This thesis provides insight to the dynamics that come with the emergence of IoT in the furniture and kitchen manufacturing industry. The study is empirically grounded in an explorative case study that involves interviews with six manufacturing companies in the different industry sectors. The purpose has been to shed light on how incumbent companies adapt and implement IoT and the study highlight product features, aspects and challenges that companies are investigating and dealing with as they set out to work with IoT and connected products. The results indicate that companies are viewing IoT as an enabler that better can respond to customer needs and provide users with new experiences. By implementing the concept of IoT companies are currently evaluating how internal knowledge and skillsets correspond to the new technical requirements that the emerging digital setting outlines and by directing internal research they are learning more about IoT and connected products as they proceed. One current major problem is that there are no open protocols that can connect all products regardless of supplier. Nevertheless, implementation of IoT does not solely involve technical aspects and companies are also faced with the dilemma on how to design and develop corresponding commercial processes. To this point early product implementations have arrived on the consumer markets and the future vision is to achieve full integration that imbeds connectivity and interaction among all products in the home.

Human factors and ergonomics (HF/E) plays a crucial role in business success but is particularly vital to the furniture manufacturing industry. Unfortunately, the furniture manufacturing industry suffers from occupational injuries and illnesses resulting from ergonomically poorly designed systems. This thesis’s objective was to better understand HF/E through the furniture manufacturing industry’s managerial knowledge and opinions in order to design more productive, safer, and healthier systems. The study also aimed to raise manager awareness in the industry and introduce the potential HF/E benefits by providing current literature. Sixtyour American furniture manufacturing industry managers participated in a web-based questionnaire survey. The survey revealed that managers’ demographic properties and companies’ characteristics were some factors that affect managers’ awareness, knowledge, and opinions on HF/E. In general, managers were unfamiliar with HF/E and lacked a broad background on and knowledge of HF/E. In addition, companies, particularly small companies, lacked sufficient resources for HF/E.

Circular Economy has gained a lot of interest by academia as well as companies and policymakers. Sustainability goals of the European Union has mainly caused this acceleration. However, research argued that the true impact and scale of CE will only be realized when companies deploy Circular Business Models (CBMs) and Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies in a holistic manner to capture new growth opportunities while also strengthening their core business. Especially digital technologies are seen as one of the key enablers for that transition and have become a central topic within the CE research agenda. This research looked at the potential role Blockchain technology can play in the transition towards Circular Economy of the Swedish Furniture Industry based on the identified challenges it currently faces. Based on the combination of literature - and empirical research, there can be concluded that the role of Blockchain technology in the transformation towards CE in the Swedish Furniture Industry is less significant than first anticipated. Based on the empirical findings, there can be concluded that the key driver of Blockchain technology is an environment where there is a systemic lack of trust related to transactions and data between different parties. In such circumstances, Blockchain technology does imply significantly added value due to its inherent features of decentralization, irreversibility, and transparency without the need for intermediary third parties. Circular economy can be seen as an ecosystem that consist of a complex network with different actors that all need certain information to effectively participate. Based on this research, the prominent implication for Blockchain technology in the Swedish Furniture Industry has been found in the current discussed European Union Product Passport in combination with the chemical regulation. Blockchain technology could play a prominent role in the aftermarket by enabling trust, transparency, and irreversibility. In this way all actors in the Circular Economy can use and contribute to the data in a uniform manner. / Cirkulär ekonomi har rönt stort intresse inom den akademiska världen samt bland företag och beslutsfattare. Det är främst Europeiska unionens hållbarhetsmål som har orsakat denna acceleration. Forskningen har dock visat att den verkliga effekten och omfattningen av den cirkulära ekonomin kommer att förverkligas först när företagen använder cirkulära affärsmodeller (CBM) och tekniker från den fjärde industriella revolutionen på ett holistiskt sätt för att ta tillvara nya tillväxtmöjligheter samtidigt som de stärker sin kärnverksamhet. Särskilt den digitala tekniken ses som en av de viktigaste faktorerna för denna övergång och har blivit en central fråga på forskningsagendan för CE. I denna forskning undersöktes vilken potentiell roll blockkedjetekniken kan spela i den svenska möbelindustrins övergång till cirkulär ekonomi utifrån de identifierade utmaningar som den för närvarande står inför. Baserat på kombinationen av litteratur - och empirisk forskning kan man dra slutsatsen att blockkedjeteknologins roll i omställningen till CE i den svenska möbelindustrin är mindre betydande än vad man först trodde. På grundval av de empiriska resultaten kan man dra slutsatsen att den viktigaste drivkraften för blockkedjetekniken är en miljö där det finns en systematisk brist på förtroende i samband med transaktioner och data mellan olika parter. Under sådana omständigheter innebär blockkedjetekniken ett betydande mervärde på grund av dess inneboende egenskaper i form av decentralisering, irreversibilitet och öppenhet utan behov av tredje part som mellanhand. Den cirkulära ekonomin kan ses som ett ekosystem som består av ett komplext nätverk med olika aktörer som alla behöver viss information för att effektivt kunna delta. Baserat på denna forskning har den framträdande implikationen för blockkedjetekniken i den svenska möbelindustrin hittats i det för närvarande diskuterade Europeiska unionens produktpass i kombination med kemikalieförordningen. Blockkedjetekniken skulle kunna spela en betydande roll för att möjliggöra förtroende, transparens och oåterkallelighet. På så sätt kan alla aktörer i den cirkulära ekonomin använda och bidra till data på ett enhetligt sätt.

