Furniture market is shifting towards green and innovative products. The use of bio-based methods in wooden furniture industry presents a big potential for the development of materials with new ...characteristics, of unique furniture items, and can reduce the environmental impact. Bio-based methods can be used for wood protection and decoration, fibre board production, and development of new wooden materials, such as wood hybrids and functionalised wood. The bio-based methods, investigated for their potentials in wood industry, include the use of living organisms, natural products, and biomimicry. Despite ongoing developments there are still major drawbacks associated with many of these technologies: unreliability and inadequate efficiency of the methods, inadequate mechanical properties or dimensional stability of the final products, and high costs. Thus, further developments are needed. In this review, we present the existing and arising bio-based methods with potential in wooden furniture production. Furthermore, we shortly present their marketing potential.
Tržište namještaja sve se više pomiče prema zelenim i inovativnim proizvodima. Primjena bioloških metoda u proizvodnji namještaja od drva znači velik potencijal za razvoj materijala novih svojstava te za proizvodnju jedinstvenih predmeta namještaja. Osim toga, uvođenje bioloških metoda u industriju namještaja može pridonijeti i smanjenju štetnog utjecaja na okoliš. Biološke se metode mogu primijeniti u zaštiti i dekoraciji drva, u proizvodnji ploča vlaknatica i u razvoju novih drvnih materijala kao što su drvni hibridi i funkcionalizirano drvo. Spomenute metode, čiji se potencijal primjene u proizvodnji namještaja istražuje, uključuju biotehnologiju, uporabu prirodnih proizvoda i biomimikriju. Unatoč stalnom razvoju, još postoje znatni nedostatci povezani s primjenom tih tehnologija. To su složenost ili nepouzdanost metoda, neadekvatna mehanička svojstva ili dimenzijska stabilnost konačnih proizvoda te visoki proizvodni troškovi. Stoga je potrebno i dalje razvijati te metode radi njihove primjene u proizvodnji
namještaja. U ovom su radu predstavljene razvijene biološke metode i one koje su u fazi razvoja a imaju potencijala za primjenu u proizvodnji
namještaja od drva. Usto je ukratko opisan i njihov marketinški potencijal.
Furniture market is shifting towards green and innovative products. The use of bio-based methods in wooden furniture industry presents a big potential for the development of materials with new ...characteristics, of unique furniture items, and can reduce the environmental impact. Bio-based methods can be used for wood protection and decoration, fibre board production, and development of new wooden materials, such as wood hybrids and functionalised wood. The bio-based methods, investigated for their potentials in wood industry, include the use of living organisms, natural products, and biomimicry. Despite ongoing developments there are still major drawbacks associated with many of these technologies: unreliability and inadequate efficiency of the methods, inadequate mechanical properties or dimensional stability of the final products, and high costs. Thus, further developments are needed. In this review, we present the existing and arising bio-based methods with potential in wooden furniture production. Furthermore, we shortly present their marketing potential. Key words: biotechnology; natural products; wood; furniture; wood protection; wood colouring; natural adhesives; wood functionalisation; biomimicry Trziste namjestaja sve se vise pomice prema zelenim i inovativnim proizvodima. Primjena bioloskih metoda u proizvodnji namjestaja od drva znaci velik potencijal za razvoj materijala novih svojstava te za proizvodnju jedinstvenih predmeta namjestaja. Osim toga, uvodenje bioloskih metoda u industriju namjestaja moze pridonijeti i smanjenju stetnog utjecaja na okolis. Bioloske se metode mogu primijeniti u zastiti i dekoraciji drva, u proizvodnji ploca vlaknatica i u razvoju novih drvnih materijala kao sto su drvni hibridi i funkcionalizirano drvo. Spomenute metode, ciji se potencijal primjene u proizvodnji namjestaja istrazuje, ukljucuju biotehnologiju, uporabu prirodnih proizvoda i biomimikriju. Unatoc stalnom razvoju, jos postoje znatni nedostatci povezani s primjenom tih tehnologija. To su slozenost ili nepouzdanost metoda, neadekvatna mehanicka svojstva ili dimenzijska stabilnost konacnih proizvoda te visoki proizvodni troskovi. Stoga je potrebno i dalje razvijati te metode radi njihove primjene u proizvodnji namjestaja. U ovom su radu predstavljene razvijene bioloske metode i one koje su u fazi razvoja a imaju potencijala za primjenu u proizvodnji namjestaja od drva. Usto je ukratko opisan i njihov marketinski potencijal. Kljucne rijeci: biotehnologija; prirodni proizvodi; drvo; namjestaj; zastita drva; bojenje drva; prirodna ljepila; funkcionalizacija drva; biomimikrija
The aim of this research was to determine the relative importance of three factors relevant for buying wooden kitchen furniture in Croatia and Slovenia. A survey was made of 172 potential kitchen ...buyers: 138 in person at two largest furniture stores in Croatia and Slovenia, and 34 online. A conjoint analysis revealed that respondents were more concerned about the manufacturer and design than the price of the kitchen furniture. For all demographic groups, the lower price kitchen furniture was preferable. Only three demographic groups (35-45 years of age, elementary school or less, and unemployed) preferred the classic kitchen furniture design, while all other groups preferred the modern design. For the manufacturer, differences were found among most sociodemographic categories.
