Exploring the Relationship between Information Sharing and Internal Production Processes of Furniture: Sharing information, identifying and addressing flaws within various departments and production sections

Abstract

This study explores the impact of information sharing on internal scrap processes withinfurniture manufacturing. A literature review informed the theoretical framework, followed bya case study of a Swedish furniture manufacturer, utilising qualitative interviews andobservations as primary data sources. The research explored information-sharing practicesbetween departments, methods employed, and the attributes impacting the effectiveness,focusing on three production units. The findings reveal significant discrepancies in faultreporting across units and departments, exposing systemic issues such as ambiguousresponsibilities regarding information sharing, knowledge gaps and widespread discontentmentwith the current Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. The study proposes astandardised, organisation-wide fault reporting system to improve information quality.Proposed measures include implementing a uniform reporting form, complemented by a centraldatabase and phone calls as a secondary communication channel for urgent matters. Informationaccuracy, timeliness, conciseness, comprehensiveness, and granularity are emphasised. Thestudy proposes implementing the Electronic Product Code Information Services (EPCIS)standard as a standardised reporting system for data exchange between production units aboutwhat has happened to the product involved and where, when, and why the defect occurred,enabling enhanced product traceability and understanding of its condition.