Circular Economy has gained a lot of interest by academia as well as companies and policymakers. Sustainability goals of the European Union has mainly caused this acceleration. However, research argued that the true impact and scale of CE will only be realized when companies deploy Circular Business Models (CBMs) and Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies in a holistic manner to capture new growth opportunities while also strengthening their core business. Especially digital technologies are seen as one of the key enablers for that transition and have become a central topic within the CE research agenda. This research looked at the potential role Blockchain technology can play in the transition towards Circular Economy of the Swedish Furniture Industry based on the identified challenges it currently faces. Based on the combination of literature - and empirical research, there can be concluded that the role of Blockchain technology in the transformation towards CE in the Swedish Furniture Industry is less significant than first anticipated. Based on the empirical findings, there can be concluded that the key driver of Blockchain technology is an environment where there is a systemic lack of trust related to transactions and data between different parties. In such circumstances, Blockchain technology does imply significantly added value due to its inherent features of decentralization, irreversibility, and transparency without the need for intermediary third parties. Circular economy can be seen as an ecosystem that consist of a complex network with different actors that all need certain information to effectively participate. Based on this research, the prominent implication for Blockchain technology in the Swedish Furniture Industry has been found in the current discussed European Union Product Passport in combination with the chemical regulation. Blockchain technology could play a prominent role in the aftermarket by enabling trust, transparency, and irreversibility. In this way all actors in the Circular Economy can use and contribute to the data in a uniform manner. / Cirkulär ekonomi har rönt stort intresse inom den akademiska världen samt bland företag och beslutsfattare. Det är främst Europeiska unionens hållbarhetsmål som har orsakat denna acceleration. Forskningen har dock visat att den verkliga effekten och omfattningen av den cirkulära ekonomin kommer att förverkligas först när företagen använder cirkulära affärsmodeller (CBM) och tekniker från den fjärde industriella revolutionen på ett holistiskt sätt för att ta tillvara nya tillväxtmöjligheter samtidigt som de stärker sin kärnverksamhet. Särskilt den digitala tekniken ses som en av de viktigaste faktorerna för denna övergång och har blivit en central fråga på forskningsagendan för CE. I denna forskning undersöktes vilken potentiell roll blockkedjetekniken kan spela i den svenska möbelindustrins övergång till cirkulär ekonomi utifrån de identifierade utmaningar som den för närvarande står inför. Baserat på kombinationen av litteratur - och empirisk forskning kan man dra slutsatsen att blockkedjeteknologins roll i omställningen till CE i den svenska möbelindustrin är mindre betydande än vad man först trodde. På grundval av de empiriska resultaten kan man dra slutsatsen att den viktigaste drivkraften för blockkedjetekniken är en miljö där det finns en systematisk brist på förtroende i samband med transaktioner och data mellan olika parter. Under sådana omständigheter innebär blockkedjetekniken ett betydande mervärde på grund av dess inneboende egenskaper i form av decentralisering, irreversibilitet och öppenhet utan behov av tredje part som mellanhand. Den cirkulära ekonomin kan ses som ett ekosystem som består av ett komplext nätverk med olika aktörer som alla behöver viss information för att effektivt kunna delta. Baserat på denna forskning har den framträdande implikationen för blockkedjetekniken i den svenska möbelindustrin hittats i det för närvarande diskuterade Europeiska unionens produktpass i kombination med kemikalieförordningen. Blockkedjetekniken skulle kunna spela en betydande roll för attmöjliggöra förtroende, transparens och oåterkallelighet. På så sätt kan alla aktörer i den cirkulära ekonomin använda och bidra till data på ett enhetligt sätt.