The number of senior citizens is rapidly increasing, which consequently signifi es an increase in the number of people having sight, hearing or memory diffi culties, people with hampered mobility, ...and people who find it increasingly diffi cult to process information. Elderly persons experience a greater degree of risk whilst performing daily tasks in their kitchens. Moreover, they are more susceptible to infection and illnesses, necessitating greater care to achieve hygienic conditions within their kitchens. The goal of our research was to determine whether people are generally content with the functionality of their kitchens and whether the degree of dissatisfaction increases with the age of the users. The study aims to pinpoint any major problems facing elderly people whilst working in their kitchens and to establish criteria for kitchen furniture design that could be tailored to senior users’ interests, with the focus on safety. This research was carried out via individual surveys at the respondents’ homes. 204 respondents participated in the research. The results show that most users do not realize that, with more appropriate kitchen equipment, they could perform daily tasks faster, safer, and with less effort. Common shortcomings include insuffi cient lighting (32 %), inappropriate sequential composition of work surfaces (56 %), ease of hygiene maintenance (68 %), inappropriately - shaped furniture (72 %), and tasks that become troublesome because of declining memory (75 %). We believe that it is necessary to design kitchen equipment specifically adjusted for the needs of the elderly.
The aim of our research was to analyze the cooperation of furniture industry and designers in product development process. The results indicate the diffi culties of and impediments to such ...cooperation. SWOT analysis was used for analyzing the strengths and opportunities as well threats and weaknesses of cooperation of furniture industry with designers in product development process. The leading management of furniture companies and designers indentifi ed greater creativity (more innovative solutions), better design and more fresh ideas as the highest strength and opportunity of cooperation.
Companies that cannot predict business forecasts for their sales always fi nd themselves in ambiguity. In this research we analyzed two quantitative methods that gave the best results for forecasting ...the sales: Holt-Winters method of exponent smoothing of higher orders and linear regression of the 1st order. The data for the implementation of these two methods were obtained in a wood company that deals with parquet sales. The data were gathered for parquet sales by month in the years 2000 to 2009. The calculations of sales forecasts enabled to compare both methods. On the basis of smaller deviations from data obtained, we determined the most appropriate method. We received the best result with the use of Holt-Winters multiplicative model of exponent smoothing of higher orders. Thus, according to this research, this method should be used for further forecasting of parquet sales in the analyzed wood company.
