‘Furniture makers still rely on imported components’ – Daily Trust

Furniture producers in Nigeria still rely on imported parts, together with hinges, locking methods and fabric materials, regardless of finishing up a lot of their manufacturing domestically, trade practitioners have mentioned.

An architect, Ina, who has labored with AFP, the furnishings manufacturing subsidiary of Julius Berger, mentioned many of the firm’s woodworking and meeting processes came about in Nigeria, whereas some parts had been sourced from overseas.

Speaking in the course of the ongoing Design Week Lagos Expo, he mentioned the corporate’s timber processing operations, together with seasoning wooden earlier than manufacturing, additionally fashioned a part of its native manufacturing actions.

He mentioned the supply of extra parts from Nigerian producers might cut back reliance on imported supplies.

At a panel session in the course of the exhibition, AFP General Manager, Oliver Cohnen, mentioned producers ought to perceive market demand and clients’ wants earlier than investing in equipment.

He mentioned manufacturing required sufficient capability, an environment friendly manufacturing unit structure, dependable suppliers and high quality management.

“For me, it is the people who make the difference, not the machines,” Cohnen mentioned, stressing the necessity to prepare staff earlier than increasing manufacturing.

Also talking, the co-founder of TRT Arredo Ltd, Jonathan Agwunobi, mentioned standardising manufacturing processes might assist producers preserve consistency and enhance effectivity.

He mentioned his firm had established a design division and targeted on chosen initiatives relatively than pursue each industrial alternative.

According to him, the method allowed the corporate to develop experience in its chosen areas and use buyer suggestions to enhance its work.

Agwunobi mentioned the corporate had additionally tailored some practices noticed throughout a go to to a producing agency in Italy to go well with its operations.

Earlier, the founding father of Design Week Lagos, Titi Ogufere, mentioned AFP had participated within the exhibition’s Made by Design present for greater than eight years, lacking just one or two editions.

She recommended the corporate for integrating younger designers into its manufacturing processes.

“I really like the fact that they have integrated young designers into what they are doing because at Design Week Lagos, we are really for promoting young designers and young thinkers,” she mentioned.