clarion Events can trace its roots back to 1947 and takes great pride in being one of the oldest independent event organisers in the UK. More recently the firm has developed an international portfolio of brands and now has interests in a number of global vertical industries.

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This release was published on openPR.