Opportunities for advancement in industry

Press, 13 June 1986, Page 21

Opportunities for advancement in industry

With more than 500 furniture factories in New Zealand, the industry offers real opportunities for advancement through foremanship to management.

Many successful people at the top of the industry today began on the bottom rung of the ladder and have advanced by proving their initiative, enthusiasm and ability. Management, sales, export, design, administration, production, and servicing are all areas which offer satisfying and rewarding positions to able and experienced people within the furniture industry. Once a person has become skilled and knowledgeable in the trade, avenues for advancement can open up.

Sales personnel are needed at all levels in the areas of retail, wholesale and export. A salesperson should have a knowledge of the wide range of materials used, of construction methods, of pricing and costings, and of design. He or she needs to be able to liaise between the manufacturer and the public, and must be skilled in human relationships. Management executives should have the opportunity to study: • Industrial research and analysis. • Factory planning, production methods and

control. • Equipment and material availability and handling methods. • Pricing and costing methods and control. • Manufacturing budgeting. • Incentive and motivational schemes. • Human relations, staff selection and control. • Financial and industrial matters. • Profit margins — to ensure not only that the business is on a sound footing but that it provides for future development and expansion. Middle management (the supervisor and foreman or woman) must: •Be skilled at the trade.

• Have a sound knowledge of the allied trades. • Be skilled in production techniques and methods. • Be knowledgeable about machine uses and maintenance. • Have an understanding of time and motion study.

• Have a healthy respect for material costs and usage. • Understand incentive and motivational schemes. • Be conversant with budgeting and costing methods.

• Be aware of safety and safe practices. • Have a sound knowledge of human relations, industrial matters , and staff control. \