Constraints in the production and marketing of knockdown furniture in Ghana
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Date
1993-09-11
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Abstract
The project investigates the nature and extent of the constraints in the production, and marketing of knockdown furniture in Ghana. The investigation is basically an in-plant survey and observation of the factories of twenty-two (22) firms which produce knockdown furniture in Ghana. A checklist of questions is prepared and used for interviews to reveal the strengths and weaknesses in strategic operating areas within the firms. Factors that affect the production and marketing of knockdown furniture are examined. These factors are attributed to deficiencies in production technology, economic and management constraints. The problems besetting the knockdown furniture industry are complex, widespread, serious and above all, real. Abundance of raw materials which contributed to the business success of yesteryear’s, has become the same cause of much of the present-day manufacturing failures. Technological developments and advances generally find minimal adoption in. the industry. The sad effects of inadequate knowledge on wood seasoning and finishing techniques are best reflected in the declining number of modern technologically-aware and cost-conscious customers. Equipment and facilities improvement and increasing costs of labour, supplies and materials round off the major difficulties the industry has to surmount. Control of quality of production, use of efficient machines, mill capacity utilization, stocks of raw materials to he maintained, efficient waste utilization and upgrading of production skills are management problems which should be critically examined. Recommendations have been made to improve the existing situation. These include availability to the industry of credit or external finance, equipment and machinery, and other inputs,
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A dissertation submitted to the Board of Postgraduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Wood Technology and Management,1993.