1. New skills in the European furniture industry by 2020
Magdalena Herbeć, M.Sc.
Wood Technology Institute, Poznań
Funes, Brussels, 27th January 2016

2. methodology
The aim
Identifying new competences and skills of staff for the European furniture industry
Work procedure
Identification of major gaps in competences acc. to SWOT of European furniture industry
Selection and prioritization of identified competences in acc. with departments of the furniture company
(incl. •management, •technical office and design, •production, •marketing and sales, •storage and packaging, •quality and environment)

3. methodology
Skills - the ability to apply konowledge and use know-how to complete the task and solve problems
Competences – the proven ability to use knowledge, skills and personal, social and/or methodological abilities, in work or study situations and in professional and personal development
Source: Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2008 on the establishment of the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning

4. methodology Research methods Desk research Analogy method
Expert method
Brainstorming

5. Mechanism of matrix creation
Departments of the furniture companies
Skills
(acc. to SWOT and new trends in the European furniture industry) X

6. Matrix of new skills Cooperation and networking with wood value chain
Ability of adjusting to the tailor-made production (flexibility to answer the client demands)
Domotic and high technology knowledge
Branding/Marketing of European tradition  Selling European quality
Environmental awareness; applying the environmental and sustainability concepts (incl. ecological concepts in the design of products and eco- and zero waste design)

7. To sum up
The intellectual resources are one of the factors of the industry’s success
Furniture industry creates a demand for specific skills and competences of employees
Employees should have the skills and ability to recognize and accept the upcoming changes
The role of multidisciplinary skills and abilities increases significantly (skills needed to research the needs, furniture designing, prototype, production implementation and verification on the market)
Significant skills and competences are particularly relevant for proficiency in learning and self –improvement, problem solving, analytical thinking, communication, etc.

8. Self-assessment questionnaire
Next step
Self-assessment questionnaire