1)
Business Success
- Competitive
manufacturing/productivity
-
Production Systems
-
Design Innovation
2)
Industry Development
- Furniture
Show
-
Export
-
Networking
- Conference
-
Supply Chain relationships/distribution
-
Sustainability
3)
Skilled & Motivated Workforce (in collaboration
with FITEC)
- Training
-
Staff shortages CPIT & apprenticeship
- Management
Training
- Succession
Training
4)
Industry Watchdog
- Political
voice/BNZ/MAF/Commerce Commission/DOL/MED/Union Action
-
Accessing government funding
ACTION
TAKEN ON PRIORITIES TO DATE
1)
Business Success
•
Competitive manufacturing/productivity/Production
Systems: :
Lean
Manufacturing -
Conference Speaker;
Information provided in FANZ Newsletter;
Capability Audits (in conjunction with Design
Taskforce) –
Opportunity provided to all members to participate
and access provided to information on audits from participants.
•
Design Innovation
Regular
conference Speakers;
Sponsorship of annual Young Designer Competition;
Regular liaison with Design Institutions;
Access to capability audits leading to focus on design.
2)
Industry Development
•
Furniture Show
Highly
successful national Furniture Shows run under FANZ umbrella
2005/2006;
•
Export
Supported
and encouraged by FANZ through conference speakers,
distribution of information, etc., but further activities
on hold until more favourable conditions apply.
•
Networking
Regular
opportunities provided for networking through FANZ Conference
and regional meetings as well as information on Association
and industry matters distributed through newsletters;
Extensive promotion of cooperation between member companies
through workshops, presentations and newsletters;
Annual Wage Survey.
•
Supply Chain relationships/distribution
Representation
of retailers and suppliers on FANZ executive;
Speakers at various conferences on related topics;
Representation of FANZ on Imported Tropical Timber Group;
Liaison with Native Hardwood Network.
Sustainability
Currently
a key focus of FANZ Executive;
Value & advantages of a focus on sustainability
promoted to members;
Promotion of Enviro-Mark through newsletters.
Other
Furniture
& Furnishing Guild set up by FANZ;
Two Market Research Reports commissioned and distributed
free of charge to members.
3)
Skilled & Motivated Workforce
Items
under this heading are dealt with through FITEC who
have a permanent seat on the FANZ executive.
4)
Industry Watchdog
•
Political voice/BNZ/MAF/Commerce Commission/DOL/MED/Union
Action
Membership
of Business NZ's Affiliated Industries Group - BNZ is
the largest business organisation in NZ representing
the interests of business;
FANZ monitors legislation affecting the industry e.g.
standards, labelling matters including care, fibre and
mandatory country of origin labelling (not taken further
because of the Australian situation), formaldehyde,
and keeps members informed.
•
Accessing Funding
Funding
assistance with Design Audits;
Export funding;
Funding for Productivity Audits and assistance through
Technology NZ.
Following
are some of the areas FANZ is working on currently:
Wage
Survey - FANZ has just completed the 2007 member
survey of wages and conditions of employment. This is
the only data of this type collected with a specific focus
on the furniture industry. The results of survey are only
available to those members of FANZ. who have taken part
in the survey.
Survey
to identify skills shortage - A survey is soon
to be sent out to FANZ members to identify skill shortage
categories. This data will be used for a sumission to
the Immigration Department in relation to the Department's
Short and Long Term Skill Shortages List.
Furniture
Shows - Discussions are taking place in relation
to future shows and whether or not these should be stand
alone or aligned with exisiting complementary shows.
WHAT'S
NEW