The aim of the study was to recognize the attitudes towards new product warranty issues in marketing practice of furniture manufacturers. The results of a survey conducted among 75 Polish and ...Slovenian furniture companies are presented, focusing on whether enterprises use the information concerning the length of warranty period offered for manufactured products in their marketing materials and in which cases they build their competitive strategy and strengthen their corporate identity based on warranty issues. Data collected through direct interviews and surveys was subjected to a comprehensive statistical analysis using statistical grouping method, cluster analysis and correspondence analysis. The results showed that most often the information on the length of warranty period is used commercially by manufacturers of furniture for children and kitchen furniture. The coexistence of variables connected with the offered warranty period for furniture products, the use of information concerning warranty in advertising materials, implementation of a long-term design management strategy, the development of a positive image of the company in the market based on the comprehensive visual identity project and the limited number of years when the company has been operating in the market was showed. Key words: new products, product warranty, competitive advantage, empirical study, statistical analysis Cilj istrazivanja bio je upoznati misljenja proizvodaca namjestaja o jamstvima proizvoda koji se pojavljuju u marketinskoj praksi. Prikazani su rezultati ankete provedene medu 75 poljskih i slovenskih proizvodaca namjestaja. Naglasak ankete bio je na pitanju koriste li se poduzeca informacijama o duljini razdoblja jamstava sto ih u svojim marketinskim materijalima nude za proizvode i u kojim slucajevima na jamstvima za proizvode grade svoju konkurentsku strategiju i jacaju svoj korporativni identitet. Podaci prikupljeni izravnim intervjuima i anketama podvrgnuti su sveobuhvatnoj statistickoj analizi uz pomoc statisticke metode grupiranja, klasterske analize i analize korespondencije. Istrazivanja su pokazala da se informacijama o trajanju jamstvenog roka najcesce komercijalno koriste proizvodaci namjestaja za djecu i proizvodaci kuhinjskog namjestaja. Iz analize rezultata potvrdena je i koegzistencija varijabli povezanih s ponudom jamstvenog roka za namjestaj, s uporabom informacija vezanih za jamstvo u reklamnim materijalima, s provodenjem dugorocne strategije upravljanja dizajnom, s razbojem pozitivne predodzbe o tvrtki na trzistu, stvorene na temelju sveobuhvatnog projekta izrade vizualnog identiteta, kao i s ogranicenim brojem godina tijekom kojih tvrtka posluje na trzistu. Kljucne rijeci: novi proizvodi, jamstvo za proizvod, konkurentska prednost, istrazivanje, statisticka analiza
It is possible to significantly ease kitchen chores with properly sized and appropriately arranged cupboards. In designing kitchen furniture and the optimal depth and the height of storage ...capacities, accessibility should be taken into consideration. It is known that the optimal storage zone is between 800 and 1100 mm and that there is reduced visibility and accessibility at the level between 1400 and 1700 mm, which is even more prominent for the elderly. This suggests that wall cabinets are not recommended for the elderly. The aim of this study was to determine to what extent kitchens manufactured by Slovenian furniture manufacturers are suitable for users of different age groups with regard to the accessibility of goods stored in the cupboards. Furthermore, based on the measurement analysis, recommendations are provided for designing kitchen furniture that would meet the needs of the elderly. The study, carried out using a computer simulation model, analyzed the products of three Slovenian kitchen manufacturers. The cross section of accessibility in the wall cabinets was determined for different age groups of men and women. The results show that the efficacy of the volume in wall cabinets higher than 600 mm, in comparison to places where objects are easily reachable, is 30% lower for women, thus indicating the inefficiency of storage space in wall cabinets. In terms of accessibility, existing kitchens are not optimal for the elderly, and a model with a deeper worktop and wall cabinets lowered onto the worktop is proposed. Accessibility in such wall cabinets is increased by up to 70% if the body is moved forward by 30°.
Tržište namještaja sve se više pomiče prema zelenim i inovativnim proizvodima. Primjena bioloških metoda u proizvodnji namještaja od drva znači velik potencijal za razvoj materijala novih svojstava ...te za proizvodnju jedinstvenih predmeta namještaja. Osim toga, uvođenje bioloških metoda u industriju namještaja može pridonijeti i smanjenju štetnog utjecaja na okoliš. Biološke se metode mogu primijeniti u zaštiti i dekoraciji drva, u proizvodnji ploča vlaknatica i u razvoju novih drvnih materijala kao što su drvni hibridi i funkcionalizirano drvo. Spomenute metode, čiji se potencijal primjene u proizvodnji namještaja istražuje, uključuju biotehnologiju, uporabu prirodnih proizvoda i biomimikriju. Unatoč stalnom razvoju, još postoje znatni nedostatci povezani s primjenom tih tehnologija. To su složenost ili nepouzdanost metoda, neadekvatna mehanička svojstva ili dimenzijska stabilnost konačnih proizvoda te visoki proizvodni troškovi. Stoga je potrebno i dalje razvijati te metode radi njihove primjene u proizvodnji namještaja. U ovom su radu predstavljene razvijene biološke metode i one koje su u fazi razvoja a imaju potencijala za primjenu u proizvodnji namještaja od drva. Usto je ukratko opisan i njihov marketinški potencijal.
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