Leading furniture expertise

FIRA Specifier’s Guide Launch

Phil Reynolds

Acting Chief Operating Officer

Agenda

• Welcome and introduction to FIRA – Phil Reynolds

• Specifying background – Peter Kirby-Smith• The Specifier’s Guide demonstration – Alan

Bennett & Asli Tamer Vestlund• Q&A Session • Lunch

• Tours of FIRA Testing Services

An introduction to FIRA

Founded over 60 years ago

Serving the entire furniture supply chain

The centre of knowledge in the UK for furniture

• POLITICAL LOBBYING (BFC)

• STANDARDS

• BUSINESS INFORMATION

• RESEARCH & PROJECTS

• CONSULTANCY

• TESTING/CERTIFICATION

• TRAINING

• SERVICE TECHNICIANS

•

DELIVERY

• POLITICAL LOBBYING (BFC)

• STANDARDS

• BUSINESS INFORMATION

• RESEARCH & PROJECTS

• CONSULTANCY

• TESTING/CERTIFICATION

• TRAINING

• SERVICE TECHNICIANS

•

DELIVERY

Broad range of consultancy services for the furniture industry, including:•Ergonomic design and assessment•Product risk assessments and fault analysis

•Technical specification development•Quality and environmental management system implementation, including chain of custody

•Expert witness service

• A world leader in furniture testing• Testing all types of furniture and components

Global presence:• FIRA – UK

• FIRA-CMA – Hong Kong• Accredited laboratory – Singapore• Accredited laboratory – Malaysia

Market leading after sales care and repair service:

• Rapid low cost service

• Designed to reduce cost and keep product with the customer

• Extends product life and improves environmental performance

• The independent furniture dispute resolution service

• Recognised by The European Commission and Consumer Direct

• Offers consumer reassurance

• Leaders in consumer law training

Leading furniture expertise

Specifiers’ Guide

Peter Kirby-Smith

Specifier Training Manager

Current Problems

Tenders specify misleading or inappropriate standards

and/or requirements cause problems both for tendering

authorities and manufacturers / suppliers, resulting in:

• Loss of time • Higher costs• Wasted effort • Inferior quality

• Non-conformance• Liability/Legal Challenge

Solution

Specifiers need:

• Access to clear and concise advice on what is important within a tender

• Access to accurate information on current requirements

• A document to aid all specifiers of non-domestic and contract furniture

• A Specifiers’ Guide for Contract Furniture

BenefitsFor Specifiers:• Understand the requirements• Save time and money in preparing tenders• Save time and money in reviewing submissions• Better products that are better value for money

For Manufacturers:• Better understanding of the specifiers’ needs

• Save time and money in responding to tenders

• Better chance of success for more responsible manufacturers

Target Audience

UK based Specifiers and Manufacturers of contract and non-domestic furniture

• Purchasers for Public Sector Organisations (e.g. Central and Local Government, Education and Health).

• Interior designers and architects.• Specifiers for hospitality, hotels, offices.• Procurement Professionals in the Private Sector (e.g. Construction

and Fit-Out Companies / Main Contractors including PFI).• Facilities Managers.

What to look for in a Supplier?

• Legal Probity and Financial Performance• Insurance• Technical Capability, Capacity and Experience• Business Continuity and Risk Management• Quality Management Performance

• Health and Safety Performance• Environmental Performance• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)• Supply Chain Management

What to look for in a Product?

• Fire Safety Requirements• Safety and Performance Requirements• Ergonomics• Product Certification and Award Schemes• Sustainable Manufacturing

• Materials Specification• Environmental – Timber Sourcing, Recycled Content,

Recyclability

Preparing and Reviewing Tender Submissions

• Public Sector Tendering• SOR and Scope• Advertising• Restricted Procedures - PQQ & ITT• Open Procedures

• Award Criteria and Scoring• Reviewing Supporting Documentation• Final Selection• De-briefs

Next Steps

• Promotional Campaign– Regional and in-house workshops– CPD programmes

• Specification Advice for Educational Furniture (2013)• Specification Advice for Hospital Furniture (future)

• Evolving and developing facility (feedback please)

Leading furniture expertise

Specifiers Services-Live Demo

Alan Bennett

Specifier Training Manager

LIVE DEMO

http://www.specifierservices.co.uk/

Any questions?