Furniture Manufacturing: A Production Engineering Approach (Design Science and Innovation)

This volume covers all aspects of furniture manufacturing from a production engineering perspective. It takes a step-by-step pedagogical approach, dwelling on details which must be understood at every process, as the furniture makes its way through the factory shop floor. The content highlights the global industry, and discusses furniture design and manufacturing systems. The chapters also discuss every stage of the manufacturing process until the finished product is packaged. There is also emphasis on strength design of furniture, furniture testing, environmental compliance, and automation. The contents also discuss the optimization of furniture manufacturing through a mathematical approach and highlights the current global trends impacting the furniture manufacturing industry, especially the circular economy and Industry 4.0. This volume will a useful resource to those in academia and industry.

Dr. Jegatheswaran Ratnasingam completed his Doctoral degree at Brunel University, United Kingdom in the field of Furniture Engineering. He is currently Professor of Furniture Manufacturing & Management (FMM) at the Faculty of Forestry Environment, Universiti Putra Malaysia. Prior to joining academia, he held senior management positions at some of the largest furniture manufacturers in Asia over 10 years. Since joining academia, he has taught and conducted research on furniture manufacturing and management topics. He is the author of 130 peer-reviewed journal articles, 28 academic books, 200 trade journal publications and almost 100 conference and seminar papers. A recipient of three Honorary Professorships from the Buckinghamshire New University, United Kingdom, Hochschule Rosenheim, Germany, and University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, for his work on productivity improvement and technology transfer in the furniture sector. He has also been a Visiting Professor to ESB in Nantes, France, and the University of Life Sciences in Warsaw, Poland. He is an active researcher in the field of sustainable wood industries, Industry 4.0 and the circular economy in the wood industry, and is also the recipient of several international research grants. In lieu of his academic and extension achievements, Dr. Ratnasingam has received many awards for outstanding achievements from Universiti Putra Malaysia.