Green manufacturing practices among wooden furniture manufacturers in Malaysia

The adoption of green manufacturing practices by the Malaysian wooden furniture industry is limited as is shown by a questionnaire-based survey of wooden furniture manufacturers. The lack of price premium for green furniture products and the high cost involved in adopting such practices have been identified as the major restraints. Currently most green manufacturing practices are related to the use of environmental-friendly materials.     

An assessment of Malaysian wooden furniture manufacturers’ readiness to embrace chain of custody (COC) certification

Although Malaysia is a major producer and exporter of wood products in the world, the status of wood products certification in the industry is relatively unknown. Therefore, a study was carried out to assess the status of chain of custody certification among wooden furniture manufacturers using a structured questionnaire to interview firms who had participated at the annual Malaysian International Furniture Fair (MIFF). Results collated indicate that the readiness to adopt chain of custody certification among wooden furniture manufacturers was low. The lack of price premiums, limited market potential and high cost was cited as the primary reasons deterring furniture manufacturers from adopting chain of custody certification. Furthermore, the use of plantation wood resources, such as Rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis), perceived to be certified wood resources, reflects the lack of understanding among the manufacturers. This study shows that an increasing adoption of chain of custody certification among wooden furniture manufacturers in Malaysia can be realized in the market organisation, especially with regards to price premiums and market requirements.     

The sustainability of the Asian wooden furniture industry

This paper attempts to analyze the sustainability of the Asian wooden furniture industry. Despite booming exports, the furniture industry is besieged with stagnating productivity. The growth attributed to rising exports of low-value, contract furniture is not sustainable in the long-term as other cheaper manufacturers emerge. Industry liberalization coupled with the use of skilled workers, and not industrial policy, are the strategic elements for sustainability.     

The sustainability of the Asian wooden furniture industry

This paper attempts to analyze the sustainability of the Asian wooden furniture industry. Despite booming exports, the furniture industry is besieged with stagnating productivity. The growth attributed to rising exports of low-value, contract furniture is not sustainable in the long-term as other cheaper manufacturers emerge. Industry liberalization coupled with the use of skilled workers, and not industrial policy, are the strategic elements for sustainability.     

木质装饰材料干缩湿胀性对家具拼口的影响

随着装饰业、家具制造业的强劲发展,对于木质材料干缩湿胀性研究尤为重要,企业渴望得到解决木质材料干缩湿胀性的技术。本文在分析了大量文献的基础上,简述了国内外木质材料干缩湿胀性的研究成果,并提出了一些对家具制造具有实用价值的措施。     

A matter of design in the South East Asian wooden furniture industry

South East Asia has emerged as a large furniture-exporting region in the world. Wood is the predominant furniture raw material used in the region, although other raw materials are also available. As a large contract-manufacturing base, the South East Asian furniture industry has not developed its original design and innovative capabilities, which has hampered its effort to produce greater value added furniture. New industrial policies and education schemes to diversify the furniture making raw materials are required to enhance the innovative capacity within the industry, if the regional furniture industry is to successfully shift to higher value added furniture manufacturing. Zusammenfassung In Südostasien ist eine große Region für Möbelexporte entstanden. Holz ist das vorherrschende Material für die Möbelherstellung, wenn auch andere Rohstoffe zur Verfügung stehen. Die Möbelindustrie in Südostasien, die auf großräumigen Kontrakten beruht, hat noch nicht ihren eigenen Stil und ihre innovativen Möglichkeiten entwickelt. Dies hat seine Bemühungen zur Herstellung höherwertiger Möbel behindert. Neue Industriestrategien und Schulungspläne zur Nutzung vielseitiger Rohmaterialien sind erforderlich, um die Innovation in dieser Industriebranche zu erhöhen, wenn das Ziel einer höherwertigen Möbelproduktion erreicht werden soll.     

绿色涂料及其在家具工业中的应用

使用绿色涂料是家具工业装饰涂饰的发展方向之一.本文介绍了水性、高固体分和粉末涂料三种绿色涂料的特点、制备方法和应用,并提出了合理化建议.     

竹质家具加工技术及其未来发展

通过对竹质家具的加工技术进行归纳表明,传统原竹家具应向工艺品方向发展,增加表面装饰方法,提高产品附加值;竹集成材家具应提高产品造型设计水平和加工精度,丰富产品类型;重组竹家具应加强结构设计规律和造型设计原则的基础研究,优化竹束碾压工艺,美化板材表面纹理;现代新原竹家具应向专业化、规模化方向发展,进一步提高产品的结构和造型设计水平,使其具有更为广阔的市场前景.     