The Linear Economy cannot any longer be sustained by the eco-system: virgin resources are limited and destined to terminate soon if the contemporary production and consumption model will be maintained. For this reason, in the last few years Circular Economy has become an increasingly discussed topic worldwide. Through the adoption of strategies that close-the-loop of the traditional linear production system, Circular Economy aims to find solutions that can create a balance between economy, society and environment. This study aims to provide a holistic overview on the main theories and strategies that can ease a business transition to a Circular Economy model, to analyse challenges and opportunities connected to this conversion and to present a concrete tool developed for this purpose. The Life Cycle Design theory is here discussed and contextualised within the furniture industry reality since this study has been executed in collaboration with IKEA, the company case study of this thesis. An academic and professional literature review have been performed in order to gather information about theory and practice related to the implementation of strategies needed by a Circular Economy: product disassembly, recovery, reuse, refurbish, recycle and remanufacturing. The professional literature reviewed point out that the implementation of a circular model can lead to economic advantages and growth’s opportunities for manufacturers in various economic sectors. The implementation of Circular Economy in the furniture industry seems to be in its early stages and it mainly focus, with few exception, on recycling rather than on the more effective reuse, refurbish or remanufacturing operations. This study points out the two main issues that the furniture manufacturers need to solve in order to enable the implementation of more effective circular strategies: product disassembly and recovery. Furthermore, the need of an innovative and holistic approach is discussed with particular emphasis on the importance of a systemic thinking that enable organisation to create their own identity and objectives in relation to the Circular Economy model. The importance of a system that connects and coordinate the sustainable efforts and aims for new products and services is therefore highlighted, suggested and deeply considered in the development of the tool proposed. To conclude, a comparison between two IKEA products (the sofas Söderhamn and Knopparp) was performed to identify the role of the products’ design and development in relation with the implementation of a Circular Economy model. The products were briefly technically analysed and then a comparison between a linear and a circular end-of-life cycle scenario has been represented.

Estudos da área de melhores práticas de produção têm revelado que a implementação de práticas idênticas em firmas diferentes pode conduzir a níveis de desempenhos distintos. É sugerida, pela literatura consultada, uma discussão mais apropriada das melhores práticas para contextos específicos. O objetivo principal desta pesquisa é avaliar o relacionamento entre práticas (ou programas de ação) implantadas e a estratégia de produção e, também, analisar os efeitos das práticas sobre a melhoria de indicadores de desempenho operacional e de negócio em empresas do setor moveleiro no Brasil. O objetivo secundário é, por intermédio da análise desses relacionamentos, analisar se tais práticas podem ser consideradas as melhores práticas no contexto do setor pesquisado. Foi elaborado um modelo conceitual com cinco hipóteses de pesquisas, baseado na revisão da literatura. A pesquisa de campo consistiu de uma survey explanatória e de corte-transversal. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevistas, observações diretas no chão-de-fábrica e, também, mediante questionário estruturado respondido pela internet. Noventa e nove firmas participaram da pesquisa. A técnica usada para a análise dos dados foi a modelagem de equações estruturais com o método de estimação dos mínimos quadrados ponderados. Os resultados indicaram que (a) práticas de produção em diferentes áreas afetam direta e indiretamente indicadores de performance operacional e de negócio; (b) a implantação conjunta de práticas de infra-estrutura dão suporte às práticas-chave que estimulam a melhoria da performance de diferentes indicadores de indicadores; (c) em geral as práticas de produção influenciam diretamente, com maior magnitude, o desempenho operacional que o desempenho de negócio, uma vez que esse último é afetado indiretamente pelas práticas, por intermédio da melhoria do desempenho operacional; (d) práticas nas áreas de desenvolvimento de novos produtos, recursos humanos, gestão de qualidade e planejamento e controle de produção podem ser consideradas como melhores práticas para o contexto estudado, conforme análise da pesquisadora por meio da revisão da literatura. / Studies in the area of best practices have shown that the implementation of identical practices in different companies may result in diverse performance levels. Studies also suggest the need for deeper analysis of best practices for specific contexts. The main objective of this work is twofold. It analyses the relationship between manufacturing strategy and production practices. It also investigates the effects of such practices on the improvement on business and operational performance indicators in brazilian furniture companies. The secondary objective is to investigate whether such production practices can be considered