How to Overcome Challenges in Small-Volume Sofa Leg Hardware Purchases

For most furniture companies, large-volume orders are the norm. However, small-batch custom sofa leg hardware orders have become increasingly common. The question is, how can you get supplier support without the advantage of large quantities? And how do you handle the challenges of tight deadlines and quality issues at the same time?

1. Urgent Orders with Shortened Lead Times: How to Ensure Quality and Meet Deadlines?

Have you ever faced an urgent sofa furniture order? In such cases, it’s not possible to follow the standard process for supplier selection or production scheduling. So, what steps can you take to ensure timely delivery without compromising on quality?
 

Here's how one furniture manufacturer tackled this situation effectively:

1. Quickly Select the Right Supplier

Since this was a custom sofa leg, the R&D team identified the key types of hardware required and quickly narrowed down the list of potential suppliers. After evaluating delivery timelines and quality standards, they chose the best supplier for the job.
 

2. On-Site Monitoring of Production Progress

To better control the production cycle and ensure timely delivery, the R&D team immediately finalized the drawings and arranged for suppliers to work overtime on them. As soon as the designs were ready, the supplier started production on-site, with a team from the company stationed there to monitor progress in real-time.
 

3. Proactive Problem-Solving by R&D Team

Time was a crucial factor in this project. The R&D team was prepared in advance to handle any issues. On the day of the bottleneck operation, the R&D staff intervened directly to address any anomalies, ensuring any issues were resolved immediately.
 

With continuous communication and early warnings in place, the project was completed on time. Additionally, the R&D team identified and improved design flaws during the process, which not only optimized the current project but also benefitted future designs. This approach proved to be extremely rewarding.

2. Small Orders with Low Quantities and Poor Quality: How to Secure Supplier Cooperation?

Material procurement and small order purchases can be difficult for suppliers to engage with, especially when the order volume is low. This often results in subpar quality and extended lead times, creating further challenges for companies. One sofa leg hardware supplier experienced this issue firsthand.

Due to the small batch nature of the order, production timelines were long, and quality was inconsistent, leading to frequent delays, returns, and exchanges.

To overcome these challenges, the company focused on the following strategies:
 

1. Strategic Partnerships

The company signed a strategic cooperation agreement with suppliers to increase their influence and gain access to more orders. Even though their order volume was small, the company was a leader in the industry. Partnering with them boosted the supplier's recognition within the sector and ultimately helped them secure more business.
 

2. Joint Technical Development

To address quality issues, the R&D department worked closely with suppliers to resolve any defects and improve the overall quality of the sofa leg hardware. This included technical collaboration on problem areas, ensuring that quality standards were met.
 

3. Signing a Framework Agreement

For smaller orders, the company signed annual framework agreements with suppliers, specifying yearly purchase volumes and scheduling deliveries in batches as needed. This ensured better pricing while preventing inventory pile-ups.

Through collaborative efforts from various departments—Procurement, R&D, Quality Control, and Suppliers—the company reduced procurement lead times by 50% and improved product quality, with the defect rate dropping to 5%. This approach proved to be a win-win for both parties.
 

Key Takeaways from Small-Volume Procurement Challenges:

Procurement challenges such as delayed deliveries, high logistics costs, and inconsistent product quality are common in the furniture industry. However, with the right approach and a positive mindset, solutions are always within reach. By addressing the core issues and implementing strategic solutions, companies can significantly improve their procurement processes, resulting in cost savings, improved product quality, and faster turnaround times.