Manufacturing Excellence for the Furniture Industry

The Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers is holding its popular ‘Manufacturing Excellence for the Furniture Industry’ course this April.  Uniting key industry professionals and experts to teach the core principles of lean manufacturing, it aims to develop world-class performance levels and improve the UK furniture industry’s competitiveness in an increasingly global market.

The three-day residential course, sponsored by Furnisure and James Latham, has been developed by the furniture industry forum, ukfirst.  ukfirst supports manufacturing and improvement initiatives within the UK furniture industry and will use its specialist team of Master Engineers to lead the course, giving delegates the opportunity to draw from their vast experience and knowledge.

The in-depth programme is aimed at all those involved in operations management within the furniture industry and its supply chain, from line managers to directors, and from all sizes of company.  Delegates will learn the principles of lean operations from practised experts and those responsible for implementing it in other successful companies, through a combination of teaching, practical demonstrations, specially-developed games and workshops.

Delegates will also visit the manufacturing plants of both Johnson Controls, a global provider of automotive interiors to manufacturers such as Toyota and Land Rover, and Kembles Pianos, a European award-winning manufacturer of fine pianos, allowing them to witness how lean manufacturing has benefited these hugely-successful organisations.

Ben Burbidge, Chairman of the Manufacturing Training Committee at The Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers, comments:  “The furniture industry is a highly-competitive marketplace, particularly on a global scale.  By learning to streamline and improve manufacturing processes, businesses large or small can dramatically improve their performance and more readily compete in the world market.  My own company has benefitted significantly from the adoption of lean principles and working with ukfirst has been highly beneficial in the quest for continuous improvement.

“The Manufacturing Excellence for the Furniture Industry course is designed with the furniture industry’s specific manufacturing issues in mind.  Delegates will not only learn techniques which can be applied to their own business now but take part in discussions which will look at the future of the industry and the key issues for the 21st century, in order to make sure that this vital UK industry remains as fast-paced as its global competitors.”

‘Manufacturing Excellence for the Furniture Industry’ takes place at Highgate House Conference and Training Centre, Northampton from Monday 14 April to Wednesday 16 April (depart Thursday 17 April).  For further information or to reserve places, please contact 01438 777725 or email

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