With reference to the development of the US furniture industry, perhaps, we can find a new way out for the lost Chinese furniture industry. In the period of industrial transformation, the way out of Chinese furniture from the American furniture industry is "with copper as the mirror, can be the crown; with the human mirror, it can be learned and lost; with history as a mirror, it can be seen." Seabuckthorn Seed Oil,Pomelo Peel Oil,Carrot Seed Oil,Pharmacy Essential Oil Ji'An ZhongXiang Natural Plants Co.,Ltd. , https://www.jazxnaturaloils.com
First, the big environment of the American furniture industry
1. The three shifts in the US furniture industry: the earliest development from the northeastern regions of New York, Pennsylvania, and New England, and later to the central and western regions, and then to the southern region. Each transfer is actually moving to an area with lower manufacturing costs and high-quality hardwood resources. This “transfer of manufacturing capacity†is also the case in China's furniture industry.
2. The negative impact of globalization on the US furniture manufacturing industry is extremely serious. From 1992 to 2005, the import of all furniture products increased from US$4.1 billion to US$23.65 billion, an increase of almost US$20 billion, or an increase of 477%. From 1997 to 2005, the furniture industry other than kitchen cabinets has lost 108,000 jobs, accounting for 21% of unemployed workers in the United States during this period.
3, the impact of changes in the concept of furniture consumption on the US furniture industry: Like many mass-produced consumer goods, civilian furniture has become a more common category of "common goods", the sales volume depends on the price. Consumers no longer regard furniture as a thing worth spending, and spend less and less on furniture. At the same time, furniture companies fight for price in the market, profits are greatly reduced, but production costs are constantly Rising, the investment in factories and equipment fell sharply, which eventually led to the great fallout of the technology and equipment of many American furniture factories.
Second, the US furniture industry faces operational strategies when “costs rise, competition intensifies, profits decrease, and the market shrinksâ€
In the face of rising market conditions, increased competition, lower profits, and shrinking market conditions, US furniture manufacturers have adopted a variety of operational strategies.
1. Turn off your own factory and become a wholesaler and retailer: on the retail path, they use their own brands to attract consumers and put their products in low-wage countries such as China for manufacturing. Its profit comes from retail. The difference between the price and the manufacturing price.
2. Strengthen your manufacturing capabilities and integrate imported products into your own product range. In addition, they use lean production and the latest technology to improve their energy levels.
3. Concentrate on custom products, from the production of "general goods" products to customized products, customers are willing to spend a little more on custom products, so that large importers can not do.
4. Development of new markets and product uses: The wooden parts industry is a good example. They have changed the product structure and positioned the market in the construction and kitchen cabinet industries to cope with the downward trend in the furniture industry.
5. Re-establish the industrial agglomeration of the furniture industry, or establish an advantage center to make the entire supply chain operate more closely to provide more value to the target customers.
3. Where is the Chinese furniture manufacturing industry?
1. Transforming from “common goods†to “customized goodsâ€, closer to customers and creating value-added products and services
In the furniture industry, there is a lack of contact between many furniture manufacturers and end customers, and too much is relying on retailers to obtain information about customer needs and expectations. The furniture industry must learn how to approach end customers, how to provide products for them, and ensure that they make a profit.
This requires better marketing capabilities, better sales networks, lean manufacturing and flexible manufacturing capabilities, immediate supply chain operations, supply chain management, innovative thinking and leadership, better education and training for employees, etc. In short, it is a new business model.
2. In terms of manufacturing, the factory must be automated as much as possible to achieve maximum productivity and increase labor productivity.
Therefore, it is possible to adopt new technologies and “leanmanufacturing†to reduce costs. At the same time, it is necessary to increase investment in the education and training of workers, the development of new products and research, so as to cultivate workers with special skills. Create high-end products and sell for a good price. If we continue to produce products in the general merchandise category and provide low-level services, then we will continue to lose market and give way to areas where labor is more abundant and cheaper.
3. Establish relevant advantage centers or gather competitive advantages
According to Mike. Porter's definition in "Competition", "aggregation refers to a group of geographically close, interconnected companies with synergistic institutions in specific areas, linked through common interests and complementarities", through supply chain development Strategic partners, all aspects of the entire supply chain work together, so that resources are most effectively integrated and utilized.