indeed the best practices for the furniture industry. A conceptual model, with five research hypotheses, has been elaborated following thorough literature review. The empirical research consisted of an explanatory cross-sectional survey. Data have been collected during interviews and direct observations on the shop-floor from 99 furniture companies. Some data have also been collected from online questionnaire available on the internet. The technique used for data analysis was the structural equation modeling (SEM) with the weighted least square (WLS) estimation method. Results indicated that (a) practices of production in different areas direct and indirectly affect operational performance indicators of specific and general areas and also firm indicators; (b) the joint adoption of infrastructure supports key practices that stimulate improved performance of different indicators; (c) most of the practices of production influence operational performance directly and with greater magnitude than firm performance, as this last one is affected indirectly by the practices, through improved operational performance; and (d) practices in the area of development of new products, human resources, production planning and control and quality management were could be considered best practices in the context under study, in accordance with the analyzes of the researcher and theory review.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-05T18:57:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 18 / Nenhuma / O objetivo do presente estudo é o de verificar a influência das instituições sobre a capacidade inovativa das empresas do Arranjo Produtivo Local (APL) de Móveis da Serra Gaúcha. Para tanto, foi feita uma caracterização do arranjo, destacando-se o comportamento das empresas fabricantes de móveis e o papel das instituições vinculadas a essa atividade fabril. Ademais, foi realizada uma pesquisa de campo no município de Bento Gonçalves, quando foram efetuadas entrevistas com representantes das empresas selecionadas e das instituições de ensino e pesquisa, entidades setoriais e associações. A ênfase dada a cidade de Bento Gonçalves se deve ao fato de a maior parcela das atividades vinculadas à fabricação de móveis na Região da Serra Gaúcha estar concentrada neste município. A análise centrou-se no modo que as empresas moveleiras vêm utilizando a infra-estrututa institucional existente e em que medida essa interatividade tem ampliado a capacitação tecnológica e inovativa das empresas do APL de Móveis da Serra Gaúc / The main objective of the present study is to verify the influence of the institutions on innovative capacity of “Local Productive Arrangement” (LPA) of furniture industry in the mountains (sierra) of Rio Grande do Sul state. In order to make this study possible, a characterization of the arrangement was done, highlighting the behaviour of those furniture companies, as well as the role of institutions linked to this “manufacturing activity”. Furthermore, interviews were applied in the city of Bento Gonçalves, with representatives of those selected companies, representatives of research and teaching institutions as well as with associations and “sector entities”. The emphasis given to the city of Bento Gonçalves, is due to the fact that this region (mountains of Rio Grande do Sul state) concentrates most of the activities linked to furniture industry. This study is focused on the way that the mentioned companies have been using the available infrastructure and also on to what extent this interactivity has be

Submitted by Patrícia Valim Labres de Freitas (patricial) on 2016-03-16T15:48:14Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Juliane Luchese_.pdf: 2295311 bytes, checksum: 55706fd6328fe1f0f72ca1f58af46674 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-16T15:48:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Juliane Luchese_.pdf: 2295311 bytes, checksum: 55706fd6328fe1f0f72ca1f58af46674 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-01-22 / Nenhuma / As decisões tomadas em relação à escolha das dimensões competitivas, da estrutura e da infraestrutura, juntamente com as capacidades organizacionais, são a base para a construção de uma estratégia de produção competitiva, e uma forma de diferenciação das empresas perante seus concorrentes. Neste contexto, este estudo se propõe a identificar quais são as principais dimensões competitivas que orientam a estratégia de produção das grandes empresas da indústria moveleira do polo de Bento Gonçalves- RS sob a percepção dos gerentes de produção das mesmas. Para que seja possível alcançar o objetivo principal, foi definido alguns objetivos específicos tais como como: a) analisar o comportamento estratégico em relação as dimensões de competição das quatro empresas fabricantes de móveis de grande porte de Bento Gonçalves; b) Identificar e analisar as prioridades quanto as dimensões competitivas enfatizadas pelas empresas bem como identificar como cada empresa está estruturada em relação as áreas de decisão estruturais e infra estruturais; c) identificar sinergias e trade-offs entre as principais prioridades atribuídas nas quatro empresas. A abordagem metodológica adotada foi o estudo de caso múltiplos aplicado no principal polo moveleiro do Rio Grande do Sul, o polo da Serra Gaúcha. A escolha deste polo ocorreu devido a sua importância na geração de empregos e por sua representatividade no mercado em que essas organizações estão inseridas. Como resultado, a pesquisa evidenciou