江苏南通地区红木家具制造业现状与发展前景

主要分析当前我国红木家具发展现状及长三角地区红木家具发展趋势;重点介绍江苏南通地区红木家具发展的优势及特点,并提出南通地区发展红木家具的相应建议。     

Influence of wood species on the perceived value of wooden furniture: the case of rubberwood

Zusammenfassung The objective of this study was to evaluate the consumer perceptions towards rubberwood (Hevea brasiliensis) as a premier furniture material. The data for this study were collected from a questionnaire survey completed by 250 buyers who attended the international furniture fairs in Malaysia. Correlation analysis showed that the success factors of rubberwood as a furniture stock in comparison to other furniture wood species are its lower cost, availability, environmental friendliness and easy workability.      

Microbial contamination and good manufacturing practices in school kitchen

This study evaluated microbial contamination and good manufacturing practices (GMP) in school kitchens. Thus, the kitchen of four municipal schools have been assessed through microbiological analysis performed in their cutting boards (n = 12), kitchen sinks (n = 12), dish cloths (n = 12), hands of food handlers (n = 22), kitchen sponges (n = 12), milk (n = 10), and water (n = 10). A questionnaire was also applied to food handlers in order to access their profiles and get to know their daily practices inside school kitchens. The results this study showed that all samples (surfaces, cutting boards, kitchen sponges, milk, and water) were contaminated with heterotrophic bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus was found on the surface of sinks, dish cloths, cutting boards, and on the hands of food handlers. Fecal coliforms were found on sinks, water, and milk. Results from the survey reveal that food handlers know about GMP, but they do not perform these activities in school kitchens.

Practical applications

The presented study shows that the schools there are failures in good manufacturing practices (GMP), which increase the risks of food contamination. In addition, we also showed microbial contamination on surface, cutting boards, kitchen sponges, and in food (milk and water) on schools which it make a risk for the development of foodborne diseases, since children have a relatively lower immunity than adults, additional safety measures are needed to protect them from foodborne pathogens and high microbial contamination in school. The microbial contamination in schools show that although the food handlers know about GMP, but there is a necessity for correct surface cleaning in food preparation to avoid foodborne illnesses proliferation in schools     

Pathways of lean manufacturing in wood and furniture industries: a bibliometric and systematic review

European Journal of Wood and Wood Products - As wood and furniture industries have little knowledge of the implementation of lean manufacturing particularly in emerging economies, the purpose of...     

Microbial levels in Michigan apple cider and their association with manufacturing practices

In recent decades, apple cider has been implicated in a series of outbreaks of foodborne illness. The objective of this study was to determine the presence and concentrations of pathogenic and indicator microorganisms in apple cider processed in Michigan and to evaluate the impact of thermal pasteurization, UV light radiation, and implementation of hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) plans on these microbes. Cider samples were obtained from Michigan mills between 1997 and 2004 and analyzed for Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella, generic E. coli, total coliforms, and aerobic bacteria. Neither E. coli O157:H7 nor Salmonella were detected in any tested cider samples, suggesting a very low frequency of pathogens in Michigan apple cider. The persistent and relatively high frequency of generic E. coli observed in samples obtained in all years indicates a continued risk of pathogen contamination in Michigan apple cider, especially when it is untreated. The use of thermal pasteurization or UV light radiation and reported implementation of HACCP plans were associated with lower frequency and counts of generic E. coli, total coliforms, and aerobic microorganisms. However, the relatively high counts of indicator organisms in some cider samples that were claimed to be treated according to these pathogen reduction measures indicates that some processors had inadequate practices, facilities, or equipment for pathogen reduction or did not consistently or adequately apply practices or pathogen-reduction equipment in an effective manner.     

"Green" manufacturing one part at a time

New process analysis tools bring "design for the environment" to the plant floor.     

饮料加工企业的微生物控制

分析了饮料加工企业微生物控制的重要性，污染微生物的主要种类及其主要污染途径，并简要介绍了控制微生物污染的主要方法，进一步介绍了饮料工业化学消毒剂的主要种类及其特点，并以二氧化氯消毒剂为例介绍了在饮料加工过程中的应用方法。