similaridade entre três empresas pesquisadas quanto a escolha das dimensões competitivas destacando a importância para as dimensões: entregas quanto a pontualidade, flexibilidade de volume, qualidade, entregas quanto a velocidade, flexibilidade de design e tecnologia de processo. Ademais, a pesquisa pretendeu servir de suporte aos gestores das pequenas e médias empresas e pesquisadores para compreender sobre a estratégia de competição em relação as dimensões competitivas adotadas pelas empresas moveleiras de grande porte. / The decisions regarding the choice of the competitive dimensions of the structure and infrastructure, along with the organizational capabilities are the foundation for building a competitive manufacturing strategy, and a way to differentiate the company to its competitors. In this context, this study aims to identify what are the main competitive dimensions that guide the production strategy of large companies in the furniture industry in Bento Gonçalves- RS, under the same perception of the production managers. To be able to achieve the main goal was set some specific goals such as :a) analyze the strategic behavior regarding the dimensions of competition of the four major furniture manufacturers of Bento Gonçalves; b) Identify and analyze the priorities for the competitive dimensions emphasized by the companies as well as identify how each company is structured in relation to the structural and infrastructural decision areas; c) identify synergies and trade-offs among the top priorities assigned in the four companies. The methodological approach adopted was the multiple case study applied in the main furniture center of Rio Grande do Sul, the center of Serra Gaucha. The choice of this center was due to its importance in the employment generation and its share of the market in which those organizations are located. As a result, the survey showed similarity between the three companies surveyed as the choice of competitive dimensions highlighting the importance for dimensions: punctuality deliveries, volume flexibility, quality, speed delivery, design flexibility and process technology. Furthermore, the research intended to provide support to small and medium companies’ managers and researchers to understand the competition strategy on the competitive dimensions adopted by large furniture companies.

Increasing competition and technological improvements have created new challenges for the firms. In Turkey, low-tech small and medium scale furniture industry does not seem to be well equipped to compete in this respect due to their weak economic and cultural capital. Necessity of innovative and distinguishing design-led policies has already arisen for improving the position of the low-tech small and medium scale furniture producers. However, to generate effective policies for them, it is essential to understand the design process and production domain related to cultural factors which affect the position of design and the designer. Within this perspective, this thesis examines the position of design and the designer within the product development process in eight cases of small and medium scale furniture companies based on the data gathered from, firstly, in-depth interviews with the owners, and secondly, product development stories narrated by the owner, the designers and head of the production departments of the companies.

The increasing impact of mass production and consumption behaviours have made sustainable product design an important issue in design literature in the last two decades. Studies in the early period focussed on research projects carried out in collaboration with multinational large-sized enterprises, owing to pressures from non-governmental organizations. However, recent studies about sustainable development have pointed out that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) rather than multinationals have a greater share of manufacturing and employment in both industrialized and industrializing countries. Unfortunately, in spite of the important role of SMEs, there is inadequate data and literature relating sustainable design practices to these firms. A lack of information and collaboration, caused partially by communication problems, has resulted in an absence of proper sustainable product design tools for these companies. Furniture enterprises in Ankara are the focus of this study because of the impact of product design in market possibilities and the spread of employment of product designers in the sector. Attitudes of staff and consultants of furniture SMEs regarding barriers and opportunities of sustainable product design are explored, and contrasted with overlapping points of existing product development methods and strategies in the literature. This work is intended to contribute to improved understanding and application of sustainable product design among furniture sector SMEs. To this end, interviews were conducted with 16 furniture manufacturing enterprises from the furniture industry, based in Ankara region and 5 freelance furniture designers cooperating with these enterprises. According to the results of the study, furniture sector SMEs are interested more in economic opportunities of sustainable product design rather than environmental and social aspects. Furthermore, a lack of information about environmental issues is observed in micro and small-sized enterprises / to overcome this situation, it is recommended that training sessions are organized to bring together researchers and practitioners.